---
title: "Where Is the Hawaii Five-0 McGarrett House on Oahu?"
canonical: "https://hawaiitravelbureau.com/where-is-the-mcgarrett-house-on-oahu/"
author: "Evan Miles"
published: "2026-10-16T11:00:00+00:00"
modified: "2026-10-17T06:14:59+00:00"
language: "en-US"
site: "Hawaii Travel Bureau"
description: "If you want to know where is the mcgarrett house on oahu, look toward the quiet coastal neighborhood of Aina Haina in East Honolulu. The iconic beachfront…"
categories: "Hawaii Travel Guides"
attribution: "Hawaii Travel Bureau (https://hawaiitravelbureau.com/)"
---

# Where Is the Hawaii Five-0 McGarrett House on Oahu?

If you want to know where is the mcgarrett house on oahu, look toward the quiet coastal neighborhood of Aina Haina in East Honolulu. The iconic beachfront home that served as Steve McGarrett's headquarters across ten seasons of Hawaii Five-0 is a real, historic oceanfront residence.

 

Built in 1936, the property is officially listed as the Bayer Estate on the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places. It spans roughly 8,000 square feet of oceanfront land along Maunalua Bay and remains one of Oahu's most recognizable television landmarks as of 2026.

 

## Quick Answer

  

### 🌺 Local Island Guide Quick Answer

 

The McGarrett house on Oahu is located at 5329 Kalanianaʻole Highway in Honolulu. Locals know this historic property as the Bayer Estate. It sits directly on Maunalua Bay in the Aina Haina neighborhood.

  

The home is private property and does not offer indoor public tours. You can view it safely from the public shoreline below the high-tide line.

 

![where is the mcgarrett house on oahu](https://hawaiitravelbureau.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/where-is-the-mcgarrett-house-on-oahu-mupd0xam.webp)

 

Image source: Web (Bing) / voicemap.me (Web image (fair-use with source credit))

 

## The Real Story Behind Steve McGarrett’s House on Oahu

 

The house fans know as Steve McGarrett's home is actually the historic Bayer Estate. Built in 1936 by Carl and Marie Bayer, the residence represents classic Hawaiian plantation-style architecture. It features broad covered lanais, open-beam ceilings, and french doors designed to catch tradewind breezes off the ocean.

 

When CBS launched the reboot of *Hawaii Five-0* in 2010, location scouts needed a home that matched the gritty yet rooted backstory of Alex O'Loughlin's character. The Bayer Estate fit the profile perfectly. Its vintage charm gave the character a tangible family history on the island.

 

The estate served as a primary filming set throughout the show's entire ten-year run. The production team used both the exterior grounds and the interior living spaces for filming. Fans will instantly recognize the living room where Steve opened his father's mystery toolbox, as well as the open back lanai.

 

Today, the estate operates primarily as a private event and boutique wedding venue. It is carefully preserved by its owners to maintain the architectural integrity of 1930s coastal Honolulu.

 

## Where Is the McGarrett House Located? (Exact Address and Map Context)

 

The McGarrett house sits at 5329 Kalanianaʻole Highway, Honolulu, HI 96821. It rests on the makai (ocean) side of the highway in the Aina Haina district of East Honolulu.

 

The drive from central Waikiki covers approximately 7 miles east. Under typical driving conditions, the trip takes 15 to 20 minutes along Interstate H-1 East, which transitions smoothly into Kalanianaʻole Highway (Hawaii Route 72).

  

| Location Detail | Specification |
| --- | --- |
| Physical Address | 5329 Kalanianaʻole Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96821 |
| Neighborhood | Aina Haina (East Honolulu) |
| Waterfront Body | Maunalua Bay / Pacific Ocean |
| Distance from Waikiki | ~7.2 miles (15–20 min drive) |
| Public Route | H-1 East to Route 72 East |

  

The house sits between Wailupe Beach Park to the west and Kawaikui Beach Park to the east. Because Kalanianaʻole Highway is a busy six-lane thoroughfare, traffic moves quickly past the property. You cannot pull over directly in front of the house.

 

## Visual Identifiers: How to Spot the House from the Road and Shore

 

Spotting the McGarrett house requires knowing what visual markers to look for from both land and sea. The property has distinct architectural signatures that set it apart from neighboring modern homes.

 

From the street side, the property presents a modest, vintage facade. Look for a white privacy gate and a low perimeter wall framed by mature tropical foliage. The structure itself is a single-story, light-colored wooden cottage with a green-shingled roof.

 

From the water or shoreline along Maunalua Bay, the house is instantly recognizable:

 

- **The Covered Back Lanai:** The deep wooden porch spans the back of the house facing the water.
- **The Blue Adirondack Chairs:** The owners often keep blue wooden chairs on the lawn, matching the iconic scene setup from the television series.
- **The Stone Seawall:** A low, dark volcanic rock seawall borders the grassy lawn right at the water's edge.
- **The Grassy Yard:** A flat, green oceanfront lawn runs from the patio down to the rock barrier.
- **Mature Ironwood Trees:** Tall coastal trees frame the eastern boundary of the lot, offering shade over the back deck.

 

If you are scanning the coast from a boat or paddleboard in Maunalua Bay, look for the vintage cottage with the green roof nestled between taller, contemporary multi-story residences.

 

## How to Legally Visit and View the Bayer Estate (Without Trespassing)

 

The Bayer Estate is a private residence and operational venue, not a public walk-in museum. Walking up the private driveway or knocking on the front door is strictly prohibited. However, you can legally view the property from the shoreline using Hawaii's public beach transit corridors.

 

![Maunalua Bay](https://hawaiitravelbureau.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/maunalua-bay-mupd0y2t.webp)

 

Image source: Web (Bing) / howsyourriver.com (Web image (fair-use with source credit))

 

Under regulations set by the [Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources](https://dlnr.hawaii.gov), all beaches in Hawaii are open to the public up to the upper reaches of the wash of the waves. This means you can legally walk along the sand and reef flats behind the estate as long as you stay off the private grass lawn and seawall.

 

To view the house legally, follow this simple route:

 

1. **Park at a Nearby Beach Park:** Park your vehicle at Kawaikui Beach Park, located just east of the estate. Parking is free in the public lot.
2. **Access the Shoreline:** Walk to the beach area of the park and turn west (toward Diamond Head).
3. **Walk the Reef Flat:** At low to medium tide, walk along the narrow shoreline strip or shallow reef flat toward the property. Wear sturdy reef shoes to protect your feet from sharp coral and rocks.
4. **View from the Waterline:** Stand below the high-water line on the wet sand or reef to view the back lanai. Keep a respectful distance from the private seawall and lawn.
5. **Return via the Same Route:** Head back to Kawaikui Beach Park the way you came. Do not attempt to cut through neighboring private properties to reach the main road.

 

Respect the privacy of the residents and any private events underway. If a wedding or filming session is active on the lawn, keep moving along the shoreline without lingering.

 

## The 2010 Reboot Estate vs. The 1968 Original Series Locations

 

Fans of the classic franchise often confuse the filming sites of the original 1968 series with the 2010 reboot. The two productions handled Steve McGarrett's residence in completely different ways.

 

In the original 1968 series starring Jack Lord, Steve McGarrett rarely spent time in a dedicated family home. The character was portrayed as an intensely private bachelor living in a high-rise condominium. The classic show frequently used exterior shots of the Ilikai Hotel in Waikiki to represent his urban living space.

  

| Feature | 2010 Series (Alex O'Loughlin) | 1968 Series (Jack Lord) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Residence | Bayer Estate (Aina Haina) | Ilikai Hotel Penthouse / Various Condos |
| Home Setting | Coastal oceanfront cottage | Urban high-rise apartment |
| Significance to Plot | Family home, garage workshop, team hangout | Occasional backdrop, business-focused |
| Key Set Pieces | Back porch, blue chairs, lawn seawall | Balcony overlooking the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor |

  

The 2010 reboot shifted the character's focus toward family roots and naval history. By establishing the Bayer Estate as the ancestral home of John and Steve McGarrett, the modern show gave the team a recurring gathering spot for informal debriefs, backyard cookouts, and beachside conversations.

 

## Other Must-See Hawaii Five-0 Filming Locations Nearby

 

You can easily pair a visit to the McGarrett house with several other famous production sites across Oahu. Most of these landmarks sit within a short drive of East Honolulu or in the downtown district.

 

![Aliʻiolani Hale](https://hawaiitravelbureau.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ali-iolani-hale-mupd0yne.webp)

 

Image source: Bing (Web (fair-use with source credit))

 

- **Aliʻiolani Hale (Five-0 Headquarters):** Located at 417 South King Street in downtown Honolulu, this historic government building served as the exterior of the Five-0 headquarters. The famous King Kamehameha I statue stands directly in front of the entrance.
- **National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl):** This volcanic crater hosts the resting place of Steve McGarrett's fictional father, John McGarrett. The real memorial provides panoramic views of Honolulu and Diamond Head.
- **The Ilikai Hotel & Luxury Suites:** Situated at the edge of Waikiki, this hotel appeared in the iconic opening credits of both the original 1968 series and the 2010 reboot. Jack Lord and Alex O'Loughlin both filmed memorable rooftop scenes here.
- **Kualoa Ranch:** Located on Oahu's Windward Coast, this 4,000-acre private nature reserve provided the jungle backdrop for various military operations and chase scenes across all ten seasons.
- **Waiola Shave Ice:** Located on Mokihana Street in Kapahulu, this local favorite served as Kamekona Tupuola's shave ice spot in several early episodes.

 

## Frequently Asked Questions About the McGarrett House

 

### Can you go inside the McGarrett house on Oahu?

 

No, the interior of the house is not open for public walk-in tours. The Bayer Estate is a private residence and operates as an event venue for booked weddings and private gatherings. You can view the exterior from the public shoreline along Maunalua Bay.

 

### Who owns the Bayer Estate today?

 

The estate remains under private family ownership. The owners maintain the 1936 property as a historic site on the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places. They lease the grounds for film productions, editorial photo shoots, and private oceanfront events.

 

### Where did they film the Five-0 headquarters interiors?

 

The interior Five-0 office sets were filmed on soundstages at the Hawaii Film Studio near Diamond Head. While Aliʻiolani Hale in downtown Honolulu provided the exterior building shots, the glass-walled offices and interrogation rooms were purpose-built indoor sets.

 

### How far is the McGarrett house from Waikiki?

 

The property sits approximately 7 miles east of central Waikiki along Kalanianaʻole Highway. The drive takes around 15 to 20 minutes by car or rideshare under normal traffic conditions. Public TheBus routes also run directly past the neighborhood along Route 72.

  

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