15 Celebrities Who Call Hawaii Their Birthplace
Hawaii is famous for its stunning beaches, volcanic landscapes, and vibrant aloha culture, but it has also produced some seriously talented people. Chart-topping musicians, Oscar-winning actors, and even a U.S. president call the islands home, proving that paradise breeds stars.
You might be surprised just how many famous faces were born among those turquoise waters and swaying palms. Dive into 15 incredible celebrities who proudly hail from Hawaii: celebrate their talent, soak up some island vibes, and see why the Aloha State is a hotspot for stars!
1. Jason Momoa
Built like an actual superhero and born to command the screen, Jason Momoa entered the world on August 1, 1979, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He shot to global fame playing Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones before suiting up as Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe.
Momoa’s Hawaiian roots run deep, and he regularly speaks about his pride in his Native Hawaiian heritage. If there were a real King of the Ocean, Momoa might just have the resume for it.
2. Bette Midler
Known the world over as “The Divine Miss M,” Bette Midler was born on December 1, 1945, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Few performers can match her range, having conquered Broadway, Hollywood, and the pop charts with equal flair and unstoppable energy.
From her hilarious comedy to her tearjerker ballads, Midler has always brought pure theatrical magic. Growing up far from the Hollywood spotlight did nothing to dim her shine.
She turned Hawaiian roots into global royalty.
3. Nicole Kidman
Born on June 20, 1967, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Nicole Kidman went on to become one of the most celebrated actresses in Hollywood history. Her Academy Award-winning performance in The Hours proved she could carry a film entirely on talent alone.
Though she grew up in Australia, her Hawaiian birthplace is a fun fact that surprises most fans. From Moulin Rouge!Big Little Lies to , Kidman keeps delivering performances that leave audiences speechless.
Born in paradise, thriving everywhere.
4. Bruno Mars
If you have ever danced uncontrollably to “Uptown Funk,” you can thank Honolulu, Hawaii, for giving the world Bruno Mars. Born Peter Gene Hernandez on October 8, 1985, he grew up performing in his family’s band from a very young age.
The smooth blend of pop, funk, R&B, and soul has earned him multiple Grammy Awards and billions of streams worldwide. Hawaii clearly puts something special in the water, because Bruno Mars is pure musical gold.
5. Auli’i Cravalho
How cool is it that the voice behind Disney’s Moana is actually from Hawaii? Born on November 22, 2000, in Kohala, Hawaii, Auli’i Cravalho was just 14 years old when auditioning for the role that would change everything.
The performance brought authenticity and heart to the beloved animated film, connecting millions of viewers to Pacific Island culture. Cravalho continues acting and advocating for Hawaiian representation, proving that big dreams can start in small towns.
6. Kelly Preston
Born on October 13, 1962, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Kelly Preston brought warmth and charisma to every role she played. Audiences adored her in Jerry Maguire alongside Tom Cruise, and she earned further recognition in Battlefield Earth and For Love of the Game.
Beyond her acting career, Preston was widely admired for her kindness and dedication to her family. She passed away in 2020, but her performances remain a testament to a remarkable talent born under Hawaiian skies.
7. Shannyn Sossamon
Before she was acting in Hollywood films, Shannyn Sossamon was a DJ spinning records in Los Angeles clubs. Born on October 3, 1978, in Honolulu, Hawaii, she was discovered and cast in A Knight’s Tale alongside Heath Ledger practically overnight.
Her effortlessly cool screen presence made her a standout in indie films like Wristcutters: A Love Story. Not many actors can go from turntables to medieval armor that quickly.
Hawaii born, Hollywood found.
8. Timothy Olyphant
Cool, calculated, and seriously watchable, Timothy Olyphant was born on May 20, 1968, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He became a fan favorite playing Marshal Raylan Givens in the hit TV series Justified, a role so iconic it earned a revival years later.
Western fans also know him as Seth Bullock from Deadwood, another critically praised performance. Though Hawaii is not exactly known for cowboys, Olyphant made sure the Aloha State had a representative in every great TV Western.
Impressive range, genuinely.
9. Lauren Graham
Fast-talking, coffee-obsessed Lorelai Gilmore was played by Lauren Graham, a woman born on March 16, 1967, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her performance in Gilmore Girls turned the show into a cultural phenomenon with a fanbase that never really moved on.
Graham also earned praise for her heartfelt work in Parenthood, proving her dramatic skills were just as sharp as her comedic timing. From Hawaiian shores to Stars Hollow, her journey is one seriously entertaining story worth celebrating.
10. Manti Te’o
Born on January 26, 1991, in Laie, Hawaii, Manti Te’o became one of college football’s most celebrated players at the University of Notre Dame. His dominant linebacker play earned him the Butkus Award and a Heisman Trophy runner-up finish in 2012.
Te’o later played in the NFL and became the subject of the viral Netflix documentary Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist. Whatever the headlines said, his athletic talent was never in question.
Hawaii produced a true football warrior.
11. Tia Carrere
Wayne’s World fans know exactly who Tia Carrere is, and for good reason. Born on January 2, 1967, in Honolulu, Hawaii, she played the unforgettable Cassandra in the beloved 1992 comedy, rocking out alongside Mike Myers and Dana Carvey.
Beyond comedy, Carrere starred in the action-adventure series Relic Hunter and has had a successful music career. She also won two consecutive Grammy Awards for Hawaiian music albums.
Born in paradise, she kept the island spirit alive in everything she touched.
12. Jack Johnson
Where sunny afternoons and acoustic guitar meet, you will likely find Jack Johnson playing somewhere nearby. Born on May 18, 1975, on Oahu, Hawaii, Johnson was a professional surfer before a serious wipeout shifted his focus entirely to music.
His laid-back, feel-good songs like “Banana Pancakes” and “Better Together” feel like a permanent Hawaiian vacation for your ears. Johnson is also a passionate environmental advocate, using his platform to protect the oceans he grew up surfing.
Truly a son of the sea.
13. Maggie Q
If you need someone to handle a high-speed chase and look effortlessly cool doing it, Maggie Q is your person. Born on May 22, 1979, in Honolulu, Hawaii, she trained under Jackie Chan before landing major Hollywood roles.
Her breakout performance in Mission: Impossible IIINikita led to starring in the hit TV series , where she played a fierce covert operative. Maggie Q is also a committed animal rights activist.
Born in Hawaii, she took the whole world by storm.
14. Duke Kahanamoku
Long before surfing was a global sport, Duke Kahanamoku was riding waves and rewriting history. Born on August 24, 1890, in Honolulu, Hawaii, he became an Olympic gold medalist in swimming at the 1912 Stockholm Games, shocking the world with his incredible speed.
Known as the “Father of Modern Surfing,” Duke introduced the sport to Australia and the mainland United States during his travels. His legacy is carved into every surfboard ever shaped.
Hawaii has never produced a more iconic ambassador.
15. Barack Obama
Born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Barack Obama made history as the 44th President of the United States and the first African American to hold that office. Before leading the nation, he graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School.
Obama grew up surfing and playing basketball in Hawaii, and he has often spoken about how the islands shaped his worldview. From Honolulu to the White House is quite a commute, but Obama made every mile count.
Aloha, indeed.
