One of the stars of “;Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”; isn't waiting around for Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz to hit wardrobe and makeup.

The Black Pearl, the ship used in the second and third installments of Walt Disney Pictures' wildly popular feature film series, arrived in Honolulu Sunday and is awaiting a bit of an overhaul—Hollywood style—at Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor before filming begins this summer.

“;The ship has already made some amazing journeys in its relatively short life,”; said Michael Singer, the Los Angeles-based unit publicist for the second, third and fourth “;Pirates”; movies.

It is not the same vessel that appeared in the original film, Singer said, but was created especially for “;Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest”; and “;Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.”; Built in Alabama around an existing ship that once serviced offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, it then sailed to the Bahamas, where both films were shot simultaneously.

From there it traveled to Los Angeles, where a significant amount of shooting took place off Redondo Beach. Most recently it traveled across the Pacific for a secret dry-dock makeover.

But it's a pretty difficult set to hide, and Singer confirmed that no matter where the ship goes, it is an automatic tourist attraction.

“;The very sight of it has always excited people,”; said Singer, also the author of “;Bring Me That Horizon: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean.”;

Georja Skinner, head of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism's Creative Industries Division, said she was encouraged that Disney decided to do the work here rather than completing it in Los Angeles. Both she and Singer agreed that it would provide jobs locally, though they were unsure of how many.

The 208-ton ship (285 fueled and ballasted) is 130 feet long and 32 feet wide—a “;seaworthy structure,”; said Skinner. Though it is not a vessel that invites foot traffic, “;our hope is that the ship will stay in Hawaii.”;

Singer could not verify the fate of the ship after shooting. But he did say that the cast and crew are “;thrilled and excited to film in Hawaii”; and can't wait to arrive in the islands.