 In 1990 , Burton hired Jonathan Gems to write a sequel titled Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian . " Tim thought it would be funny to match the surfing backdrop of a beach movie with some sort of German Expressionism , because they 're totally wrong together , " Gems said . The story followed the Deetz family moving to Hawaii , where Charles is developing a resort . They soon discover that his company is building on the burial ground of an ancient Hawaiian Kahuna . The spirit comes back from the afterlife to cause trouble , and Betelgeuse becomes a hero by winning a surf contest with magic . Keaton and Ryder agreed to do the film , on the condition that Burton directed , but both he and Keaton became distracted with Batman Returns . 
