We have a cabin with a hardi-plank exterior that needs to be painted. We are trying to find a paint color that looks (from a distance at least) sort of like a cedar exterior, but everything we try looks totally wrong. Can anyone suggest a paint color to try to get that wood look? Thanks!

If it has not been painted before, I would sure look at solid (or semi solid/transparent) colored stains. FLOOD company makes a great solid colored one that is warranted for 15 years on vertical surfaces. We used it on our old cedar fence and it has held up great for a decade.
Stain also does not peel the way paint can sometimes.

A pro paint store may be your best bet to find a locally popular cedar color. It will always look like paint of course.