29-03-2025
Hawai'i film industry struggles, looks for higher tax incentives
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Hawaii film industry said it has reached its lowest point, with no major movies or shows being filmed in the state.
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'Out of the 40 plus years that I've worked in the industry, this is by far the worst, you know, as far as there's no productions going on,' said Brian Keaulana, who is a producer on two television series 'Rescue HI Surf' and 'Chief of War.'
'It's all going around the tax incentive, because the last two lifeline shows that are just waiting to see what's going to happen next are 'Rescue HI Surf' and 'Chief of War,' and if we don't get those two shows back, I don't think this industry going to recover for a long time,' Keaulana added.
The current tax credit caps at $50 million and industry representatives want to see it raised.
'Chief of War' was briefly filmed in Hawaii before finishing production in New Zealand.
Industry experts said bigger tax credits mean more production and more jobs with livable wages here at home.
Many local people in the industry are currently seeking jobs outside of Honolulu Film Commissioner said roughly 2,100 local cast and crews have earned nearly $32 million in wages with 'Rescue HI Surf' and have helped support hundreds of local businesses investing nearly $34 million into the local economy.
'We're competing with Australia and New Zealand and Thailand and all of these other places,' explained Honolulu Film Commissioner Walea Constantinau. 'And we've been able to compete, all we're asking for is the ability to create the stability in the credit so that we can be competitive again.'
Senate bill 732 would increase the tax credit, but the house finance chair hasn't set a date to hear the measure and the deadline is next Friday.
'That is going to help us get to becoming a billion dollar a year industry with money going into the economy, with jobs being created, and with the money broadly going out,' Constantinau added.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed off on Bill 59 which provides property tax incentives for building film studios on Oahu. The bill was spearheaded by Councilmember Augie Tulba.
'Think about 'Chief of War' can you imagine if we did pre and post production here? Everything that whole funding would stay here in Hawaii but we're losing months of income,' Tulba said.
He said he hopes Bill 59 shows legislatures how serious Honolulu is about investing in a profitable industry and keeping local people home.
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'So we can develop infrastructure to create these jobs these kids have been waiting for and we know people want to come film here in Hawaii,' Tulba said.
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