Latest news with #DiamondHead
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Weeds, hope grows for stagnant film industry in Hawaiʻi
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaiʻi's stagnant film industry is becoming glaringly obvious as weeds have taken over the once-bustling film studio, but there is hope with continued tax credits and momentum from two big productions. Big changes could be coming for Hawaii's film industry — and they aren't good The Hawaiʻi Film Studio in Diamond Head sits vacant with weeds now growing outside. An actor recently tweeted the visual – some say symbolic of the current state of our film industry. 'It's just sad that now that there's nobody in there, it's dying, it's falling apart just like the industry is,' said Ralph Malani, hairstylist. Malani is one of the thousands of locals who worked behind the scenes of film and T.V. productions. But with nothing currently shooting here, he's had to find other work just like almost everyone else in the industry. 'If the choice is between doing the thing that you love and doing the thing that will feed your family, that's a pretty easy and still tough choice,' said Tuiaana Scanlan, IATSE Local 665 President. But there is some hope. Governor Green announced he plans to veto House Bill 796, which would put a five-year expiration on income tax credits on several industries, including film and television, research and renewable energy. Green feels the credits are critical to supporting economic development and scares away future investors. Check out more news from around Hawaii 'It means that we have a longer runway for our industry to take off,' said Scanlan. Those in the industry hope the Governor's veto jumpstarts everything again and gets this studio and all the industry employees in Hawaiʻi back to work. With the success of 'Lilo and Stitch,' and Jason Momoa's 'Chief of War' scheduled to debut in August, industry leaders say now is the time to showcase Hawaiʻi and for Hawaiʻi to see what these productions really mean. 'They put us in the forefront and spotlight of folks when they're looking at travel destinations, when they go to a theater, when they see advertisements for a movie, that directly impacts the visitor industry,' said Scanlan. Scanlan cites one 2022 study that found the film industry accounted for 4.5 million visitor days in Hawaiʻi, $544 million in wages and $720 million in economic impact. 'The benefit of productions that look to create those stories about Hawaiʻi, are hiring more local directors, local writers and we at DBEDT really believe that's an important part of putting Hawaiʻi first,' said Georja Skinner, DBEDT Creative Industries Division Chief Officer. Another important part, according to Skinner, is making incremental changes in Hawaiʻi's film tax credit which the State Film Office will push to do next legislative session. She says it's about 30% across the nation, while it's 22% on Oʻahu.'Atlanta has become the new Hollywood,' said Malani. 'And they film everything in Atlanta now because they play the game. They give the tax incentives, they play the game. Hawaiʻi doesn't play the game, and look what happened.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NCIS: Hawai'i Vet Shares Video of ‘Empty,' Weedy Honolulu Studio, as Governor Fights for TV/Film Incentives
A longstanding hub of Hawai'i TV and film production shows heartbreaking signs of disuse, as the 50th state is confronted with the first time in more than 20 years that it has not hosted a TV series. NCIS: Hawai'i vet Jason Antoon, who played the three-season CBS drama's Ernie, recently shared a drive-by video of the Hawaii Film Studio in Honolulu, a 7.5-acre lot at the foot of Diamond Head crater that most recently was home to the NCIS spinoff and CBS' Magnum P.I. reboot. More from TVLine Roberto Orci, Co-Creator of Fringe and Sleepy Hollow, Dead at 51 NCIS Offers a Blink-and-You Missed It Update on the Hawai'i, Los Angeles and New Orleans Teams Lost Rises to No. 2 on Nielsen Streaming Top 10, Trailing The Lincoln Lawyer In decades prior, the lot also was home base for nearly a dozen other TV shows — including CBS' Hawaii Five-0 reboot, Shawn Ryan's Last Resort and, of course, Lost — plus feature films such as Fifty First Dates and Blue Crush. Hawaii Film Studios – Empty and full of weeds. #NCISHawaii #MagnumPI #Hawaii50 #Lost 😢 — Jason Antoon (@jasonantoon) June 7, 2025 With the recent cancellation of Fox's Rescue HI-Surf, which filmed in Oahu and its North Shore, Hawai'i now is hosting no TV production for the first time in more than 20 years. That's a frightful stat when you consider that film and television productions generated over $320 million for the Hawai'i economy as recently as 2024. 'We've had such a doldrum of no work pretty much since Magnum cancelled, [Disney+'s] Doogie [Kamealoha M.D.] cancelled, NCIS[: Hawai'i] cancelled…,' IATSE Local 665 rep Irish Barber shared with Hawaii News Now after Rescue HI-Surf got the axe. And shows that swing by to film an episode or two don't provide enough steady work to truly support the local talent pool. (For example, 90% percent of Rescue HI-Surf crew members were based out of Hawaii.) Hawai'i currently offers TV and film production 'incentives' in the form of a tax refund of 22% for Oʻahu productions and 27% on neighboring islands. That falls short, though, of the more competitive 30% or larger refunds offered by other states. And even those Hawai'i incentives are at risk. Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green recently declared his intent to veto a bill that would 'sunset' such tax credits after five years (or by one third annually starting with Year 6). 'This bill would have a significant long-term impact on income tax credits across a variety of industries, including film and television, research, and renewable energy,' Green's office explained, and 'disincentivize future investors from doing business in Hawai'i.' Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Residents want sustained enforcement on Diamond Head homeless
DIAMOND HEAD, Hawaii (KHON2) — The issue of homelessness around Diamond Head continues to frustrate neighbors and beachgoers, even after a major sweep in April. Over 100 cleared from Diamond Head during homeless sweep KHON2 checked it out and found some troubling signs that the problem has not gone away. Kuilei Cliffs Beach Park looks like any other scenic spot on Oʻahu at first glance, but this corner of paradise was also home to a large and messy homeless encampment until June 5. 'And I've been writing letters and and sending in photos and I mean, I think people from all over the world come here. They shouldn't have to see that,' said Ann, a Diamond Head beachgoer. Ann and others who visit the beach said they have been pleading for help for weeks, but it was not until KHON2 reached out to HPD and the Department of Land and Natural Resources on Thursday that action was taken — the encampment was cleared out on Friday. Neither agency would say who made it happen — HPD told KHON2 that it was DLNR responsibility and DLNR said to ask HPD. There is concern that someone cooking dinner could provide the spark that lights up the whole mountainside with the summer heat drying out the slopes. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news City officials said at Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Town Hall meeting on Thursday that they were aware of the risks, especially from campfires and open flames. A joint sweep with the State removed most of the homeless living around Diamond Head in April. 'There were as many reported 120, 140 people on the Hill. There's 12 there now, seven on top, five below. We're going to zero. We're going to zero because of the fire safety issues that are posed there,' said Department of Community Services director Anton Krucky. Diamond Head Beach is still troubled even though some areas are mostly cleared. Folks are still living in the cliffs and along the shoreline — neighbors said it simply is not safe. 'It's a very dangerous place for anybody really, alone. Male or female, there's a lot of people on drugs here. You can tell. And, there's no police presence here,' said Arleen Velasco, Diamond Head Neighborhood Board vice chair. Velasco said the solution is not just clearing tents, it is sustained enforcement. 'If people knew there was a police presence and they were going to get tickets and fines. I think they'd go somewhere else,' said Velasco. 'You know, I used to come to Diamond Head all the time, for many years, and walk the beach, but now I go somewhere else because I don't like to walk past it. It's. It's a safety issue for me,' Ann said. Check out more news from around Hawaii Jurisdiction over enforcement is split between City police and State DLNR officers, and for now, this scenic part of the south shore is still caught between gorgeous views and serious problems. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
