Latest news with #RescueHISurf
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Big changes could be coming for Hawaii's film industry — and they aren't good
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A bill meant to boost the film industry in Hawaii, now threatens to do the opposite according to an industry expert. The lawmaker who introduced the bill said the changes are sending the wrong message. 'Rescue HI Surf,' 'Hawaii Five-O,' 'White Lotus,' 'Magnum PI' and countless other series and movies have been filmed in Hawaii. HIFF Opio Fest: The Future of Film 'They continually marketed Hawaii the best way they possibly could,' Sen. Lynn DeCoite said. But in recent years, there have been fewer productions. DeCoite, who chairs the Senate Economic Development and Tourism committee, had hoped to change that. So she set out to support the industry she said helps generates income, promotes tourism and creates jobs for local residents. 'Our investment of $50 million has come back to us in about $116 million in taxes,' she explained. 'About a billion dollars in spend, take less to $50 million, and you got about $66 million in monies back to our general budget.' DeCoite introduced SB732, meant to sweeten the pot and encourage productions to film here, with additional tax initially increased the tax break from $50 million to $60 million, had language to include streaming productions, and would redesignate the industry as manufacturing, which lowered the GE tax from 4.5% to .5%. Tui'ana Scanlan, the IATSE president representing production crew members, said recent amendments to the bill stripped it bare. 'If it is passed in its current form, it may be devastating towards our industry,' Scanlan said. According to Scanlan, the amendments made by the House Finance Committee, would now repeal the tax program, add a1/6 annual reduction of the $50 million spending cap, and took out language allowing streaming productions. 'It makes it so that we are out of the global competition for filming location,' he explained. Can Hawaiʻi's legislature save our film industry? Scanlan said it would mean fewer jobs for hundreds of local residents who rely on productions for income and it would also impact the tourism industry. 'There is a ripple effect that this industry has on the rest of the ecosystem, the economic ecosystem of the state that I don't think gets as much attention,' he added. 'This sends a completely different message to the very thing we should be marketing. We always talk about marketing our people, marketing our culture, but that's a funny way of showing it,' DeCoite said. 'If we ain't going to promote our very own what are we doing?' SB732 now goes to the full Senate floor. If it passes, it will head to the Governor for his signature. If it doesn't, it will go into conference. Check out more news from around Hawaii Other bills also advancing through the legislature include a bill to add a new cruise ship tax (HB504), one to increase the state vehicle weight tax (HB1231) and another to allow sports betting online (HB1308). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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. Hawaii consumers urged to protect genetic data after 23andMe files for bankruptcy The entertainment industry is looking to become a major revenue driver for the state and one legislative bill could help kick start that. '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. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news '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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
