Hollywood might write the scripts, but Hawaii's film industry is writing its own blockbuster success story, generating a record-breaking $500 million economic impact in 2022 while supporting thousands of local jobs.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Hawaii film industry generated $281 million in direct spending on local goods and services
- Feature films and TV productions spent $162 million on local labor in Hawaii during 2022
- The film industry contributed $47 million in state taxes from productions in 2022
- 127 permitted productions filmed in Hawaii in 2022
- 45 feature films were produced or shot partially in Hawaii in 2022
- 82 television episodes were filmed in Hawaii in 2022
- The industry employed 4,200 full-time equivalent jobs in 2022
- 1,200 above-the-line positions like directors and producers worked in Hawaii 2022
- 3,000 below-the-line crew members including grips and electrics employed in 2022
- NCIS: Hawai'i filmed 22 episodes in Season 2 (2022) primarily on Oahu
- Magnum P.I. reboot shot 20 episodes in 2022 on Oahu plantations
- Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. produced 10 episodes in 2022 at Honolulu studios
- Hawaii's film tax credit caps at 25% for qualified expenditures up to $200M per production
- Additional 5% credit for hiring local hires exceeding 50% of crew
- Infrastructure credits up to 35% for studio buildouts over $10M investment
Hawaii's film industry generated half a billion dollars in economic impact in 2022.
Economic Impact
1In 2022, the Hawaii film industry generated $281 million in direct spending on local goods and services
Verified2Feature films and TV productions spent $162 million on local labor in Hawaii during 2022
Verified3The film industry contributed $47 million in state taxes from productions in 2022
Verified4Total economic impact including indirect and induced effects reached $500 million for Hawaii's film sector in 2022
Directional5Film and TV productions supported 4,200 jobs in Hawaii in 2022, leading to $250 million in wages
Single source6Hotel spending by film crews amounted to $25 million in 2022
Verified7Rental car expenditures by productions hit $12 million in 2022 across Oahu and other islands
Verified8Local vendor payments for equipment and services totaled $85 million in 2022
Verified9The industry's multiplier effect generated an additional $219 million in indirect spending in 2022
Directional10Film tourism from movies like Jurassic Park adds $100 million annually to visitor spending
Single source11In 2019 pre-pandemic, direct spending was $415 million, down to $281 million in 2022 but recovering
Verified12Oahu captured 85% of all film spending in 2022 at $239 million
Verified13Maui saw $22 million in film spending in 2022, boosting local economy
Verified14Kauai's film expenditures reached $15 million in 2022
Directional15Big Island (Hawaii Island) had $5 million in film-related spending in 2022
Single source16The industry paid $38 million in transient accommodations taxes in 2022
Verified17General excise taxes from film activities totaled $9 million in 2022
Verified18Film productions supported 1,200 above-the-line jobs paying average $120,000 salary in 2022
Verified19Below-the-line crew wages summed to $142 million for 3,000 jobs in 2022
Directional20Extras and day players earned $20 million across 12,000 workdays in 2022
Single source21In FY2021, film tax credits issued totaled $50 million, spurring $200 million in spending
Verified22The sector's GDP contribution was 0.5% of Hawaii's total GDP in 2022 at approximately $450 million
Verified23Film industry exports of services reached $150 million in 2022 from international co-productions
Verified24Local business revenue from catering to crews was $18 million in 2022
Directional25Construction and permitting for sets cost $10 million in 2022
Single source26Fuel purchases by productions amounted to $8 million in 2022
Verified27Air travel spending by non-resident crew was $30 million in 2022
Verified28Retail spending on props and wardrobe totaled $15 million in 2022
Verified29Medical and insurance services billed $5 million to productions in 2022
Directional30Educational partnerships generated $2 million in joint programs funding in 2022
Single sourceEconomic Impact Interpretation
Hawaii's film industry is a blockbuster economic engine, proving that every dollar spent on a production is like a good supporting actor—it multiplies, creates jobs, and pays the bills for the entire state, all while showing off the islands so beautifully that tourists keep buying tickets to the real-life sequel.
Employment and Workforce
1The industry employed 4,200 full-time equivalent jobs in 2022
Verified21,200 above-the-line positions like directors and producers worked in Hawaii 2022
Verified33,000 below-the-line crew members including grips and electrics employed in 2022
Verified4Background extras filled 12,000 workdays at average $200 per day in 2022
Directional5Local hire rate reached 85% for crew positions in 2022 productions
Single source6Average annual wage for film crew: $75,000 in Hawaii 2022
Verified7Women comprised 42% of the film workforce in Hawaii 2022
Verified8Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders: 25% of hires in 2022
Verified9Training programs graduated 500 new entrants via Hawaii Film Office in 2022
Directional10IATSE Local 665 had 2,500 members active in 2022
Single source11Teamsters Local 996 supplied 800 drivers for productions in 2022
Verified12Post-production houses employed 450 specialists in 2022
Verified13VFX artists numbered 200 in Hawaii firms serving film in 2022
Verified14Stunt performers registered: 150 locals used in 2022 shoots
Directional15Wardrobe and costume designers: 120 employed across seasons in 2022
Single source16Location managers and scouts: 80 full-time in 2022
Verified17Underwater camera operators: 40 certified locals in 2022
Verified18Drone pilots licensed for film: 120 in Hawaii 2022
Verified19Sound mixers and boom ops: 200 jobs filled in 2022
Directional20Gaffer and lighting techs: 350 positions in 2022 productions
Single source21Art department crew: 450 including set designers in 2022
Verified22Editors and assistant editors: 180 local hires in 2022
Verified23Production assistants: 600 entry-level jobs in 2022
Verified24Catering staff for crews: 1,000 workdays weekly average in 2022 peak
Directional25Security personnel: 400 shifts for night shoots in 2022
Single source26Animal handlers: 50 jobs for films with wildlife in 2022
Verified27Makeup and hair artists: 250 employed in 2022
Verified28Transportation coordinators: 100 positions across shows in 2022
Verified29Script supervisors: 60 hires for scripted content in 2022
DirectionalEmployment and Workforce Interpretation
While the islands' allure as a backdrop remains timeless, these figures prove that Hawaii's film industry now thrives not just as a scenic rental, but as a serious, homegrown economic engine, employing thousands from grips to gaffers and ensuring the luau behind the lens is as authentically local as the one on screen.
Major Films and TV Shows
1NCIS: Hawai'i filmed 22 episodes in Season 2 (2022) primarily on Oahu
Verified2Magnum P.I. reboot shot 20 episodes in 2022 on Oahu plantations
Verified3Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. produced 10 episodes in 2022 at Honolulu studios
Verified4Jurassic World Dominion reshoots used Kauai for 12 days in 2022
Directional5The White Lotus Season 2 filmed key scenes in Maui for 45 days 2022
Single source6Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom shot underwater sequences off Oahu in 2022
Verified7Indiana Jones 5 used Big Island for jungle scenes 15 days 2022
Verified8Hawaii Five-0 legacy tours boosted from 250 episodes filmed 2010-2020
Verified9Lost filmed 121 episodes on Oahu 2004-2010
Directional10Pearl Harbor (2001) shot for 60 days on Oahu battleship sets
Single source1150 First Dates (2004) filmed entirely in Waikiki and Turtle Bay
Verified12Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) used Turtle Bay Resort extensively
Verified13Battleship (2012) constructed sets at Kualoa Ranch Oahu
Verified14The Descendants (2011) shot 40 days on Kauai and Oahu
Directional15Moana (2016) animation inspired by Polynesian Hawaii culture
Single source16Sonic the Hedgehog 2 filmed chase scenes in Honolulu 2022
Verified17NCIS Hawai'i Season 1 (2021) 22 episodes Oahu $40M spend
Verified18Magnum P.I. Season 4 (2022) 20 eps $30M local spend
Verified19Doogie Kameāloha Season 2 (2023 prep 2022) 10 eps
Directional20Fantasy Island series 13 episodes Oahu 2021-2022
Single source21The Right Stuff Disney+ 10 eps Kauai launches 2022
Verified22Ratched Netflix 8 eps Oahu mental hospital set 2022
Verified23Torn Hearts indie film Big Island 2022 release
Verified24My Adventure in Hawaii docuseries 6 eps 2022
Directional25Commercials for Toyota shot 5 days Kauai 2022
Single source26Nike ad campaign Maui waves 3 days 2022
VerifiedMajor Films and TV Shows Interpretation
Hawaii's film industry is a deceptively powerful economic engine, cleverly disguised as a vacation backdrop that just happens to produce everything from blockbuster bombast and network procedural comfort food to quirky comedies and prestige drama, all while its stunning geography consistently steals every scene.
Production Volume
1127 permitted productions filmed in Hawaii in 2022
Verified245 feature films were produced or shot partially in Hawaii in 2022
Verified382 television episodes were filmed in Hawaii in 2022
Verified4Commercials accounted for 35 projects with 120 shooting days in 2022
Directional5Documentaries and independents totaled 25 permits in 2022
Single source6Total shooting days across all productions reached 2,500 in 2022
Verified7Oahu hosted 1,950 shooting days or 78% of total in 2022
Verified8Maui had 350 shooting days for 14% of productions in 2022
Verified9Kauai recorded 150 shooting days in 2022
Directional10Big Island saw 50 shooting days for niche projects in 2022
Single source1160% of 2022 productions were TV series continuations like NCIS Hawaii
Verified12New series launches included 5 major shows starting in 2022
Verified13Feature film budgets averaged $25 million for Hawaii shoots in 2022
Verified14TV episode budgets spent $1.5 million per episode on average in Hawaii 2022
Directional15Commercial production days increased 20% from 2021 to 120 days in 2022
Single source16Student films and shorts totaled 40 permits in 2022
Verified17Music videos shot 15 projects in 2022
Verified18Still photography for ads had 12 shoots in 2022
Verified19Virtual production stages used in 5 projects in 2022
Directional20Drone permits issued for 80 productions in 2022
Single source21Underwater filming permits: 25 in 2022 mostly around Oahu and Kauai
Verified22Night shoots accounted for 30% of total shooting days in 2022
Verified23Helicopter aerial days: 120 in 2022
Verified24Boat-based shoots: 200 days in 2022
Directional25Land permitting on state lands: 90 projects in 2022
Single source26Park filming permits: 40 in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park 2022
Verified27Total permits processed by Hawaii Film Office: 1,200 in 2022 including renewals
Verified28International productions: 15 from Asia-Pacific in 2022
VerifiedProduction Volume Interpretation
Hollywood may still be scrambling for that perfect tropical backdrop, but Hawaii's film industry in 2022 clearly proved it's no one-trick pony, expertly juggling everything from blockbuster budgets and the relentless grind of TV procedurals to the delicate dance of drone shots over volcanoes, all while reminding us that the true starring role is held by the islands themselves, with Oahu commanding the spotlight and the neighbor islands carving out their own unique, albeit smaller, niches in the plot.
Tax Incentives and Policies
1Hawaii's film tax credit caps at 25% for qualified expenditures up to $200M per production
Verified2Additional 5% credit for hiring local hires exceeding 50% of crew
Verified3Infrastructure credits up to 35% for studio buildouts over $10M investment
Verified4$500,000 minimum spend required for tax credit eligibility in Hawaii
Directional5Credits transferable and sellable to third parties at market rate
Single source6In FY2022, $72 million in tax credits allocated to 20 productions
Verified7Separate labor pool credits for post-production up to 20%
Verified8Digital media and animation qualify for up to 25% credits
Verified9No cap on total annual credits since 2019 law change
Directional10Audits required for all claims over $1M by Dept of Taxation
Single source1196% local workforce spend qualifies for full credit rate
Verified12Above-the-line caps at $2M per person for credit qualification
Verified13Maui County offers additional 10% rebate on top of state credits
Verified14Kauai filming permits streamlined under new 2021 ordinance
Directional15Hawaii Film Office processes permits free for under 10 people shoots
Single source16Workforce development grant matches 50% of training costs up to $100K
Verified17Export incentives for international sales of Hawaii-shot films
Verified18Green production rebates 5% for sustainable practices certified
Verified19Soundstage rental subsidies 30% for first-time Hawaii studios
Directional20Annual film festival funding $2M via EFC grants
Single source21HB1189 (2023) extends credits to 2030 with ROI study
Verified224:1 ROI ratio required for credit approvals per law
Verified23VFX and CGI spend qualifies if 75% local labor
Verified24Music scoring credits up to 25% for Hawaii composers
DirectionalTax Incentives and Policies Interpretation
Hawaii’s film tax code is like a meticulously crafted luau for Hollywood: it’s generous enough to lure in the big productions, but shrewd enough to ensure the local economy gets a hearty plate of the poi.
Sources & References
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