‘Amazing trajectory’: Hawaii film industry rebounding with more movies in the islands

News admin June 16, 2026 0 Comments

‘Amazing trajectory’: Hawaii film industry rebounding with more movies in the islands

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Momentum is building in Hawaii’s film and television industry, with the state poised to provide long-awaited tax breaks and major new productions in the works.

The projects include Disney’s live-action Moana, which HNN caught a private screening of on Monday, about three weeks before it is set to hit theaters.

Like the original cartoon, the movie, starring Dwayne Johnson and newcomer Catherine Laga’aia, is a family-friendly comedy rich in island culture.

Besides Moana, Netflix’s Untamed recently wrapped up production, marking the first Canadian series to film in the islands.

The live-action Lilo and Stich Sequel is set to open in 2028.

Martin Scorsese is also expected to come out with a new Hawaiian mobster film, a reported 200-million dollar 20th Century production, headlined by The Rock, Leonard DiCaprio and Emily Blunt.

The new productions come after a lull for the industry, after Fox scrapped its series, Rescue HI Surf, last year.

The cancellation hit hard, with some workers saying they had to move away.

“The fim industry right now, is sort of trying to swing back from a time when very little was happening,” Chief of War actor Moses Goods told HNN.

Moses, who is also in the live-action Moana, is thanking lawmakers for shoring up Hawaii’s show business.

“It was in a rough place and there have been some bills that have passed that hopefully will get the industry to swing back again,” Goods added.

Goods referred to Senate Bill 2580, which proposes a 5% increase to the state’s film tax credit for productions that hire at least 80 percent local workers.

When asked whether Governor Josh Green would sign the measure, his office responded, “The Governor will carefully review this bill and other legislation enrolled to him. Decisions relating to these bills will be released at the appropriate time.”

Former Hawaii state film commissioner Donne Dawson commended legislators for passing the bill, adding, “I think that lawmakers really get it for the first time, I think that they are interested in making Hawaii more attractive, making Hawaii more competitive.”

However, the state has yet to name Dawson’s replacement. After 25 years on the job, Dawson retired on May 1, and said the state has been in talks with potential successors.

“You cannot have a healthy, successful industry in Hawaii if you do not have a strong film commissioner,” Dawson said. “I’m confident that they’re going to find somebody that’s perfect for the job.”