Hawaii’s film tax credit expanded to delight of industry workers

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Surrounded by supporters and film industry leaders, Gov. Josh Green signed Senate Bill 2580 into law Monday.

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“It expands the tax credits to a more meaningful, number, $60 million, and we want to keep going up because doing that means that there’s opportunities to bring more films, more attention, more investment into our state,” Gov. Green said.

In recent years, many major projects have left Hawaii for places offering stronger tax breaks and lower production costs.

“I’ve heard many instances where projects wanted to film here but they couldn’t because it was too expensive,” Hawaii actor Moses Goods said.

State Sen. Lynn DeCoite pointed out the ripple effect the loss of productions had on Hawaii.

“Every production supports our camera crews, electricians, our carpenters, our drivers, our caterers, our musicians, artists, hotels, restaurants, retailers, transportation companies, and countless small businesses across our islands,” she said.

Union members who have pushed for changes to the program celebrated the bill’s signing, saying it could mean more people can stay in Hawaʻi and keep working in the industry.

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“It means that we’re gonna go back to work, baby. I’m just so excited!” actress & SAG-AFTRA, APAM member Shereen Balles said. “There’s a lot of my friends like cameramen and rigs and like Actors, even just, just in general, people have had to move away or they’ve had to find another job.

The new law also includes an additional 5% bonus for productions that hire at least 80% local workers.

During Monday’s signing, Hawaii star Jason Momoa shared a message of support.

“We have a lot of talent in Hawaii and a lot of skilled local labor and a lot of stories to share. What we’ve needed is the opportunity to tell those stories here at home. Working on Chief of War reminded me what’s possible when we invest into our own people and we trust our local voices to lead,” Momoa said.

Actors and industry workers are now excited to continue their work telling the stories of Hawaii — in Hawaii.

“We’re telling these stories of our ancestors, our kupuna. It needs to be done here in our aina and so that’s the change that we’re, that we know can happen now,” Goods added.

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The tax credit is now set to last until 2038.