Spotlight On Hawai'i

Where is the greatest place to film a movie? Well, that's an easy question to answer: Hawai‘i is the location of choice for many filmmakers, producers, directors and actors, because it has the most perfect production sets.

With its beautiful scenery, year-round sunny weather and secluded areas, it's easier to create a more realistic portrayal of any other climate in the world (paradise-wise).

Hawai‘i's film industry started back in 1898, when movies were soundless and in black and white. Now Hawai'i has produced movies such as "Blue Crush," "50 First Dates," "Jurassic Park," "Just Go With It," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "Pirates of the Caribbean" and many more popular hits. Local landmarks, such as Sea Life Park on O‘ahu and many different hotels, have increased in popularity just by being featured in a movie. Locals now have a chance to become extras in movies, and can have a movie experience—without having to pursue an acting career on the Mainland. Wouldn't you rather be sipping a mimosa with Adam Sandler in Hawai‘i?

Although it can be exciting to have actual movie stars in town, a lot of problems arise when it comes to the film industry actually becoming a booming business in

Hawai'i. On Maui, some people believe that our island is too overpopulated, and by filming here, more people are going to want to live here, therefore resulting in not enough room for everyone. There are other problems, too. Some say that if the industry gets too big here, the tax incentives for media productions will become more competitive (at 15 percent for O‘ahu and 20 percent for Neighbor Islands).

According to Adina Crafton-Crow, a film lobbyist for the State of California, said the tax incentive issue is a complex issue. "It's just a hard thing to explain," she said. "All I know is, with the tax percent being the way it is here [in California], Hawai'i will never have a booming industry like the Mainland does."

(Tax incentives are used for the budget of the movie and how much it costs. For more information about tax incentives, visit www.hawaiifilmoffice.com.)

Aside from the tax credits, though, do residents feel that Maui will benefit from the film industry? Many people believe that the islands will only benefit from movies being filmed here, as residents will be exposed to an industry that they are not accustomed to. They will also be able to view the movie industry in a whole different perspective, just by having the opportunity to be a part of it. In addition, local businesses will benefit and the economy will get a boost, reasons why the industry would welcome here—as long as no harm is done in the process.

"As long as they respect our culture and lands," said UHMC student Haylee Watson, "I feel that it's a great idea to shoot movies here." Watson is one of many whose concern isn't that movies will be filmed here—but that production crews will always leave the island looking the way it did when they got here.

But on the brighter side of things, Maui (and all of Hawai'i) still offers the best imitation of many different places around the world—without a film crew having to travel long distances. For example, Maui's Haleakala Crater could be used as the landscape of a different plant, a desert, or even a remote village. The beautiful beaches could be used as an imitation of the Bahamas, Cabo San Lucas or even Rio de Janeiro. It's no wonder producers everywhere are doing everything they can to film in the Hawaiian Islands.