The Hawaiʻi Film Alliance announced today (May 8) that the state’s landmark film tax incentive legislation has passed the legislature and awaits the Governor’s signature.
SB 2580 is the measure that the film and television communities have been awaiting, since the latest legislation – a tax incentive infrastructure which will enable movie and TV creators to once again aim their cameras to end the drought here – so actors, directors, cinematographers and all the allied craft industries, can soon start shooting again after a decade without prominent filmic action throughout the state.
Gov. Josh Green is expected to sign the legislation, which will green-light future projects and once again stabilize a new generation of feature films and episodic television fare to fuel the island’s entertainment industry.
“This bill positions Hawaiʻi to become the premier Pacific hub for global film and streaming production,” said Irish Barber, president of the Hawaiʻi Film Alliance. “More importantly, it creates sustainable local careers so Hawaiʻi’s creative workforce no longer has to leave home to build a future in this industry. This is about investing in our people, our stories, and the long-term future of Hawaiʻi’s creative economy.
The bill passed the full floor vote in both chambers of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature .
The legislation strengthens Hawaiʻi’s ability to compete for major film, television, and streaming productions while prioritizing local workforce development, expanding opportunities for Hawaiʻi businesses, and creating long-term stability for the state’s creative economy.
“This bill positions Hawaiʻi to become the premier Pacific hub for global film and streaming production,” said Irish Barber, President of the Hawaiʻi Film Alliance. “More importantly, it creates sustainable local careers so Hawaiʻi’s creative workforce no longer has to leave home to build a future in this industry. This is about investing in our people, our stories, and the long-term future of Hawaiʻi’s creative economy.”
Among the major provisions included in SB 2580:
- Base tax credit rates of 22 per cent on Oʻahu and 27 per cent on Neighbor Islands.
- A 5 per cent local hire uplift for productions meeting the 80 per cent of local hire threshold, bringing effective rates to 27 per cent on Oʻahu and 32 per cent on Neighbor Islands.
- Inclusion of streaming productions under the incentive program.
- An increase in the per-production cap to $20 million, with exemptions for productions exceeding $60 million in qualified spending.
- Expansion of the overall annual program cap to $60 million.
- Extension of the program sunset to January 1, 2038.
- Retroactive implementation effective December 31, 2025
- Reinstatement of third-party CPA audits for accountability and transparency
- Updates to General Excise Tax treatment for film industry payroll companies to better align with comparable payroll service structures
The inclusion of local hire language in statute represents a milestone achievement for Hawaiʻi’s production workforce and reflects years of advocacy from local crew members, producers, and industry professionals seeking to build a more sustainable in-state industry.
“For years, Hawaiʻi has watched productions come here to begin projects and then leave for other jurisdictions because our incentive structure could not compete with the realities of modern production — especially in the streaming era,” Barber said. “That meant lost jobs, lost opportunities, and local workers being forced to leave Hawaiʻi to continue their careers. SB 2580 changes that trajectory.”
Among the recent projects filmed here: Jason Momoa’s “Wrecking Crew,” Disney’s live-action “Moana,” and Momoa’s “Chief of War” limited shooting here. In the heyday of a tax benefits, episodic CBS procedurals like “Hawaii Five-0” and “Magnum P.I.” were anchored in Hawai‘i” and another CBS legacy series, “NCIS: Hawai‘i,” was launched but could not sustain life in Pearl Harbor and Honolulu, before being pink-slipped.
Hawai’i also hosted such major movie blockbusters, for limited shooting but grand reaction upon release. Remember the likes of “Indiana Jones” and “Jurassic Park”? Perhaps a new generation of these mammoth attractions will beginning shooting here, with the latest tax incentive legislation.
“When audiences around the world see Hawaiʻi on screen, they want to experience these islands for themselves,” said Brian Keaulana, founding member of HFA and the International Cultural Arts Network. “Film and television showcase Hawaiʻi’s beauty, culture, and aloha spirit to a global audience, inspiring visitors to travel here and supporting hotels, restaurants, transportation companies, small businesses, and local communities throughout the state. The impact of this industry reaches far beyond the set.”
