Film and television in Hawaii

The U.S. state of Hawaii is referenced extensively in popular media, supported by efforts of the state government.

Hawaii Film Office

The Hawaii Film Office is an agency of the U.S. state of Hawaii through the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The agency facilitates all in-state film and television productions and photography shoots, whether they are small, local, or independent projects or large commercial projects.

Each county also has its own film commission that works in concert with the state-run Hawaii Film Office. These county offices coordinate relations between media producers and the specific counties within which they film — Big Island Film Office, Honolulu Film Office, Kauai Film Commission and Maui Film Office. Each film commission is led by a film commissioner, appointed by respective county mayors, that acts as a liaison with the Governor of Hawaii and the Hawaii State Legislature in consideration of tax incentives and other benefits granted for filming in Hawaii.

A partial list of movies and television shows filmed in Hawaii

See also: List of films set in Hawaii

Feature films

• Strange Frame (2012)
• The Descendants (2011)
• Just Go with It (2011)
• Soul Surfer (2010)
• Princess Kaiʻulani (2009)
• A Perfect Getaway (2009)
• Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
• 50 First Dates (2004)
• The Big Bounce (2004)
• Punch-Drunk Love (2003)
• Blue Crush (2002)
• Pearl Harbor (2001)
• Lani Loa (1998)
• Race The Sun (1995)
• Picture Bride (1995)
• Honeymoon in Vegas (1991)
• North Shore (1987)
• Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
• Hawaii (1966)
• Blue Hawaii (1961)
• South Pacific (1958)
• From Here to Eternity (1953)

Set, but not produced, in Hawaii

• Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Produced, but not set, in Hawaii

• Strange Frame (2012)
• The Tempest (2010)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
• Avatar (2009)
• Tropic Thunder (2008)
• The Rundown (2003)
• Windtalkers (2002)
• Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
• Jurassic Park 3 (2001)
• To End All Wars (2001)
• Six Days Seven Nights (1998)
• Waterworld (1995)
• Jurassic Park (1993)
• Uncommon Valor (1983)
• Raiders of the Lost Ark (1980)
• King Kong (1976 remake)

Television projects

• Hawaii Five-0 (2010-): CBS Series
• Living Lahaina (2007): MTV Series
• Maui Fever (2007): MTV series
• North Shore (2004-2005): Fox series
• Endurance: Hawaii (2004): Discovery Kids reality series
• Hawaii (TV series) (2004): NBC series
• Dog The Bounty Hunter (2004-present): A&E series
• Celebrity Mole Hawaii (2003): ABC series
• Baywatch Hawaii (1999-2001): NBC series
• The Real World: Hawaii (1999): MTV series
• Marker (1995): UPN series
• One West Waikiki (1994-1996): CBS series
• Byrds of Paradise (1994): ABC series
• Jake and the Fatman (1988-1990): CBS series
• Raven (1992) : CBS series
• War and Remembrance (1984): ABC mini-series
• The Thorn Birds (1982): ABC mini-series
• Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988): CBS series
• Fantasy Island (1988): ABC series
• The Don Ho Show (1976-1977): ABC series
• Aloha from Hawaii (1973): NBC special featuring Elvis Presley
• Little People (1972-1974): CBS series
• Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980): CBS series
• Gilligan's Island (1964): CBS series
• Adventures in Paradise (1959-1962): ABC series
• Hawaiian Eye (1959-1963): ABC series

Produced, but not set in, Hawaii

• Lost (2004-2010) ABC series
• Off the Map (2011) ABC series
• Flight 29 Down (2005-2007) Discovery Kids series
• Tour of Duty (1987-1988): CBS series

Set, but not produced in, Hawaii

• South Park (2012): Comedy Central; Butters must explore his Hawaiian heritage with his friend Kenny.
• Mama's Family (1987) syndicated; Thelma Harper, having been a contestant on Jeopardy! wins a Hawaiian vacation for the entire family; two following episodes chronicle the trip.
• Charlie's Angels (1980): ABC; The Angels move headquarters in Hawaii for 5 episodes.
• Charlie's Angels (1977): ABC; Charlie is kidnapped in Hawaii: the Angels go to the rescue.
• Sesame Street (1977-78): PBS; Four of the Sesame Street cast, along with Big Bird, Oscar, and even Snuffleupagus travel to Hawaii for a week of episodes during which they learn all about the nuances of Hawaiian culture, and Big Bird and Snuffleupagus search for a famous mountain shaped like a Snuffleupagus. Episode numbers: #1090 through #1095; originally aired January 13–20, 1978.
• Sanford and Son (1976): NBC; Fred and his son are vacationing in Hawaii and partaking in a convention for junk dealers. Little do they realize a pair of jewelry thieves are using them to smuggle diamonds to the mainland U.S.!
• The Brady Bunch (1973): ABC; The Bradys travel to Hawaii for three episodes.

External links

• hawaiifilmoffice.com Official site. Some forms are downloadable directly from the site.
• Hawaii Film Office Blog Official news blog on current events of the film and television industry of Hawaii
• Hawaii Film Office Locations library
• Honolulu Advertiser Reference on Act 88 Tax Credit with comment by Hawaii film commissioner