28/07/2025
Last night at the Maui screening of Chief of War, producer Brian Keaulana spoke about the real struggles of filming in Hawaiʻi. Parts of the series had to be shot in Aotearoa because our islands just couldn’t compete with the tax credits offered elsewhere.
Right now, Hawaiʻi’s film industry is dead in the water. If we want to see a future where our stories are told by us, for us, we need to invest in this industry. It’s time Hawaiʻi values the economic power of film — not just as a creative outlet, but as a path to diversify our economy and reduce our over-dependence on tourism.
Chief of War gives us hope — that we can build a thriving film industry rooted in culture, employing local talent, and honoring our moʻolelo.
Let’s make it happen.
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