HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0420.006 2020-2022 'P/Gowc,
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Comments on Communication 420.5 re.film industry
for Hawai'i County Council
Committee on Governmental Operations, Relations,and Economic Development
9:30 AM Tuesday,January 18, 2022 COUNTY CLERK
from Cory Harden COUNTY OF HAWAIpl
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Thank you to Ashley Kiekierwicz for introducing this resolution. 'Tine �:5$ .rvt. y
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Hawaii Island has seen serious impacts from inadequate government oversight of filmmakers who have
little knowledge of the land or culture, and who are working under deadlines and financial pressure.
As we saw with "Love Island",filming can disrupt residents' lives and cause serious harm to
neighborhoods. Filming can also spread invasives, displace sensitive species, and damage habitat,
causing irrevocable harm.To add insult to injury,sometimes State employees sent to monitor film
companies focus instead on controlling the public.And what comes out of all this upheaval, all too
often,are films completely out of sync with Hawaii's land and culture, and that view is then
disseminated to thousands of people.
I support the resolution's call for an "assessment of economic impacts".
That should include:
(1) Figures on how much money from filming actually ends up in our island economy. Film
companies and people they hire are often based outside of Hawai'i, so those profits and salaries
don't benefit Hawai'i.
(2) Figures on missed tax revenues--film companies got almost$39 million in state tax breaks in
2019.
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(3) Costs for government oversight of film activities by these and other agencies:
County: Film Office
Parks and Recreation Department
Planning Department
Police Department
Public Works Department
State: Film Office
Department of Land and Natural Resources
Department of Transportation
Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands
Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement
(4) Costs of lost business, and inconvenience for employees and customers,due to film companies.
Many residents don't know they are eligible for compensation.
(5) Costs of impacts to residents' lives
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Ref. Date JAN �R 202?
(6) Costs of impacts to land,water, air,animals and plants from filming in environmentally sensitive
areas—the places often most attractive to film companies.
I support the resolution's call for a"process for establishing fines for improper conduct".
Please also consider requiring:
(1) References from companies wishing to film here.
(2) A bond posted by companies to cover any damage.
(3) Filming bans for companies and individuals whose past conduct was egregious.
(4) A safety coordinator for each company.
(5) Cultural/environmental monitors.
Mahalo.