Governor Lingle's Radio Address on Film Industry

Governor Linda Lingle's weekly radio address this week was on Hawaii's film industry. You can listen to it here, or read the transcript below:

Hawai`i has long been a favorite location for film and television. From "South Pacific" and "Jurassic Park," to "Hawaii 5-0," "Magnum P.I.," and "Lost," our Islands have captivated audiences for decades. To help Hawai`i's film industry remain competitive, I recently signed a law to increase economic incentives for new film production in Hawai`i. Starting July 1, the state will offer a 15 percent refundable tax credit for production on O`ahu and 20 percent on the neighbor islands. This is a significant increase from the current 4 percent. Last year, film projects spent $100 million in the state, creating hundreds of jobs and generating $115 million in wages, $160 million in secondary spending, and invaluable exposure. We have also completed a $7.3 million renovation of the Hawai`i Film Studio at Diamond Head. These initiatives represent Hawai`i's strong commitment to building a viable film industry, and will help keep our economic momentum moving forward.

>> Governor's E-Newsletter, June 17-23, 2006

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