Last year was a banner year for film production on Kaua’i, with over 60 projects shot here accounting for over $11.4 million in direct revenues, and $22.8 million in economic impact. According to the county Office of Economic Development’s Kauai
Last year was a banner year for film production on Kaua’i, with over 60 projects shot here accounting for over $11.4 million in direct revenues, and $22.8 million in economic impact.
According to the county Office of Economic Development’s Kauai Film Commission, there were more days of shoots on Kaua’i last year (378) than days in the year.
Nearly 500 Kauaians worked as film crew members, and another 425 as cast, accumulating over 2,500 crew days and over 1,200 cast days.
Filming on the island last year generated 8,008 hotel room nights, and four feature films brought over $6 million to Kaua’i.
A pair of television series added another $2 million: “Manhunt,” on UPN, and “Moolah Beach: The Big Adventure,” on Fox Family.
In terms of numbers, though, TV episodes (14) and TV commercials (11) accounted for over a third of all Kaua’i projects in 2001.
Photography shoots for print advertising, editorial features and accumulation of stock shots of paradise happened at least 11 times last year, and the six sports or exercise shows filmed here brought in over $1.3 million.
There were eight travelogues, four documentaries and numerous local productions.
It appears Japanese filmmakers like Kaua’i more than typical Japanese tourists, because 25 percent of all production work done here last year involved crews from Japan.
The United States accounted for 68 percent of all projects, or 41 shoots, with Europe coming three times and South America once.
The figures don’t include other productions done on the island that either didn’t require the services of the county film office, or were shot entirely on private property so didn’t require film permits.
