LIHU‘E — It struck Maka‘ala Ka‘aumoana as impeccably bad timing to be closing down Kuhio Highway in the heart of Hanalei town for Hollywood filming right as Hanalei School was dismissing hundreds of students this week. Filming of “The Descendants,”
LIHU‘E — It struck Maka‘ala Ka‘aumoana as impeccably bad timing to be closing down Kuhio Highway in the heart of Hanalei town for Hollywood filming right as Hanalei School was dismissing hundreds of students this week.
Filming of “The Descendants,” directed by and starring George Clooney, happened midday Tuesday and Wednesday, involving the Tahiti Nui restaurant at the highway’s intersection with Aku Road.
Traffic came to a standstill, she said in an e-mail and telephone interview.
“Folks in Hanalei are very upset at the road closure for the filming today (Tuesday) of ‘The Descendants’ at Tahiti Nui. This could have been done at night with less disruption for school and business traffic,” she said in an e-mail also sent to county leaders.
“Traffic control was ineffective,” said Ka‘aumoana, vice chair of Hui Ho‘omalu i ka ‘Aina, a “taro-roots” community organization formed in the early 1980s to respond to threats to the resources of Halele‘a (Moloa‘a to Ke‘e).
“They just timed it very badly” on the highway Tuesday and Wednesday, with film trucks and other vehicles essentially filling up Hanalei, something that’s not that hard to do, she said.
Ka‘aumoana said she understands and appreciates the economic benefits of the film industry especially in the current economy.
The film crews must understand as well, “It is a community first and a venue second. The issue is coordinating with real life. We live here too,” she said.
A native Kauaian who grew up in Hanalei, George Costa, director of the county Office of Economic Development, said via e-mail that the temporary inconveniences of traffic stoppages are outweighed by the economic advantages of film-making.
“We may have to endure some traffic, whether it’s rubber-necking onlookers or a state (Department of Transportation) highways crew trying to make our roads safer. We exercise patience and know it’s temporary,” said Costa.
“Has everything been perfect? We can’t say it has,” said Costa. “Like everything else in life, nothing is perfect, but it takes everyone working together for the betterment of all,” he said.
“As the island of Kaua‘i and its people continue to struggle through the challenges of this down economy, there are also opportunities and rays of hope that provide economic relief.
“During the next three to four months, Kaua‘i will be one of the Hawaiian islands to host at least three major Hollywood productions,” including “The Descendants,” starring Clooney, “currently being filmed in various locations including Hanalei this week,” said Costa.
“Within a few weeks Adam Sandler and the movie ‘Pretend Wife’ will spend several weeks filming on the North shore as well. Most of us have heard about the fourth episode of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ starring Johnny Depp, and hundreds of movie-extra hopefuls have applied for a role in this movie,” Costa said.
“Although short-lived, these productions will provide an infusion of capital into our economy, put people to work and have another movie credit to (the) storied list that would make most islands, states and countries envious.
“Kaua‘i is truly blessed with its natural beauty that not only beckons Hollywood but visitors to our shores,” he said.
“As a native Kauaian who grew up in Hanalei, I was very young, but remember when ‘South Pacific’ was being filmed. I also remember ‘Donovan’s Reef,’ ‘Blue Hawai‘i,’ ‘The Thorn Birds,’ ‘Flight of the Intruder,’ ‘Uncommon Valor,’ ‘Honeymoon in Vegas,’ ‘Indiana Jones,’ ‘Fantasy Island,’ ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Six Days, Seven Nights’ and, more recently, ‘Tropic Thunder.’
“Overall, Hollywood movie-production companies have been very good to Kaua‘i and its people. They have also been good neighbors and made great effort to understand and respect our culture and land, always returning film locations to their original condition or better,” Costa said.
The late Mayor Tony Kunimura once said of those filming on Kaua‘i, “all they leave behind is money.”
But in addition to the traffic-congestion concerns, Ka‘aumoana said she and others not only on the North Shore but cultural practitioners across the island are concerned over rumors the “Pirates” crew is considering filming at some culturally-significant sites, including, possibly, an important Ha‘ena heiau.
“A proposal/application to film at the sacred sites in Ha‘ena has generated much concern and protest,” she said.
“Hui Ho‘omalu I ka ‘Aina has written to Art Umezu and George Costa requesting denial of their application. Kumu and traditional practitioners of Ha‘ena are rallying to protest and prevent this desecration,” she said in her e-mail.
“These are places that we care a lot about.”
Costa said he cares about those places, too, and movie executives have pledged to meet with concerned residents once a “short list” of potential locations is finalized.
“I have spoken to Janice Polley, location supervisor for Disney Productions, and she has advised that they are compiling a ‘short list’ of areas on Kaua‘i that they would like to film,” said Costa.
“When they completed their list, they are planning to meet with the community groups of those areas to explain why they are selecting those locations, and solicit feedback,” said Costa.
“We want to be good neighbors and do the right thing. We love Kaua‘i and wouldn’t want to do anything that would be disrespectful,” said Polley in Costa’s e-mail.
“Both Art Umezu, county film commissioner (who was with Clooney and the crew of “The Descendants” in Hanalei this week) and I will work with Ms. Polley to conduct community-outreach meetings over the next few weeks to ensure accurate information is shared with the public at large,” said Costa.
“They will also apply for the necessary permits, which include county for county-owned lands and state film permits on state lands,” Costa said.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
