The global launch of Apple TV+’s sweeping historical drama Chief of War is just days away, and anticipation in Hawaii is running high—not just for Jason Momoa’s performance, but for what the series could mean for the state’s struggling production sector.

The Momoa-led miniseries, which chronicles the unification of the Hawaiian islands, is being positioned by state leaders and filmmakers alike as a potential game-changer for the islands’ screen industry.

“I think it’s absolutely intelligent to understand that the film industry and what Chief of War is about to do for the world and for Hawaii,” said award-winning filmmaker Vince Keala Lucero. “It’s gonna be life-changing for a lot of people, for the state, for Hawaiians, for the lahui, everybody.”

A Crucial Moment for Hawaii Productions

The optimism comes at a precarious time. Following the recent cancellations of CBS’s NCIS: Hawaii and NBC’s Rescue HI-Surf, the state currently has no major series or feature films in active production. That’s a stark reversal for a sector that generated more than $320 million for Hawaii’s economy last year.

Lucero, who co-founded the Hawaii Film Alliance to unite local industry professionals, emphasized resilience: “Hawaii film people are resilient. They’re tough. Tough people last, tough times don’t. So by doing that, we can just make this a better industry for everybody.”

Incentive Challenges and Opportunities

One major factor impacting production levels: incentives. Hawaii currently offers a 22% tax credit for projects filmed on Oahu and 27% for productions shot on the neighbor islands. A recent bill that could have boosted those credits was deferred in the state legislature.

Governor Josh Green signaled this week that he’s weighing potential changes, including a “cultural clause” aimed at encouraging productions like Chief of War—which highlights Hawaiian history and features the Hawaiian language—to film more extensively in the islands.

“That show should be filmed as much as humanly possible in Hawaii,” Green told Hawaii News Now, noting that 80% of the series was shot in New Zealand. “We want cultural films that represent Hawaii to be filmed here exclusively.”

Industry Impact

State officials estimate that Chief of War already provided significant opportunities for local crews. “We had 3,000 people at the opening, but many of those individuals were on the film crew,” said Green. “Like key grips, writers, directors and producers. We want a whole generation of Hawaiian kids, in many cases, from the west side where Jason (Momoa) comes from, involved in this new industry and opportunity.”

Chief of War makes its worldwide debut on Apple TV+ on Aug. 1.