Who we are

Kamehameha Film Locations and Services is an initiative of Ke Kula ‘o Kamehameha (Kamehameha).

Kamehameha is a private educational charitable trust endowed by Ke Ali‘i Bernice Pauahi Bishop, great-granddaughter of Kamehameha I. Pauahi established Kamehameha Schools to improve the capability and well-being of her people through education.

Today, Kamehameha stewards an extensive and diverse portfolio of lands and properties across Hawai‘i. We seek to make selected locations available for responsible productions that respect the places and communities in which they work and aim to contribute positively to Hawai‘i.

Locations and spaces

Distinctive filming locations

Ke Kula ‘o Kamehameha (Kamehameha) offers a curated portfolio of locations across Hawai‘i:

• Coastlines and beachfront landscapes.
• Forests, streams, valleys, and mountain settings.
• Agricultural lands, ranch lands, and open countryside.
• Industrial, warehouse, and commercial properties.
• Urban streetscapes and mixed-use environments.
• Historic, educational, and community settings, where appropriate.
• Production, basecamp, office, and support spaces.

Each property will be evaluated for availability, production suitability, cultural and environmental considerations, safety, access, and compatibility with surrounding uses.

Prospective productions may explore selected locations through photographs, video, maps, and high-level property information, then submit a request for more detailed recommendations or a location scout.

Production and flex spaces

Selected warehouse and commercial properties on O‘ahu may be suitable for production-related use, including:

• Potential stage conversion.
• Set construction and storage.
• Production offices.
• Wardrobe and equipment support.
• Basecamp and crew operations.
• Other temporary production uses.

Availability and suitability will depend on each production’s operational, safety, electrical, structural, access, parking, and logistical requirements.

Office spaces

Kamehameha may offer office and meeting spaces of various sizes and configurations on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island.

Depending on availability, these spaces may support:

• Production administration.
• Writers’ rooms and creative meetings.
• Preproduction and postproduction work.
• Casting, wardrobe, and departmental coordination.
• Short-term production headquarters.

Location and site coordination

Kamehameha can help productions identify locations and properties suited to their creative and operational requirements.

Our coordination may include:

• Curating potential locations based on a production brief.
• Facilitating site visits and location scouts.
• Coordinating internal property reviews and approvals.
• Identifying site-specific requirements and sensitivities.
• Supporting discussions regarding access, scheduling, permitted activities, and restoration.

Kamehameha does not replace state, county, or federal permitting authorities, but can help productions understand and navigate requirements associated with the Kamehameha property being considered.

Culture and community

Cultural and place-based advisory coordination

Productions seeking to portray Hawai‘i, Hawaiian culture, or specific places responsibly may request connections to qualified cultural and subject-matter advisors.

Areas of expertise may include:

• Hawaiian culture and history.
• ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i.
• Place names and place-based knowledge.
• Hawaiian literature and oral traditions.
• Music, mele, oli, and hula.
• Natural and cultural environments.
• Community histories and contemporary experiences.
• Cultural protocol, lawena, and loina.

Ke Kula ‘o Kamehameha (Kamehameha) may help identify advisors appropriate to the production, subject, and place. Participation will depend on availability, fit, scope, compensation, and applicable Kamehameha policies.

Cultural consultation does not constitute Kamehameha endorsement or certification of a production or its content.

Community and place-based connections

Kamehameha maintains longstanding relationships with communities, organizations, practitioners, businesses, and institutions across Hawai‘i.

We are able to help productions:

• Better understand the contemporary and historical context of a place.
• Identify knowledgeable local partners and community resources.
• Connect with businesses that can support production needs.
• Develop appropriate approaches to community engagement.
• Anticipate place-specific opportunities, considerations, and responsibilities.

These relationships are intended to support respectful engagement and informed decision-making, not to bypass normal consultation, permitting, or community processes.

Production resources and workforce development

Local businesses and production resources

When utilizing our land, Ke Kula ‘o Kamehameha (Kamehameha) can help connect productions with qualified Hawai‘i-based businesses, service providers, organizations, and community partners.

Potential areas of support may include:

• Transportation and logistics.
• Food, catering, and hospitality.
• Construction, fabrication, and materials.
• Landscaping, agriculture, and environmental services.
• Cultural and creative services.
• Location support and community coordination.
• Other production-related goods and services.

Particular attention may be given to regenerative businesses and enterprises connected to Native Hawaiian communities and Kamehameha networks.

These connections can help productions keep more economic activity in Hawai‘i while strengthening the businesses and communities that make production here possible.

Workforce development

Kamehameha may work with industry, educational, and community partners to expand pathways into Hawai‘i’s film and creative industries.

Depending on the production and available partnerships, opportunities may include: Training and workforce-readiness programs.

• Internships and apprenticeships.
• Work-based learning.
• Entry-level production experience.
• Career exposure for haumāna and community members.
• Connections to organizations developing local crew and creative talent.

These efforts may help strengthen Hawai‘i’s production workforce and support productions seeking to increase the participation of qualified local talent and crew.

Workforce-development opportunities will depend on production timelines, partner capacity, funding, and applicable employment and educational requirements.