Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D) recently announced that Hawaii has become one of the safest spots in the world to film amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, noting that demand for online entertainment has been on the rise.
The Hawaii Film Office and Creative Industries Division worked with film producers and unions to create a plan to resume filming with coronavirus protocols called “The Safe Way Forward.”
“Many people were hunkered down at home during the pandemic, skyrocketing the demand for online entertainment,” Ige wrote on his Facebook page on Jan. 6. “Hawaii has been a big part of the solution. Last year, shows like 'NCIS: Hawaii' and 'Doogie Kamealoha, MD' debuted. 'The Safe Way Forward' plan was created with strict COVID protocols, allowing filming to continue, while also bringing in revenue to the state. Meanwhile, HTDC (Hawaii Technology Development Corporation) secured federal grants totaling over $1 million to help local businesses survive the pandemic through digital marketing. This year, the agency is scheduled to launch a $56 million State Small Business Credit Initiative to provide access to capital for small businesses."
More than 200 companies and entrepreneurs were given training and hosted more than 50 virtual events through the HTDC e-commerce program. The program INNOVATE Hawaii has also increased manufacturing capacity for cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment.
The HTDC will be holding a virtual tech job fair on Friday, Jan. 21, for both job seekers and employers looking to hire.