Source: hawaiinewsnow.com
KO OLINA (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hundreds turned out Friday night for the premiere of “Chief of War,” a new historical miniseries starring Jason Momoa. The nine-part Apple TV+ series has been years in the making, with filming in New Zealand and Hawaiʻi, with several local actors in leading roles.
“I feel amazing,” said Mainei Kinimaka, who plays Heke. “It’s really incredible to be here and be with all of the ʻohana, the cast, and finally get to celebrate this show.” The gala was another Hollywood-style event in Hawaiʻi, about Hawaiʻi.
“It’s a huge honor,” said Momoa, “and I’m doing it with my best friends, and I’m doing it with Native Hawaiians, and I hope everyone can experience something like this where you work so hard for a very long time to have a moment like this.” Momoa plays Ka’iana, an alii of Kauaʻi in the historical drama about King Kamehameha the Great’s unification of the Hawaiian islands in the late 19th century. He also served as the series co-creator and writer with Thomas Paa Sibbett.
“We can talk about Hawaiian history in a way that is appropriate,” Sibbett told Hawaiʻi News Now. “When have we ever been able to have that conversation?” Red carpet events like this one used to happen more often. “Hawaiʻi Five-O” and “Magnum P.I.” would hold Sunset on the Beach events in Waikiki at the start of each TV season.
Production of those and other shows could be seen around the island, and employed local crews. “Rescue HI-Surf” was canceled in May, marking the first time in 20 years that a TV series is not being filmed in Hawaiʻi.
“On average, Hawaiʻi is a $400 million a year production business. That means that money flows into the economy and it’s very important,” said Georja Skinner, chief officer of the state Creative Industries Division. “Currently we’re at half that amount, and that’s because there’s contraction in the industry.”
The state has bene working on increasing tax credits to attract more productions here. “Chief of War” is being seen as a way to jump-start that.
Read more Friday premiere