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First Quarter 2010 Oahu Real Estate Report
Apr 17th
Oahu real estate continues to show positive signs in the first quarter of 2010. The number of sales for single-family homes was up 36.7% from 436 to 596 while condominium sales grew by 48.7% from 552 in the first quarter of 2009 to 821 the same time this year.
Several Oahu areas saw more than 90% increases in the number of sales including; Kaneohe 103%, North Shore 100% and Pearl City- Aiea 90% for single-family homes and Leeward 106.3%, Makiki 93.5% and Diamond Head-Kahala 92.3% for condominiums.
The median price for single-family homes increased by 4.8% from $567,500 to $595,000 and the median price for condominiums grew 2.3% from $295,244 to $302,000. 45 Single Family neighborhoods and 13 condominium neighborhoods saw an increase in median price in this last 12 month period.
Here are the Top 5 Performing Neighborhoods that experienced the highest median price appreciation.
Single Family Homes
- Lanikai in Kailua +37.7%
- Waimalu in Pearl City/ Aiea +34.9%
- Lilipuna in Kaneohe + 26%
- Woodlawn in Manoa +21.6%
- Lower Nuuanu in Makiki +17.4%
Condominiums
- Kapalama – Kalihi +53.3%
- McCully – Nuuanu/ Makiki +15.6%
- Lower Punchbowl – Nuuanu/Makiki +9.5%
- Waialae Nui Valley – Waialae/Kahala +8.6%
- St. Louis – Oahu Other+8.2%
Homebuyer Tax Credit Ending April 30th
The government’s $8,000 first-time and $6,500 repeat homebuyer tax credits are ending this month, but it’s not too late to qualify for it.
Prudential Locations is Hawaii’s largest locally owned and operated real estate company, featuring advanced Hawaii real estate search and exclusive Hawaii foreclosure listings. Visit us online at http://www.prudentiallocations.com
Waialua, McKinley, Campbell High Schools Win Robotics Competition
Mar 29th
A three-team alliance made up of student robotics teams from Waialua, McKinley and Campbell High Schools today won the 2010 BAE Systems FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics) in Hawai‘i Regional Robotics Competition and have qualified to compete in the 2010 FIRST Championships that will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, April 15 -17.  In total, seven Hawai‘i teams have qualified for the National Championships.
In today’s final rounds at the University of Hawai‘i MÄnoa Stan Sheriff Center, six teams – competing in alliances of three teams – went head-to-head in a high-energy robotics version of soccer.  The winning red team alliance included Waialua High School, McKinley High School and Campbell High School.  The second-place blue team alliance included Sacred Hearts Academy, Punahou High School and Honoka‘a High School
In addition to Waialua, McKinley and Campbell, three other teams have automatically qualified to advance to the Championships by capturing top awards in this weekend’s competition.  They include:
- Kalani High School, Regional Chairman’s Award
- Kaua‘i Island School, Engineering Inspiration Award
- Ka‘u High School, Rookie All-Star Award
Sacred Hearts Academy also qualified to attend the National Championships based on the team’s performance in last year’s competition season.
Waialua High School’s “The Hawaiian Kids†team had already earned its spot in the Championship earlier this month by winning the San Diego Regional, followed by a win at the Arizona Regional a week later as well as capturing the Arizona Regional’s Chairman’s Award, the most prestigious award given to the team that best represents the goals of FIRST robotics.
The Friends of Hawai‘i Robotics on behalf of the Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee will sponsor the registration costs for all seven of the qualifying teams to compete in the National Championships.
Nearly 1,000 students from 24 Hawai‘i high school robotics teams and four mainland teams from Alaska, Louisiana and New Jersey participated in the Hawai‘i regional, putting their academic knowledge, innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication skills and teamwork to the test in a high-energy robotics competition.
Awards Presented Today:
Regional Chairman’s Award – FIRST’s most prestigious award honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.  Kalani High School
FIRST Dean’s List Finalist Award – Celebrates outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at attaining, FIRSTideals is exemplary.  Sean Cockey, ‘Iolani School and Caitlin Mori, Sacred Hearts Academy
Engineering Inspiration Award – Celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community. Kaua‘i Island School
Coopertition™ Award – Celebrates the team that best demonstrates the ability to help their opponents compete. McKinley High School
Gracious Professionalism™ – Celebrates outstanding sportsmanship and gracious professionalism in the heat of competition, both on and off the playing field.  Farrington High School
Industrial Design Award – Celebrates form and function in an efficiently designed machine that effectively achieves the game challenge. McKinley High School
Industrial Safety Award – Celebrates the team that progresses beyond safety fundamentals by using innovative ways to eliminate or protect against hazards. Sacred Hearts Academy
Judges’ Award – During the course of the competition the judging panel may decide a team’s unique efforts, performance, or dynamics merit recognition. Kohala High School
Quality Award – Celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication. ‘Iolani School
Rookie All-Star Award – Celebrates the rookie team exemplifying a young but strong partnership effort, as well as implementing the mission of FIRST to inspire students to learn more about science and technology. Ka‘u High School
Team Spirit Award – Celebrates extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit through exceptional partnership and teamwork. Kaua‘i Island School
Awards Presented on Friday:
Excellence in Design Award – Honors clear and compelling evidence of excellence in design development.  McKinley High School
Imagery Award – Celebrates attractiveness in engineering and outstanding visual aesthetic integration of machine and team appearance.  Camden County Technical School, Sicklerville, New Jersey
Innovation in Control Award – Celebrates an innovative control system or application of control components to provide unique machine functions.  Waipahu High School
Creativity Award – Celebrates creativity in design, use of component, or strategy of play.  Punahou High School
Engineering Excellence Award – Celebrates an elegant and advantageous machine feature. Waialua High School
Entrepreneurship Award – Celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit by recognizing a team that, since inception, has developed the framework for a comprehensive business plan to scope, manage, and achieve team objectives. Sacred Hearts Academy
Website Award – Recognizes excellence in student-designed, built, and managed FIRST team websites.  McKinley High School
Regional Woodie Flowers Award – Presented to an outstanding engineer or teacher participating in the robotics competition who best demonstrates excellence in teaching science, math, and creative design.  Glenn Lee, robotics teacher and coach, Waialua High School
Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award – Danny Cook of BAE Systems
The FIRST Robotics Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common engineering problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard kit of parts that included motors, batteries, a control system and a mix of automation components – but no instructions.
This year’s challenge, “BREAKAWAY,†is a robotics version of soccer.  Two alliances of three teams compete on a 27-by-54-foot field with bumps, attempting to earn points by collecting soccer balls in goals using their remote-controlled robot.  Additional bonus points will be earned for each robot suspended in air and not touching the field at the end of the match.
Robotics provides students with a strong educational foundation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and offers them opportunities to solve problems, work as teams and think analytically – skills useful in any career.
Earth has just a handful of long-lived lava lakes
Mar 26th
What volcanic locale do the following characteristics describe? (1) A persistent lava pond within a deep pit crater, just below a popular visitor overlook in a national park, (2) Small explosions that have thrown debris over a nearby visitor parking lot, (3) A continuous gas plume, producing choking vog that affects downwind communities, (4) The sacred home of a fearsome female deity.
To most Volcano Watch readers, these descriptions would rouse thoughts of Halema`uma`u Crater, at Kilauea’s summit. Its ongoing eruption, now entering its third year, exhibits all the characteristics above.
But, remarkably, these traits also describe Masaya volcano, a broad basaltic shield just outside the city of Managua in Nicaragua. It is frequently active, with Spaniards first documenting its activity in 1525. Some Spaniards believed it was the mouth of hell, while others tried to extract the gold they thought was within the active vent. To indigenous people, Masaya was the home of Chalchiutlicue, the water deity, who was an old and wise sorceress with sharp fangs.
In recent decades, a deep pit crater at Masaya has hosted persistent lava activity. At times, there is a lava pond, and, at other times, the floor of the crater consists of rubble with small incandescent openings. Visitors can see the vent from the overlook on the crater rim. In April 2001, a small explosion scattered rocks across the visitor parking lot, just beside the overlook, damaging cars and buses. Tourists at the overlook sought refuge in their vehicles or fled on foot; several sustained injuries from flying debris. Despite the danger, Masaya continues to be a popular visitor destination in Nicaragua.
Persistent lava lakes and lava ponds exist at several other volcanoes. Mount Erebus, on Ross Island in Antarctica, has hosted a small lava lake since at least 1972, and possibly as far back as 1841. Mount Erebus’ lava lake is notable, in part, because of the frequent small explosions in which large gas bubbles can be seen rising to the surface and bursting in spectacular fashion.
Two long-lived lava lakes are situated in Africa. Erta Ale volcano, in a remote part of Ethiopia, has hosted a lava lake since at least 1967. The lava surface consists of slowly migrating crustal plates, with upwelling in one portion of the lake and sinking in another. Mount Nyiragongo, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a large stratovolcano that has hosted a lava lake since at least the 1950s. The lava lake has drained several times through the volcano’s flank, producing fast-moving flows that have entered the city of Goma with deadly results.
How can lava lakes exist for decades? All persistent lava lakes share a fundamental process—called magmatic convection—that enables them to remain fluid. It begins with gas-rich magma rising from depth. As the magma approaches the surface, the gases bubble out and escape. The magma at the top of the column, now degassed and somewhat cooled, is slightly denser and sinks back down the conduit. This cycling of mass and heat sustains an open, active vent—a process now underway at Halema`uma`u.
Persistent lava lakes are invaluable to scientists because they offer a “natural laboratory†for volcanic processes. The continuous activity provides ample time to observe magmatic convection, crustal foundering, degassing, and spattering behaviors. Changes in activity can be observed and used as keys to understanding the deeper magmatic system.
What can we learn about Halema`uma`u from these other lava lakes? Whereas eruptions are relatively brief at most volcanoes on Earth, persistent lava lakes demonstrate that some volcanoes can maintain continuous activity for decades or more. We know that Halema`uma`u’s lava lake persisted through much of the 1800s and early 1900s, so Halema`uma`u is essentially already a part of this exclusive group.
The question is whether Halema`uma`u’s current activity will continue sufficiently long that it can renew its membership in the persistent lava lake club. Only time will tell, and HVO will continue to watch and learn from this fascinating eruption.
Kilauea activity update
On Kilauea’s east rift zone, small breakouts were active well above the pali, about 1 km (0.6 mile) above Royal Gardens subdivision, through the week. There are no active flows on the face of the pali, on the coastal plain, or in the National Park.
At Kilauea’s summit, a spattering and roiling lava surface deep within the collapse pit inset within the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater was occasionally visible via Webcam during the past week. Volcanic gas emissions remain elevated, resulting in high concentrations of sulfur dioxide downwind.
One earthquake beneath Hawai`i Island was reported felt during the past week. A magnitude-2.9 earthquake occurred at 1:11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 24, 2010, H.s.t., and was located 15 km (9 miles) west of Pahala, at a depth of 3 km (2 miles).
Visit the HVO Web site for detailed Kilauea and Mauna Loa activity updates, recent volcano photos, recent earthquakes, and more; call (808) 967-8862 for a Kilauea summary; email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Ohana Music Together Comes to Libraries
Mar 18th
Ohana Music Together, an internationally-recognized early childhood music and movement program for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, will be presented at the Hawaii State Library on Tuesday, March 30 at 10:30 a.m. in the Edna Allyn Children’s Room.
Rebecca Andrew, owner and director of Ohana Music Together of Hawaii, will conduct the free program which encourages children to experience music and emphasizes adult involvement.
The Friends of the Library of Hawaii are sponsoring this program which is suitable for ages 4 and younger. All children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
In addition, other Oahu libraries are scheduled to host the Ohana Music Together program this month:
- March 22, 10:30 a.m. – Kailua Public Library (239 Kuulei Road; telephone 266-9911)
- March 25, 10:30 a.m. – Kaneohe Public Library (45-829 Kamehameha Highway; telephone 233-5676)
- March 29, 10:30 a.m. – Salt Lake-Moanalua Public Library (3225 Salt Lake Boulevard; telephone 831-6831).
Contact the Hawaii State Library two weeks in advance if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed.
Hawaii State Library is located at 478 South King Street, corner of Punchbowl and South King Streets. For more information, please call the Library’s Edna Allyn Children’s Room at 586-3510.
Tsunami Warning
Feb 27th
From the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center:
A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE ALONG COASTLINES OF ALL ISLANDS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. URGENT ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY.
A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF LONG OCEAN WAVES. EACH INDIVIDUAL WAVE CREST CAN LAST 5 TO 15 MINUTES OR MORE AND EXTENSIVELY FLOOD COASTAL AREAS. THE DANGER CAN CONTINUE FOR MANY HOURS AFTER THE INITIAL WAVE AS SUBSEQUENT WAVES ARRIVE. TSUNAMI WAVE HEIGHTS CANNOT BE PREDICTED AND THE FIRST WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST. TSUNAMI WAVES EFFICIENTLY WRAP AROUND ISLANDS. ALL SHORES ARE AT RISK NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION THEY FACE. THE TROUGH OF A TSUNAMI WAVE MAY TEMPORARILY EXPOSE THE SEAFLOOR BUT THE AREA WILL QUICKLY FLOOD AGAIN. EXTREMELY STRONG AND UNUSUAL NEARSHORE CURRENTS CAN ACCOMPANY A TSUNAMI. DEBRIS PICKED UP AND CARRIED BY A TSUNAMI AMPLIFIES ITS DESTRUCTIVE POWER. SIMULTANEOUS HIGH TIDES OR HIGH SURF CAN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE TSUNAMI HAZARD.
THE ESTIMATED ARRIVAL TIME IN HAWAII OF THE FIRST TSUNAMI WAVE IS 1105 AM HST SAT 27 FEB 2010.
Latest updates:
Resources:
- Tsunami Evacuation Zones for the State of Hawaii
- Disaster Preparedness (Hawaii State Civil Defense)
Lava takes ‘two steps forward, one step backward’
Feb 16th
Lava advances in “two steps forward, one step backward†style
Long-time Kilauea Volcano watchers know the drill when the supply of magma to the active vent on the volcano’s east rift zone is interrupted—abandonment of the “old†lava tube system, breakout of new surface flows, an evolving tube network, and eventually a new ocean entry.
This drama is unfolding again as many small `a`a and pahoehoe flows spread through what is left of the Royal Gardens subdivision and move a short distance across the coastal plain. The flows are providing sporadic, distant views of incandescent lava, glow, and burning vegetation from the Hawai`i County viewing area in Kalapana.
These flows are the consequence of a temporary decrease in magma supply to the active vent, beginning December 29 and lasting nearly 6 days. The decrease corresponded to a pronounced deflation of the summit and east rift zone area, followed by several days of only slight inflation as recorded by sensitive tiltmeters.
Scientists interpret deflation as an indicator of a relative decrease in magma supply and inflation as an increase in magma supply.
When the December 29 deflation event began, lava was pouring into the ocean at Waikupanaha, and more than 1,000 people per day were visiting the Hawai`i County lava viewing area. Within a few days, however, the entry shut off completely. Lava stopped entering the ocean by January 4, but some lava continued to move through the uppermost part of the tube system within about 3 km (2 miles) of the TEB vent.
The upper tube system lies within a complex series of rootless shields tens of meters (yards) tall that were built by thousands of overlapping small flows between November 2007 and February 2008. Near the lower end of these rootless shields, the original tube system became blocked as the Waikupanaha entry shut off, forcing lava to break out onto the surface at several locations between the shields and the top of Royal Gardens.
These flows are slowly creating a new but unstable tube system as the supply of magma to the vent continues to fluctuate. Seven deflation-inflation events have occurred since December 29.
During the inflation periods, new breakouts from the tube have generally formed longer flows that reached lower and lower elevations on the pali. Breakouts from the next inflation period often start lower than the previous breakout—evidence that the tube system was elongating and forming longer flows. The overall result of this pattern, as described by scientists, is a “two steps forward, one step backâ€-style of flow advancement and tube development.
Continued small fluctuations in magma supply as a consequence of small deflation-inflation cycles will likely promote growth of the new tube system all the way to the coast, west of the Waikupanaha entry. But a larger- or longer-than-usual deflation event may cause the young tube system to stagnate and trigger new breakouts above Royal Gardens in a sudden step backward.
Kilauea Activity Update
Surface flows have been active on the lower pali and coastal plain within the Royal Gardens subdivision. These flows have largely stayed close to the base of the pali but had extended halfway to the coast by Thursday morning. A deflation/inflation cycle, which started on Tuesday at Kilauea’s summit, caused these flows to slow down by mid-week. Surface flows in the same general area will likely be renewed when the volcano re-inflates.
At Kilauea’s summit, a spattering and roiling lava surface, deep within the collapse pit inset within the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater, was sporadically visible via Webcam. On several occasions, the lava surface rose slightly briefly covering the floor of the pit, but activity, for the most part, has remained fairly steady. Volcanic gas emissions remain elevated, resulting in high concentrations of sulfur dioxide downwind.
There were no felt earthquakes during the past week.
Visit the HVO Website for detailed Kilauea and Mauna Loa activity updates, recent volcano photos, recent earthquakes, and more; call (808) 967-8862 for a Kilauea summary; email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Photo: Aerial view of Kilauea Volcano’s south flank shows new lava flows in Royal Gardens subdivision (center) and the coastal plain (bottom center). Blue smoke (center right) is from burning vegetation caused by active lava flows. The developing lava-tube system is marked by the linear alignment of fume left of the burning vegetation, extending to the horizon. U.S. Geological Survey photograph by Jim Kauahikaua, February 11, 2010.
Hawaiian Airlines touts on-time performance
Feb 12th
Hawaiian Airlines extended its streak as the nation’s #1 on-time airline to a sixth consecutive year in 2009, according to today’s release of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report for December and year-end.
Hawaiian’s on-time performance for all of 2009 averaged 92.1 percent highlighted by its leading the industry in each month for the entire year (Hawaiian ranked #1 in December at 87.0 percent). Hawaiian has led the nation’s carriers in on-time performance every year since 2004 and during that span has earned the #1 ranking in 63 out of a possible 72 months.
“The employees of Hawaiian Airlines know what customers care about most is arriving on time, and for the last six years, no one’s been better at this than Hawaiian Airlines,†said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO.
Hawaiian also finished 2009 as the nation’s top-ranked carrier for fewest flight cancellations based on data reported monthly by DOT. Hawaiian averaged an industry-best 0.2 percent for flight cancellations in 2009, and either led all carriers or tied for the top spot in nine of the 12 months. In December, Hawaiian was nearly perfect at finishing #1 with only two cancellations out of 5,833 total flights.
Hawaiian earned the second-highest overall score for baggage handling in 2009 averaging 1.90 mishandled baggage reports for every 1,000 passengers served during the year. In December, Hawaiian recorded the industry’s top score with 1.66 mishandled baggage reports per 1,000 passengers.
Hawaiian also ranked second overall nationally in fewest oversales for 2009, reporting only 22Â involuntary denied boardings out of more than 8.3 million passengers served during the year.
Hawaiian is the nation’s largest provider of air service to Hawaii from the Western U.S., as well as the leading carrier for interisland service between the islands of Hawaii. The DOT report covers 19 airlines, including nine carriers providing service to Hawaii, and is available online.
Big Island Avocado Festival on Feb. 20
Feb 9th
Local avocados are the star of the show at the fourth annual Hawai’i Avocado Festival on Saturday, Feb. 20, from 9:00 to 5:00 pm. The free community, Zero Waste event is at the Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden on Hwy. 11 and offers a wealth of activities for attendees of all ages.
Fun and informative festivities include demonstrations on avocado grafting and growing, an avocado recipe contest, free guacamole sampling, farmer’s market, arts and crafts, healing arts, agriculture and sustainable living displays, a green fashion show, raffle benefit for Innovations Public Charter School, exciting keiki games, healthy organic foods and a beverage booth serving refreshing smoothies, juices and kava drinks and a chic green fashion show, a living Eco Village pavilion, a silent auction presented by Innovations Public Charter School, arts and crafts, healing arts, sustainable living displays and exciting keiki games.
Experts with UHʼs College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and the HawaiÊ»i Tropical Fruit Growers Assoc. will host demonstrations on avocado culture, including growing varieties suited to HawaiÊ»i, plus grafting techniques, organic management and bee keeping and pollination. Also on tap is a panel discussion, “Putting the Culture Back into Agriculture.”
New to this yearʼs festival is a demonstration of “figure casting” by Josef Hadley aka Brudajo. Also on display will be original festival art by Shirley Pu Wills, a Chinese brush painting titled “Avocadoes in the Breeze.” The art will be sold on prints and T-shirts and Wills will be available to sign prints.
For information, contact Randyl Rupar at (808) 936-5233 or randyldna@earthlink.net, or visit www.manakeasanctuary.org.
Hawaii school robotics programs get boost
Jan 25th
Governor Linda Lingle announced today in her State of the State Address that she has authorized the use of $2,805,200 in federal stimulus funds to enhance robotics education programs in Hawai‘i’s schools. The funds will be provided to the University of Hawai‘i College of Engineering, which will disburse the money to the Friends of Hawai‘i Robotics, a not-for-profit organization formed for the purpose of supporting the Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC) and robotics educational programming in the state of Hawai‘i.
The grant money, $1,097,200 this year and $1,708,000 in the next fiscal year, is designed to help foster robotics education and expand students’ learning of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) throughout their schooling, while preparing them for careers in the global economy.
“Robotics education has become an integral part of our efforts to prepare Hawai‘i students for the global economy,†said Governor Lingle. “While we work to develop an innovation economy with high-technology careers based in Hawai‘i, we must also ensure our state’s workforce is ready for the future opportunities. Robotics students will be among those who develop viable solutions to our local, national and global challenges. They will ensure Hawai‘i stays at the forefront of the global economy.â€
The funds will be used to purchase robotics kits and curriculum packages for schools, provide teacher workshops and professional development training as well as cover operating costs of competitive robotics events which occur year-round.
“The robotics programs are truly effective in engaging our youth – our future – in the excitement and wonder of science, technology engineering and math,†said University of Hawai‘i at MÄnoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw. “All of the partners, certainly including highly committed teachers, sponsors, mentors and volunteers, contribute to the success of these programs and such efforts have a positive impact on Hawai‘i’s future. UH-MÄnoa is also definitely excited about having the participants as our students in the future.â€
The Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC) was formed last year to bring together the six robotics programs – FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Robotics, Botball, VEX Robotics, Underwater Remote Operating Vehicle and Micro Robotics – which previously operated independently. This is the first time all six of the robotics programs have coordinated their efforts to promote robotics education in elementary, middle and high schools statewide.
Over the past 3 years, student participation in robotics education has grown tremendously. Currently, 182 public, charter and private schools have robotics teams in one or more of the six robotics programs, accounting for 47 percent of Hawai‘i’s schools.
Robotics education is a key component of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative, which seeks to transform Hawai‘i’s economy from one based on land development to one based on the innovative capacity of Hawai‘i‘s residents, especially our youth.
The $2.8 million funding is being made available to the state under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, Part B as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that was passed by Congress last February. Governors have discretion over how to use Part B funds, which for Hawai‘i total approximately $35 million. Governor Lingle has elected to dedicate all of the Part B funds toward public education, with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Fourth ‘Pirates’ feature to film in Hawaii
Jan 18th
Governor Linda Lingle today announced that Hawai‘i will be the location for “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,†the fourth installment of the highly successful Walt Disney Pictures’ action adventure film series from Jerry Bruckheimer Films.
The Walt Disney Company President and CEO Bob Iger met with Governor Lingle on Friday to share the news that the islands of Kaua‘i and O‘ahu will be sites for the production of the feature film, which will begin shooting this summer and is slated to be released in summer 2011. The production is expected to generate an estimated $85 million in direct and indirect spending in Hawai‘i, providing a needed economic boost for the state’s economy as well as creating hundreds of jobs for local residents.
“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides†will star Johnny Depp, returning to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow. The film is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and directed by Rob Marshall. The writers are Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and the executive producers are Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Barry Waldman, Elliott, Rossio and John DeLuca.
“Disney’s long-term commitment to Hawai‘i – from ABC’s ‘LOST’ to the new Disney resort on O‘ahu scheduled to open in 2011, and now the upcoming filming of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ – is a testament to the company’s confidence in our state as a great place to do business,“ said Governor Lingle.
“The Walt Disney Company has a great relationship with Hawai‘i that we’re looking forward to building upon with the filming of the latest adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew,†said Iger. “I thank Governor Lingle and her team for their tremendous support of the projects Disney has underway in this great state.â€
“We’ve always sought out the most extraordinary and exotic locations for the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ films,†said producer Jerry Bruckheimer, “and previously shot briefly on both Maui and Moloka‘i for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.’ Hawai‘i provides an amazing range of both land and seascapes, and we’re delighted to return for ‘On Stranger Tides.’”
The state’s Creative Industries Division and the Hawai‘i Film Office, which are housed in the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, began working with Disney last year and organized a series of meetings and conference calls to help secure the business.
Georja Skinner, the State’s Creative Industries Division administrator who oversees operations of the Hawai‘i Film Office, worked collaboratively with the Governor’s office, Department of Taxation and Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert, along with Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau, Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, the Kaua‘i Film Office, the City and County’s Honolulu Film Office, The Resort Group, Ko Olina Resort and Disney Vacation Club to help secure “Pirates of the Caribbean†for Hawai‘i.
“Hawai‘i competes on a global basis for productions and to have Disney choose Hawai‘i over other states and countries is a huge win for us,†said Skinner. “Creative industries are by nature collaborative and what I think made a difference for us is the combination of our tax incentive as well as local film, travel and destination industry support.â€
“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides†joins a growing list of feature film and television productions slated to film in Hawai‘i this year. Warner Bros. feature “Hereafter,†directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Matt Damon completed filming on Maui last week. Pre-production is also beginning for the feature film “The Descendents,†starring George Clooney and directed by Academy Award®-winning writer/director Alexander Payne. The film is based on the book by Hawai‘i resident Kau‘i Hart Hemmings. Several network pilots, as well as a Japanese drama series and a Korean drama series are also scouting Hawai‘i for projects this year.
