GENERAL PERMIT INFORMATION
For faster service, you are encouraged to contact the Honolulu Film Office first to assist you with coordinating your permitting needs through the various city agencies. The Honolulu Film Office is your One-Stop-Shop for filming request within the City and County of Honolulu.
Contact: Walea Constantinau
Film Commissioner, Honolulu Film Office
Tel: 808-768-6100
Fax: 808-768-6102
Email: info@filmhonolulu.com
Each request is reviewed individually. If the number of people on a site creates a significant impact (the impact can vary from site to site), we may discourage the activity on a weekend. Depending on the activity, you may be requested to hire police or other specific city personnel at varying rates. Feel free to call us with any questions.
Most questions involve the Parks Department or Street Usage Division which are described in detail below. For specific information on other city agencies, please call the Honolulu Film Office directly. Please download and fill out the Film Permit Application Form to the best of your ability, available at our website, www.filmhonolulu.com and email a draft of the form to the film office for review.
PARKS AND BEACHES
There are two types of parks permits guidelines — Pre-approved and Standard. Both are detailed below.
Parks Pre-approved Permit Guidelines: If the following criteria are met, a pre-approved permit may be granted for all generally open and accessible areas under the Department of Parks and Recreation jurisdiction. Please allow 2-3 working days to process.
• The location must be open to the general public and cannot require special entry conditions.
• The activity cannot create a significant impact on the area • The activity cannot interfere with the public’s general use of an area
• Weekend or holiday filming is highly discouraged
• The activity requires no special parking arrangements
• The activity requires no temporary or permanent structures to be built, with the exception of scaffolding for camera position
• Equipment that requires special attention or creates a public disturbance cannot not be used (ie: dolly tracks, long cables, generators)
• Helicopters and Special Effects, including simulated gunfire or explosives, cannot be used
The pre-approved permit allows the filmmaker maximum flexibility and is designed for small groups that are of a minimal impact. Because the permit is issued in a “blanket” format and is not park specific, the permittee may not stop or interfere with ongoing park activities.
Requests for exceptions from the above criteria will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may or may not invalidate the pre-approved status. Some pre-approved sites may have special restrictions. All permits which do not qualify as a pre-approved permit will be considered a Standard Permit.
Parks Standard Permits Guidelines:
All permits which do not qualify as pre-approved permits will be required to follow the guidelines for the Standard Permits. Please allow a minimum of 3-5 working days to process.
• The applicant will be required to carry a minimum of $1,000,000 General Liability Insurance. A certificate of insurance naming the City and County of Honolulu as an additional insured for the duration of the production will also be required.
• Depending on the nature of the activity, special duty police officers or parks department personnel may be required. Rates vary.
• Some locations may have special restrictions.
Insurance requirements:
Some projects are required to carry a minimum of $1,000,000 of general liability insurance and shall name the City and County as additional insured. Please be sure to place the film office name below as indicated or you will not be covering all city agencies.
The Certificate Holder address information shall be listed as:
City and County of Honolulu
530 S. King Street, Rm 306
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813
Attn: Honolulu Film Office
In the description section, please list the following: The City and County of Honolulu, including all of its departments and attached agencies, their officers, employees and agents are named as additional insured with respect to the named insured's filming activities.
Processing Fees: $20-$300 per shoot day
Processing Time: approximately 3 working days
Other Fees: Depending on the nature of the shoot you may be required to hire Parks Department personnel. Rates vary.
Permits and Licensing Office: Located in Downtown Honolulu at 650 S. King Street, Ground Floor, 808-768-3440. Hours: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.
Jurisdiction: Some areas may be managed by both the City and the State. In these instances, you may need to have both a City and a State permit. State Filming permits for state parks usually do not have a fee but you may be required to hire an environmental officer. Call the Hawai‘i Film Office for more details, 808/586-2570.
Restricted Areas: No filming activities are currently allowed at Hanauma Bay Nature Park.
STREETS AND ROADWAYS Please submit a film permit application form and any drawings that may illustrate your parking plan.
Jurisdiction: Most avenues, streets and sidewalks are city managed. The freeway system, most highways and boulevards are under State jurisdiction. Call the Hawai‘i Film Office for assistance with state filming permits at 808/586-2570.
Insurance: Insurance is not usually required, unless the project creates a significant impact on an area or involves explosives.
Processing Fees: A fee will be assessed for parking meter charges plus a $5 processing fee.
Parking Meters: There is a fee of $12.00 per meter per day (for most city areas) Barricades must be posted a minimum of 24-hours in advance. The barricade notices must inform the public of the date and time the general public will be unable to use the meters. Towing is only allowed if barricades are posted. Following is the step-by-step procedure for reserving meters:
1. Identify the meters to be reserved. The numbers are on the back of the meters.
2. Present meter numbers to permit office to obtain permit. Pay fees at this time.
3. Call barricade company to post signs. Reference meter numbers.
4. Call barricade company to remove signs upon completion of shoot.
Note: Some parking meters are in areas that have restricted traveling/parking times called Tow Zone hours. Parking meter permits which conflict with the tow zone hours may require additional departmental review and approval.
Intermittent Traffic and Street Closures: Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. It is highly recommended you work through the Honolulu Film Office to assist with the coordination of projects of this nature. Depending on the activity, you are usually required to post adequate signs and safety aids several days in advance and hire special duty police officers to facilitate traffic flow.
Street Usage Office:
Located in Downtown Honolulu at 650 S. King St, 2nd Floor,
Hours: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Monday through Friday.
POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT USAGE
Honolulu Police Department
Contact: HPD Special Duty Section. To order special duty officers. Visit the HPD website at www.honolulupd.org click on ‘information’ and ‘hire a special duty officer’ or enter the direct link: ‘http://www.honolulupd.org/information/index.php?page=specialduty
You may be required by permit to obtain a special duty police officer or may want a police presence for security purposes during filming. Following is general information for use of HPD personnel or equipment.
Officers: Off-camera special duty officers are available for hire through the Special Duty section of the Honolulu Police Department. Rates are approximately $30 per hour depending on the rank of the officer. Scheduling must be done through the special duty section officer order (808) 529-3610.
Vehicles: On a case-by-case basis, HPD vehicles can be used for filming purposes. Rates are divided into full-day and half-day pricing structure with a half-day being five hours or less. All rates are door-to-door and do not include the cost of an officer. You may be required to hire an officer at special duty rates to transport the vehicle or an off-duty officer as an extra or principal to operate the vehicle, depending on the complexity of the scene.
TYPE OF VEHICLE HALF-DAY FLAT RATE FULL-DAY FLAT RATE
Patrol Car $65 $125
Solo Bike $40 $75
Cushman $40 $75
Officers as Extras or Principals: On camera officers are hired at SAG specialty extra rates or standard SAG speaking rates and are available through local casting directors.
Honolulu Fire Department
Contact: HFD Information Officer
phone: (808) 723-7117
Specialty vehicles, equipment and personnel may be obtained for filming purposes through the Honolulu Fire Department. Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. A rental fee will be charged for the use of fire department equipment and/or personnel. You will most likely be required to hire qualified fire department personnel to operate the equipment rented, depending on the type of equipment and how it will be used.
Rates vary. Fire department personnel may be required on set for large pyrotechnic scenes but a Fire Marshall is generally not required on the set for standard filming.
