PERMIT Procedures
(For Use of State-administered Locations)
Film permits are required for all filming activity, commercial or non-commercial, which will take place on State owned and/or Conservation-zoned lands. There are four different categories of film permits:
Tour Group Photography Permits: Hawai‘i-based companies specializing in stills or video of tour groups or individuals, might consider getting a Tour Group Photography Permit. You will be required to carry $1,000,000 GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE coverage naming the State of Hawai‘i as additional insured. Please visit the Hawai‘i Film Office webpage outlining insurance requirements at www.hawaiifilmoffice.com/film-permitting/certificate-of-insurance, for the specific insurance wording. This permit, wearable as a badge, will be issued to individual company photographers for specified locations and is valid from date of approval to the end of the calendar year. Completed applications (involving no problems with the requested locations) filed with the Hawai‘i Film Office can be approved immediately. Permits are renewable at the start of each calendar year. There is no fee for this type of activity. However, photographers are required to wear the badge on location at all times. The permit is for filming activity only; photographers are not allowed to solicit business or conduct any type of business transaction on location.
Annual Permits (for Hawai‘i-based companies): These are for still, video or film shooting of very minimal activity such as scenics, weddings, model portfolios, or stock footage. You will be required to carry $1,000,000 GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE coverage naming the State of Hawai‘i as additional insured. Please visit the Hawai‘i Film Office website www.hawaiifilmoffice.com/film-permitting/annual-permit-application, for the specific insurance wording concerning annual permits. This permit is wearable as a badge, but applicants are not required to specify locations as the badge will be usable at any Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) administered area, excluding Boating administered areas, that is open and accessible to the general public. There is no fee for this type of permit and the badge must be worn at all times on locations. Permits are renewable at the start of each calendar year.
Pre-approved Permits: The beauty of the pre-approved permit is that it may be issued to you immediately and directly from the Film Office. You will be required to carry $1,000,000 EACH GENERAL AND AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY INSURANCE coverage naming the State of Hawai‘i as additional insured. Please visit the Hawai‘i Film Office website www.hawaiifilmoffice.com/film-permitting/certificate-of-insurance, for the specific insurance wording. There are no fees or no enforcement officer supervision. However, your production must meet the following criteria in order to qualify for pre-approved status. First, the location requested must be a DLNR-administered area, excluding Boating administered areas, that is open and accessible to the general public without the need for a special permit (i.e. hiking, Natural Areas Reserve, hunting, etc.).
There are preapproved sites on Oahu, Hawai‘i, Kauai, and Maui. There may be a pre-approved site which has special restrictions. There are sites which are open and accessible but are NOT pre-approved, e.g. Kehena Beach and Kalapana Beach on the Big Island. In addition, you must meet the pre-approved activity criteria; 1) The number of people on location cannot create a significant impact on the public’s use of the site. No more than 20 people (cast and crew) on location. 2) No special parking arrangements are necessary. 3) No temporary or permanent structures are to be built on location (scaffolding for camera position is allowed). 4) Equipment needs require no special attention nor will they create public disturbance (i.e. long cables, noisy generators, dolly tracks). 5) Props to be used cannot cause public inconvenience. 6) Special effects, helicopters, simulated gunfire, or explosives are not to be used on location. 7) No more than four (4) vehicles on location, the largest being a 15-passenger van. Please remember to carry the permit with you on location at all times. Also, the contact person listed on the application will be the one responsible for ensuring that the production abides by the conditions of the permit. Should you need to make changes, additions, or extensions to your permit after it's been approved, give us a call. If the changes are within the pre-approved criteria, we can give you a verbal approval and will inform DLNR of the changes by telephone or fax.
Standard Permits (including INSURANCE / FEES): Standard permits are all those that don’t meet the pre-approved criteria. The major difference is the processing time; please allow five working days before the scheduled shoot date. There are no land rental fees for standard permits. You will be required to carry $1,000,000 EACH General and Automobile LIABILITY INSURANCE coverage naming the State of Hawai‘i as additional insured. Please visit the Hawai‘i Film Office website www.hawaiifilmoffice.com/film-permitting/certificate-of-insurance, for the specific insurance wording. You MAY ALSO BE REQUIRED TO HAVE a Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement (DOCARE) officer with you ON LOCATION at $40 PER HOUR (with a 4 hour minimum per day), depending on the complexity or sensitivity of the shoot.
Use of DOCARE's waterbourne vessels for monitoring purposes will be charged $50 per hour with a 4-hour minimum per day. Location Fees: Airports, Harbors and Highways under the jurisdiction of the Dept. of Transportation are $100/day; Small boat harbors, launch ramps and beaches under the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation are $100/day; State Parks and Beaches under Dept. of Land and Naural Resources - Division of State Parks have a $100/day nonrefundable fee; and locations that fall under the Dept. of Hawaiian Home Lands are $500/day.
Weekend filming is highly discouraged if filming negatively impacts the general public, particularly at popular locations. However, requests for weekend filming will be considered on a case-by-case basis. An important thing to keep in mind: Commercial filming is not allowed at the Heiau in Haena on Kauai. Commercial filming is strictly controlled at three locations on Oahu. These are Iolani Palace and grounds, Royal Mausoleum, and Washington Place. Lastly, these procedures are continually being evaluated. Hawai‘i’s film and television community is asked to help ensure that these rules are not abused. Share the information with a colleague who may be unfamiliar with these procedures. New application forms and printed guidelines are available online at www.hawaiifilmoffice.com/filmpermitting. If you have any questions or concerns about the permitting process, call the Hawai‘i Film Office now; telephone (808) 586-2570. Don’t wait until mid-crisis!
