Council urges Board of Regents to expedite West Oahu film studio; developer says 34‑acre, privately financed complex is near lease agreement

The Committee on Public Safety and Economy on Sept. 24 took up Resolution 26-211 urging the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents to expedite advancement of a film and media production facility on UH West Oahu land.

Multiple witnesses testified in support. Angela Melody Young said she supported expediting the project and urged the council to consider state law (Act 188) that contemplates film studios on state land and to consider financial exemptions to aid developers. "As an advocate, I would like to propose that perhaps the council can... start thinking about looking at the bill that was passed this year at the state legislature and consider the work that can be accomplished through act 188," she said.

Valea Consonal of the city film office said the city is positioned to take advantage of recent local and state incentives and highlighted alignment with City Bill 59 and newly passed state tax credits. She said the city had submitted testimony and was prepared to answer questions.

Rick Lindas, identified as a cofounder of Island Film Group and part of the development team awarded the right to negotiate for the West Oahu site, told the committee the ground-lease negotiation and development agreement were "coming to an end shortly" and said the project covers a 34-acre parcel split roughly between commercial/retail/hotel and purpose-built sound stage acreage. He said the developer expects to privately finance the build and estimated permitting and construction could take two to three years once agreements and permitting are complete. "It's a 34 acre parcel... 15 acres and 15 acres... the other 15 acres will be sound stage... 50 feet tall... 18,000 square feet each," he said.

Council members asked for clarity on delays and next steps; Lindas attributed the year-long negotiation timeline to university legal reviews and attorney changes in the university’s counsel, and said the Board of Regents was expected to vote on the ground lease and development agreement during its November committee meeting. Tim Gary, a caller, urged the public to contact the Board of Regents and suggested mayoral involvement to push the project forward.

The chair amended the resolution to a posted CD1 and recommended reporting it out for adoption; no objections were raised. The committee did not vote on the underlying lease or development agreement; those remain subject to university approval and Board of Regents action.