Bridal Kealana: Hawai‘i needs studios and water tanks, not just tax breaks

Bridal Kealana, a waterman, stunt coordinator and co‑founder of ICANN (International Cultural Arts Network), said Hawai‘i’s biggest constraint is physical infrastructure rather than talent alone. “We just need the infrastructure,” he said, arguing that controllability — lighting and weather control — is vital to retain shows beyond short exterior shoots.

Kealana described options from modular above‑ground tanks to sinking in‑ground tanks and noted that a tank colocated with a studio would make productions more likely to stay and do reshoots locally. “If you get one tank and the studio right next to them, we would capture a whole bunch because controllability is everything in filming,” he said, urging policymakers and private investors to prioritize build‑outs that support both safety and production schedules.