The cancellation of “NCIS: Hawaii” has left fans and the state of Hawaii in a state of disappointment. Many were shocked by the decision, including Eugene Price, owner of Honolulu design firm PD Technologies, who said that the show brought in $50,000 in revenue for his business last year.
Rachel Whitley, who served as the Hawaii casting director for all three seasons of the show, expressed her shock at the cancellation. She highlighted the hundreds of jobs that the show created, from stand-ins to photo doubles. Despite strong viewership, financial considerations played a significant role in the decision to cancel the show.
CBS reportedly spent $75 million per season on producing “NCIS: Hawaii,” making it a costly production. Competition from other filming locations with lower costs has led some productions to move away from Hawaii, despite tax incentives offered by the state to attract productions. More than 15,000 fans have signed a petition urging CBS to reconsider cancelation but may not be enough to change their mind.
The cancellation has prompted reflection on Hawaii’s film industry and led discussions about building a state-of-the-art film studio in West Oahu. While such developments are still in their early stages, there is hope that they could help stimulate growth in the local film industry. Despite this setback, there is determination among stakeholders to address challenges facing the industry and move forward towards sustainable growth.
