Walea Constantinau is the founding film commissioner of the Honolulu Film Office and oversees film policy and film commission operations for all level of productions in Honolulu and on O‘ahu. During her tenure, she has helped to develop the industry from a $40 million per year location into a production hub that generates nearly $400 million of direct spend -- totaling over $700M of economic impact -- to her region annually.
Working closely with the State of Hawai‘i and the Neighbor Island commissions, the partnership attracts commercial production, new media, television and feature projects from around the world with its stunning locations, competitive tax incentive and welcoming Aloha Spirit.
Assisting projects such as National Geographic and BBC documentaries, independent films and iconic Hollywood television series and features such as LOST, Hawaii Five-0, Chief of War, The Descendants, Lilo+Stitch, Moana, The Wrecking Crew and franchises like Jurassic Park, Jurassic World and Jumanji, Honolulu has cemented its reputation as Production Center of the Tropics.
While serving on the board of Association of Film Commissioners International she launched the AFCI’s Global Initiatives designed to give film commissioners the tools and information needed to continually develop a region’s filmmaking talent, incentives and infrastructure.
In 2024 Ms. Constantinau shepherded groundbreaking infrastructure legislation in the City and County of Honolulu that was a catalyst, driving discussions and improvements in 2026 to the statewide Hawai’i Production Tax Incentive that is applicable to commercials.