Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

For Immediate Release: April 30, 2026

HONOLULU—Hawaii State Film Commissioner Donne Dawson will be retiring from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) effective April 30, 2026, concluding 25 years of service managing the Hawaii Film Office (HFO) and the state’s film program.

Governor Josh Green, a staunch supporter of Hawaii’s film industry, lauded Donne’s efforts to build a healthy and vibrant film industry for the benefit of Hawaii’s residents. “Donne brought a combination of industry savvy, love for community and deep knowledge of and sensitivity toward her native Hawaiian culture and Hawaii’s fragile environment,” Green said. “That unique combination helped Donne balance the needs of demanding productions with the needs of our communities.”

“We are grateful for Donne’s dedicated service as a loyal public servant to the state of Hawaii for the past quarter century,” said James Kunane Tokioka, director of DBEDT. “She has been a strong advocate for Hawaii’s film industry, local creatives and the many professionals who have helped build this important sector of our economy.”

Throughout her tenure, Donne played a key role in strengthening Hawaii’s reputation as a premier filming destination and in supporting the growth of our local film workforce. Tokioka added, “While Donne’s retirement marks the end of an important chapter, she leaves behind a valuable foundation that will continue to benefit the industry going forward.”

Dawson was a journalist and media relations professional for 15 years before joining DBEDT in 1995, initially as deputy communications director and then communications director under former DBEDT Director Seiji Naya. She rejoined the department in 2001 as branch chief of the Hawaii Film Office following the retirement of Georgette Deemer, who built the office from its infancy in the late 1970s.

Dawson led her staff overseeing operations and management of the Hawaii Film Studio at Diamond Head and managed nearly $20M of capital improvements over the years. In 2008, she was named DBEDT manager of the year and in 2022, the Hawaii Film Office and the Maui County Film Office were nominated together in the “Outstanding Film Commission” category for the Locations Managers Guild International Awards, for work done in support of HBO’s hit series “The White Lotus,” the first major show to re-start production in Hawaii in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

DBEDT will be recruiting shortly to fill the Hawaii Film Industry Development Manager position. Effective May 1, DBEDT Creative Industries Division leadership, its Tax Credit Unit and the HFO staff will provide continuation of all services with no interruptions during the transition.

Dawson reflected on her impact on Hawaii’s film industry, “I will miss my dedicated staff and co-workers, all of whom love this industry and consider it a deep honor to enable film productions to bring their stories to life every single day. My motto in life has always been to lead with aloha. And that’s what I’ve done. I am extremely proud of my record and the legacy I leave behind, all in service of building a strong film industry for Hawaii and preserving a film-friendly reputation for us around the world.”

About the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT):
DBEDT is Hawaii’s resource center for economic and statistical data, business development opportunities, energy and conservation information, as well as foreign trade advantages. The DBEDT mission is to achieve a Hawaii economy that embraces innovation and is globally competitive, dynamic and productive, providing opportunities for all Hawaii’s citizens. Through its attached agencies, the department fosters planned community development, creates affordable workforce housing units in high-quality living environments and promotes innovation sector job growth.

About the Hawaii Film Office (HFO):
DBEDT’s Film Industry Branch, now known as the Hawaii Film Office, was founded in 1978 as a two-person office under what was the Department of Planning and Economic Development. HFO is the anchor of the Creative Industries Division (CID) within DBEDT and the chief driver for the creative economy. HFO is the first point of contact for all film production that takes place throughout the Hawaiian Islands and is the only film office in the country with a centralized film permitting system that streamlines filming for producers and studios who choose Hawaii to bring their projects to life. HFO works closely with the county film offices supporting filming on every island and together they market Hawaii and attract new productions under the banner Film Offices of the Hawaiian Islands.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Laci Goshi
Communications Officer
Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, State of Hawaii
(808) 518-5480