 |
| OMKM Filters Steady Stream of Interest to Film on Mauna Kea |
By Stephanie Nagata, Associate Director of the Office of Mauna Kea Management
From wild to respectful, we at the Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM) have heard the gamut of requests involving Mauna Kea for various purposes. One of the important tasks facing the Office involves weighing requests to film on Mauna Kea.
Shortly after OMKM was established three years ago, the Office was handed the responsibility of reviewing and approving applications to film on Mauna Kea – a task previously handled by the UH Institute for Astronomy. The Hawaii Film Office, the lead agency responsible
for coordinating filming in Hawai‘i, handles film permits and, in the case of Mauna Kea Science Reserve, refers the requests to OMKM.
The public’s fascination with Mauna Kea is reflected in the volume and in the variety of requests. The process usually starts with a fax of a film permit application from the Hawaii Film Office or a phone call from the producer describing the project and inquiring what steps need to be taken.
Since assuming this responsibility, the Office has handled approximately 90 inquiries, an average of over 33 requests per year. The Office’s file on film requests reflects the global fascination with Mauna Kea, with media inquiries from the U.S. mainland, Japan, Germany, Canada and United Kingdom
Deciding the merits of each application is not always cut-and-dry, either. Some of the requests come from highly reputable news outlets such as all four of our Hawai‘i television news stations, the BBC, Japan’s NHK and Asahi Shimbun, and independent producers with ties to PBS, CNN, and Discovery channels, to name a few.
Others are more commercial in their objectives. Advertising
agencies see the famous mountain as a spectacular backdrop for selling everything from toothbrushes and athletic shoes, to TV’s and SUV’s.
At times, the pressure to approve a shoot can be quite intense. For example, persistent calls from a major U.S. television network were directed at both the Office and one of the premiere observatory facilities on Mauna Kea. Spurred by the overwhelming popularity of so-called “reality based” television programming, this network envisioned shooting an episode of its version of a dating, bachelor-bachelorette type show on Mauna Kea. Their premise was: What if one of their eligible "hunks" happens to be an astronomy buff, so the producers could pair him up with an attractive young girl and have the two view the specacular sunset from Mauna Kea's summit. Then, after dark, the couple could gaze at the millions of stars through the open dome of the world’s most powerful telescope on one of the most isolated mountain peaks in the world? Get the picture? The request was denied.
Our role at OMKM is to ensure a balanced and reasoned approach to managing Mauna Kea, with respect for the cultural significance of the mountain, protection of its natural environment, and concern for the scientific endeavors that take place there. The Office's key consideration in reviewing any film permit application is to see that Mauna Kea is portrayed with reverence, dignity and respect.
The safety of all who visit its summit regions is another of our primary concerns. The Office must gain assurances that camera crews do not venture off-road for fear they might disturb environmentally or culturally sensitive sites. If observatories are involved in the shoot, each must be contacted individually for permission. And, whenever situations call for it, the Office will consult the Mauna Kea Management Board, Kahu Kü Mauna Council, Mauna Kea Support Services, Rangers, and observatory personnel before rendering a final decision.
Back to top
© Copyright 2002, 2003 . Malama Mauna Kea . All Right Reserved
Email: omkm@malamamaunakea.org
| contact us | home |
|
|
