Lights, Cameras, Action in Kalaeloa! “NCIS: Hawaiʻi” Brings Production to West Oʻahu

While Hunt Companies Hawaiʻi continues to build its construction projects in Kalaeloa, it’s also working to drive the local economy by helping the booming film industry.

“NCIS: Hawaiʻi” is one of those productions. The CBS crime drama is based on Oʻahu and stars Vanessa Lachey as Jane Tennant, special agent-in-charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Kalaeloa has served as the backdrop for at least 20 scenes since the series premiered in 2021 – the most recent being in early March. Location scouts describe the town as a gem that can uniquely bring their show to life.

“[Kalaeloa is] untouched and historic, yet accessible from Honolulu [which] makes it a valuable filming location,” said Jessica Cole, location manager for the show’s second season. “Kalaeloa is also home to a sleepy airport that offers a lot of filming potential.”

So far, “NCIS: Hawaiʻi” has filmed a number of action-packed sequences, from chases to explosions in Kalaeloa, but it’s not the only reason the region is ideal for this fast-paced show. It also comes down to logistics.

“The roads are also easy to reroute and are film-friendly for explosions and stunts,” Cole said, adding that it’s convenient to store as many as 15 standing sets in an old military hangar. She described Kalaeloa as a “home away from home.”

Cole says Hunt has been with them every step of the way and has helped the production team facilitate filming requirements.

“Building community is a shared value of ‘NCIS: Hawai‘i’ and Hunt and we feel that they’ve welcomed us into their community,” she said. “We look forward to working with our partners and friends at Hunt and in Kalaeloa for many years to come!”

“NCIS: Hawaiʻi” airs on KGMB at 9 p.m. HST on Mondays. New episodes are available to stream the next day on CBS.com and on Paramount+.