HILO, Hawai'i — Filmmaker Steven Spielberg was reluctant about returning to Hawai'i because the Islands already served as backdrop for his "Jurassic Park" series and "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Following a worldwide search, Hawai'i was cast again — this time as a South American rain forest in the fourth installment of "Indiana Jones."

"We've had a lot of success shooting in the Hawaiian Islands," said Kathleen Kennedy, executive producer of the still-untitled film. "I think once we started looking at the various locations and logistics involved in going other places, it just made sense to come back here."

The state is experiencing a film boom after a three-year dry spell of major motion pictures. Besides "Indiana Jones," which is wrapping up production on the Big Island, Ben Stiller's "Tropic Thunder" is being filmed on Kaua'i. Earlier this year, the romantic comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" were filmed in Hawai'i.

"It's been the busiest we've had in a long time," state film commissioner Donne Dawson said.

She said Hawai'i's TV and film industry this year could break the banner year in 2004 when a record $164 million was spent, mostly from three network TV series. Of the group, only ABC's castaway drama "Lost" has survived.

Dawson said that if 2004 was the year for TV, "this is the year for feature films."

Industry officials say a major reason for the increase in activity is the state's new tax credit — known as Act 88 — which boosted the state's 4 percent production tax credit to 15 percent on O'ahu and 20 percent on other islands.

The tax credit, capped at $8 million per production, was implemented a year ago to compete with other film-friendly states with similar incentives such as New Mexico, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Arizona and Connecticut.

Dawson said the credits were "absolutely critical" in order to compete.

More than three dozen states have some form of incentive for the film or TV industry or are looking to create them, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"It put us in the ballpark with the rest of the states, and other countries," said Brenda Ching, executive director of the local Screen Actors Guild, who has lobbied for years for the tax credits.

A total of 27 productions that are expected to spend $127 million have applied for the tax credits since the program began July 1, 2006.

That doesn't include "Indiana Jones," which is spending $15 million here and has hired more than 120 locals.

"That really tipped the balance over for coming here," said Frank Marshall, the film's producer.

There were other factors, including access to available hotel rooms, experienced crew, equipment and access to the airport. However, the main selling point was the scenery.

Indy IV's creators were looking for "old-growth jungle," and the options were limited.

"After looking in probably 14 or 15 countries, a couple of states, here we are," said Mike Fantasia, the film's location manager. "We found a couple of locations here we couldn't match anywhere else."

Fantasia said Spielberg wanted someplace "really exotic" but wanted to go someplace different because he used Hawai'i so many times.

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" was shot mostly on Kaua'i, as was the "Jurassic Park" series. The island is again buzzing with Dreamworks' "Tropic Thunder," starring Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. as actors in a war movie who end up having to fight a real war.

Besides jungles, waterfalls, rugged green mountains and miles of palm-lined beaches, Hawai'i also offers everything from urban to prehistoric landscapes.

"There are 13 climate zones in the world and we have 11 of them," said Big Island film commissioner Jon Mason. "If you want swamps or North Pole, we don't have that. We have everything else."

In "Lost," O'ahu has filled in for the rural South, Australia, South Korea, Europe and many other places.

But there is a price for a piece of paradise. Production costs are about 20 percent higher in Hawai'i.

Challenges include shipping costs and the availability of crew. "Indiana Jones" has spent $2 million to $3 million alone on shipping everything from trailers and props to generators and lights. They are also using crew members from "Lost."

"I don't know if you realize how busy the Islands are right now. We've had to sort of beg, borrow and steal from anyone we can," Kennedy said.

She noted a local crew base is being developed, making it even more attractive to shoot here.

Hawai'i also offers the nation's only state-owned and -operated film studio, which was home to two of TV's longer-running hits, "Hawaii Five-0" and "Magnum, P.I."

There were a few feature films that were shot in Hawai'i in 2005, but the last big-budget picture that spent several weeks filming in the Islands was "50 First Dates," in 2003.

According to the Hawai'i Film Office, the state has played host to more than 200 movies since 1913.

MAJOR FILMS FROM HAWAI'I

A partial list of major motion pictures filmed in Hawai'i, by year and including a featured star:

2007

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," Johnny Depp.

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall," Kristen Bell.

"Tropic Thunder," Ben Stiller.

Fourth installment of "Indiana Jones," Harrison Ford.

2005

"You, Me and Dupree," Kate Hudson.

"Snakes On A Plane," Samuel L. Jackson.

2003

"50 First Dates," Adam Sandler.

"Along Came Polly," Ben Stiller.

2002

"Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," Cameron Diaz.

"The Day After Tomorrow," Dennis Quaid.

"Blue Crush," Kate Bosworth.

"The Big Bounce," Owen Wilson.

2001

"The Time Machine," Guy Pearce.

"Dragonfly," Kevin Costner.

"Planet of the Apes," Mark Wahlberg.

2000

"Jurassic Park III," Sam Neill.

"Windtalkers," Nicolas Cage.

"To End All Wars," Keifer Sutherland.

"Pearl Harbor," Ben Affleck.

1997

"6 Days/7 Nights," Harrison Ford.

"Godzilla," Matthew Broderick.

"Mighty Joe Young," Bill Paxton.

1996

"A Very Brady Sequel," Shelley Long.

"George of the Jungle," Brendan Fraser.

"The Lost World," Jeff Goldblum.

1994

"Waterworld," Kevin Costner.

"Outbreak," Dustin Hoffman.

"Don Juan DeMarco," Johnny Depp.

1993

"North," Bruce Willis.

"Picture Bride," Toshiro Mifune.

1992

"Jurassic Park," Jeff Goldblum.

1991

"Honeymoon in Vegas," Nicolas Cage.

"Under Siege," Steven Segal.

"Hook," Robin Williams.

1990

"Point Break," Patrick Swayze.

1989

"Flight of the Intruder," Willem Dafoe.

"Lord of the Flies," Balthazar Getty.

"Joe Versus the Volcano," Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan.

1987

"Throw Mama from the Train," Danny Devito.

"Farewell to the King," Nick Nolte.

1985

"Karate Kid II," Pat Morita.

"Black Widow," Debra Winger.

1981

"Body Heat," Kathleen Turner.

"Buddy Buddy," Walter Matthau.

1980

"Raiders of the Lost Ark," Harrison Ford.

1979

"The Day the World Ended," Paul Newman.

"10," Bo Derek.

1978

"Going Coconuts," Donnie and Marie Osmond.

1977

"The Deep," Jacqueline Bisset.

1976

"Midway," Charlton Heston.

"King Kong," Jessica Lange.

1973

"Papillon," Dustin Hoffman.

1970

"The Hawaiians," Charlton Heston.

"Tora! Tora! Tora!," Jason Robards.

1966

"Lt. Robin Crusoe," Dick Van Dyke.

"Paradise, Hawaiian Style," Elvis Presley.

"The Endless Summer," Bruce Brown.

"Hawaii," Julie Andrews.

1965

"None but the Brave," Frank Sinatra.

"In Harm's Way," John Wayne.

1963

"Diamond Head," Charlton Heston.

"Gilligan's Travel," Bob Denver.

"Donovan's Reef," John Wayne.

"Rampage," Robert Mitchum.

1962

"Girls! Girls! Girls!," Elvis Presley.