Plot
Military contractor Brian Gilcrest returns to Hawaii with billionaire Carson Welch, who intends to develop local land into a space center from which he will launch a privately-funded satellite. Once a celebrated Air Force officer whose career ended controversially amid shadowy dealings in Afghanistan, the now-disillusioned Gilcrest is tasked with negotiating with Native Hawaiian leaders for the project. His assignment reunites him with his ex-girlfriend Tracy, now married with two children, and introduces him to his Air Force liaison, Captain Allison Ng, whose idealistic optimism rekindles his childhood interest in space.
Assisted by Ng, who is of one-quarter Hawaiian background, Gilcrest secures support from community leader King Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele, who agrees to participate in a blessing ceremony that will allow Welch to build his center in return for the king obtaining control over the territory of two whole mountains and free cell phone service for the area. The following night, during dinner at Tracy's house, Gilcrest meets her husband John Woodside (nicknamed "Woody") and children, Grace and Mitchell. Later, alone in the kitchen, Tracy confesses she once imagined a future with Gilcrest before he abandoned her 13 years earlier.
The next evening, at Welch's Christmas party, General Dixon, the commander of Pacific Air Forces, warns Gilcrest against jeopardizing their deal, and one of Dixon's subordinates hands Gilcrest a thumb drive containing top-secret information for the upcoming satellite launch. During the party, Gilcrest becomes attracted to Ng, who joins him in his hotel room afterwards for the night, where he recounts his near-death experiences in Kabul. The next day, Ng discovers that the satellite will actually carry a secret nuclear payload. When she tries to resign, she is told that it is a private operation run by Welch and that Gilcrest has already been informed of the details. She later tearfully confronts Gilcrest for deceiving her and the Hawaiians.
Woody and Tracy confront each other about recent marital tensions, which he believes started as soon as Gilcrest arrived, and both agree to separate. The next morning, she arrives at the hotel and reveals to Gilcrest that Grace is his biological daughter, although Woody remains devoted to their family. Later that day, after the successful blessing of the new pedestrian gate, Gilcrest learns that Chinese hackers are attempting to sabotage the impending launch by tampering with the satellite's code.
Rushing to the command center, Gilcrest thwarts the cyberattack, but as he watches the satellite enter geosynchronous orbit, he realizes his complicity has threatened the ideals of Ng, whom he has come to love. He quickly and impulsively orders a massive sonic upload to be sent to space, thus overriding the system, and both watch the satellite explode. Accepting that Ng’s promising career could be harmed by their continued association, he ends their relationship.
Furious that his satellite has been destroyed, Welch confronts Gilcrest, who reminds him that the sky is meant to be shared by all, while Dixon, also incensed by Gilcrest's actions, threatens to prosecute him. When Gilcrest returns to Tracy's residence, she reads him an emotional love letter from Woody. Gilcrest encourages Tracy to stay with Woody, and she likewise encourages him to romantically pursue Ng. Upon arriving home, Woody notices Gilcrest and, realizing Gilcrest is Grace's father, asks him if he slept with Tracy to rekindle their romance while he was away; Gilcrest clarifies that he is actually in love with Ng. While cleaning up the living room, Tracy notices Woody and they reconcile in an emotional embrace, joined by their children.
Dixon later realizes that Gilcrest was indeed honest about the satellite's nuclear payload and belatedly praises his actions, promising him that Welch will be prosecuted. Outside the hotel, Gilcrest encounters Ng, who is preparing to depart, and confesses his love to her, vowing to await her return to Hawaii. That night, he quietly watches Grace perform in her hula class and silently nods at her. Finally accepting him as her biological father, Grace dashes outside and tearfully embraces him before returning to her class as he smiles, finally at peace.
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