Hawaii Five-0 is an American actionpolice procedural television series that centers around a special police major crimes task force operating at the behest of the governor of Hawaii. It is a reboot of the 1968–1980 series Hawaii Five-O (the original series had the letter "O" instead of the number "0" in its title), which also aired on CBS. The series was produced by K/O Paper Products and 101st Street Television, initially in association with CBS Television Studios.[1] The show received praise for its modern take on the original series.
The series premiered on September 20, 2010, on CBS and aired on Mondays for its first three seasons. Beginning with season four, the program was moved to Fridays.[2]Hawaii Five-0 ran for seven additional seasons and concluded with its 240th and final episode on April 3, 2020.[3][4]
McGarrett recruits Honolulu Police DepartmentDetective-SergeantDanny "Danno" Williams as his partner and unofficial second in command of the team. He fills out the team by recruiting ex-HPD Detective-LieutenantChin Ho Kelly, his father's protégé, and Chin's cousin, Officer Kono Kalakaua, a rookie HPD officer. Department of Homeland SecuritySpecial Agent Lori Weston is also assigned to the team later on, although she is later forced to return to the DHS by the Governor. They are assisted by Dr. Max Bergman, a medical examiner for the City and County of Honolulu. Steve later adds Captain Lou Grover, a HPD SWAT commander and a transfer from the Chicago Police Department, Special Consultant Jerry Ortega, Chin's high school classmate, a conspiracy theorist and a consultant for the task force, and for a brief time, Lieutenant Catherine Rollins, Steve's girlfriend and ex-US Navy Office of Naval Intelligence. Following Max, Chin, and Kono's departures, Max is replaced by medical examiner Dr. Noelani Cunha, and McGarrett fills in Chin and Kono's spots by hiring high-achieving HPD academy washout Tani Rey and ex-US Navy SEAL Special Warfare Operator Second Class-turned-Police Candidate Junior Reigns. Later on, Kono's husband Adam Noshimuri joins the task force following the couple's divorce, and shortly after Jerry's departure, United States Army CIDStaff Sergeant Quinn Liu is recruited in his place. The team is also assisted by confidential informant Kamekona Tupuola, and HPD liaison Sergeant Duke Lukela.
Scott Caan as Detective Sergeant Danny "Danno" Williams. He is a divorced single father who transferred from Newark PD in New Jersey to be with his daughter and is the de facto second-in-command of Five-0.
Daniel Dae Kim as Detective Lieutenant Chin Ho Kelly, (seasons 1–7). A veteran HPD detective, he was John McGarrett's former rookie and provides technical expertise and local know-how. During the season 7 finale, Chin is offered the lead position of the Five-0 Task Force established in San Francisco, which he later accepts. This was written into the show after Kim departed the series in late June 2017 prior to the start of production of the eighth season due to a salary dispute with CBS. Kim had been seeking pay equality with fellow cast members Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan, but CBS's final offer to Kim was 10–15% lower than what O'Loughlin and Caan made in salary.[6]
Grace Park as Officer Kono Kalakaua, (seasons 1–7). A former surfer, she was personally recruited by McGarrett while still in her final days at the HPD Academy. She is the cousin of Lieutenant Kelly, and later becomes the wife of Adam Noshimuri. In the conclusion of the season 7 finale, Kono is seen aboard a flight to Carson City, Nevada, where it is later revealed she has since joined a task force aimed at combating sex trafficking. This was written into the show following Park's departure from the series in late June 2017 prior to the start of production of the eighth season due to a salary dispute with CBS. Park had been seeking pay equality with stars Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan, but CBS's final offer to Park was 10–15% lower than what O'Loughlin and Caan made in salary.[6]
Taryn Manning as Mary Ann McGarrett, (season 1; guest seasons 2–4, 6 & 9) Steve's younger sister who lives in Los Angeles and occasionally visits Hawaii. At the beginning of the series she and Steve are largely estranged from each other, but as time goes on gradually begin to make amends. Mary works various odd jobs including flight attendant and caregiver before adopting a baby girl whom she names Joan (later nicknamed 'Joanie') after their father.
Masi Oka as Dr. Max Bergman (seasons 2–7; recurring season 1; guest season 10), the eccentric and well-respected County of Honolulu medical examiner. He departs the series midway through season 7 upon joining Doctors without Borders in Africa.
Lauren German as Special Agent Lori Weston (season 2; guest season 2).[7] A senior DHS agent assigned to Five-0 to provide oversight.
Michelle Borth as LieutenantCatherine Rollins, USNR (seasons 3–4; recurring seasons 1 & 6; guest seasons 2, 5 & 7–10). A former Navy Intelligence officer and McGarrett's girlfriend.
Chi McBride as Captain Lou Grover, (seasons 4–10; guest season 4). A transfer from Chicago PD who has two children with his wife Renée.
Jorge Garcia as Special Consultant Jerry Ortega (seasons 5–10; recurring season 4), a conspiracy theorist who assisted Five-0 during several investigations and was eventually hired as a "consultant".
Meaghan Rath as Officer Tani Rey (seasons 8–10),[8] whom McGarrett recruits from her job as a hotel pool lifeguard after being kicked out of the police academy, despite being a first-rate candidate. She initially declines to join but later becomes a team member.
Taylor Wily as Kamekona Tupuola (seasons 8–10; recurring seasons 1–7),[9] a rehabilitated ex-convict, turned entrepreneur and owner of the Waiola Shave Ice, Kamekona's Shrimp Truck, and Kamekona's Helicopter Tours. He is a CI for the Five-0 Task Force and their friend.
Dennis Chun as Sergeant Duke Lukela (seasons 8–10; recurring seasons 1–7),[9] HPD officer who often acts as a liaison to Five-0. He was one of the few HPD cops who was not antagonistic towards Danny or the other Five-0 members from the beginning, as he was colleagues with Steve's father and also personally knew Chin and Kono's family. In "Hookman", he was shot by Curt Stoner (Peter Weller), but survived and recovered. Dennis Chun is the son of Kam Fong Chun, who played Chin Ho Kelly in the original series.
Kimee Balmilero as Dr. Noelani Cunha (seasons 8–10; recurring season 7), a medical examiner who took over to assist the team after Max's departure. She is often seen joining in with the team during holidays and celebrations.[9]
Beulah Koale as Officer Junior Reigns (seasons 8–10),[8] a former Navy SEAL ranked Special Warfare Operator Second Class who asks McGarrett, a fellow SEAL, for a job. Initially turned down he returns to McGarrett a second time. McGarrett later introduces him to Duke Lukela and informs him that before becoming a member of Five-0 he will need to join and finish the police academy.
Ian Anthony Dale as Adam Noshimuri (seasons 8–10; recurring seasons 2–7), a member of the Five-0 Task Force; formerly the Head of Five-0 Task Force Special Division of Organized Crime; Kono's ex-husband, and a confidential informant to Five-0.
Katrina Law as Sergeant Quinn Liu (season 10), a former staff sergeant with Army CID demoted for insubordination.[10][11][12]
Agents Sam Hanna and G. Callen of the NCIS OSP in Los Angeles are called in to assist Five-0 finding a suspect, Dracul Comescu. Later, Callen and Sam must return to Los Angeles to stop a possible smallpox outbreak from becoming a reality with Danny "Danno" Williams and Chin Ho Kelly coming along to help.
MacGyver's Phoenix Foundation team gets rerouted to Hawaii after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits the coast of Hawaii. While aiding Detective Chin Ho Kelly and Officer Kono Kalakaua, they also have to deal with Chinese intelligence soldiers who use the earthquake to steal top-secret weaponry that the scientists are currently developing.
While the Five-0 Task Force take up the case of a stolen list of undercover CIA agents, they cross paths with Thomas Magnum and Juliet Higgins who are investigating the same case. Soon after, Junior Reigns is kidnapped as leverage for the criminals to get the list back, leading to Magnum's team helping Tani Rey and Quinn Liu in a search-and-rescue mission.
Production
History
The idea to bring Hawaii Five-O back to television had been under consideration well before the 2010 version was announced. The first attempt was a one-hour pilot for a new series that was made in 1996 but never aired, although a few clips were found years later and are available online. Produced and written by Stephen J. Cannell, it was intended to star Gary Busey and Russell Wong as the new Five-0 team. Original cast member James MacArthur briefly returned as Dan Williams, this time as governor of Hawaii, with cameos made by other former Five-O regulars. Another attempt was made to turn the project into a film by Warner Bros. but that also was scrapped.[28]
On August 12, 2008, CBS announced that it would bring Hawaii Five-O back to the network schedule for the 2009–10 television season. The new version would be an updated present-day sequel, this time centering on Steve McGarrett, who succeeds his late father Steve (Jack Lord's character in the original series) as the head of the unit. Edward Allen Bernero, executive producer and showrunner of Criminal Minds, was to helm the new take, which he described as "Hawaii Five-O, version 2.0". It was also to incorporate most of the iconic elements from the original, including the "Book 'em, Danno" catchphrase, into the remake. Bernero, who was a fan of the original, and had a ring tone of the series' theme song on his cell phone, had always wanted to bring the series back to TV.[29]
In October 2009, it was announced that Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci had signed on to script a pilot episode, and that Peter M. Lenkov would serve as the series showrunner.[30] Kurtzman and Orci decided to reboot the original concept similar to their work on the 2009 Star Trek film, rather than a sequel to the original series. Production on the pilot was shot in and around Honolulu in March 2010.[31]
On May 17, 2010, the Hawaii Five-O remake was picked up by CBS, which scheduled it for Monday nights in the 10–11 p.m. time slot.[32][33] The news was good for the state of Hawaii, which hoped that the remake would pump new life into the economy. Production of the remainder of the first season started in June 2010.[34][35] On June 24, 2010, the producers announced that it would use the warehouse at the former Honolulu Advertiser building as the official soundstage studio for the series starting in July 2010.[36] Exteriors representing Five-0 headquarters in the series are located at the Ali'iolani Hale in Honolulu, directly across the street from Iolani Palace, which represented Five-O headquarters in the original series.[37]
On October 21, 2010, CBS announced that the first season had been given a full season order of 24 episodes.[38] Subsequent seasons have consisted of between 23 and 25 episodes.
This revival series uses a zero as the last character in its title instead of the letter "O" that is used in the title of the original series.[39] According to Los Angeles Times, a CBS insider said that the disambiguation was necessary because of search engine results.[40] When Variety conducted its own search engine test on Google, it found that "Hawaii Five-0" (with the zero) had 263,000 results while "Hawaii Five-O" (with the letter O) had over 1.7 million.[41]
Online voting by viewers determined the ending of the January 14, 2013 episode "Kapu" ("Forbidden"), with two zones, Eastern and Central Time Zones, and Mountain and Pacific Time Zones, each getting their own result. Each alternative ending could be seen online after the episode aired.[42][43]
On February 28, 2020, it was announced that the series would end after 10 seasons and 240 episodes with a two-episode series finale on April 3, 2020.[3] This was confirmed by CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl and show's showrunner and co-creator Peter Lenkov.[4]
Casting
In February 2010, it was announced that Daniel Dae Kim had been cast to play Chin Ho Kelly, an ex-cop trained by Steve McGarrett's father. He was the first actor cast for the remake.[44] Several days later, Alex O'Loughlin was cast as Steve McGarrett,[45] the son of ex-cop John McGarrett (portrayed by William Sadler). The producers pay homage to the original series throughout the first year by making one of Steve's hobbies restoring his father's 1974 Mercury Marquis, which is in fact the actual car driven by Jack Lord in the latter half of the original series' run.[46] Actress Grace Park was later cast as rookie detective Kona "Kono" Kalakaua.[47] Although in the original series, the character of Kono was male, the reboot series swapped the cop's gender in order to steer clear of a task force devoid of women.[48]Scott Caan was cast as Danny "Danno" Williams. In the recurring cast are Jean Smart as Governor Pat Jameson and Masi Oka as the medical examiner Max Bergman. Oka was upgraded to series regular for the second season.[49]
Of note, several recurring roles have been filled by surviving members of the original cast. Al Harrington, who played Det. Ben Kokua in the original series, now plays a friend of McGarrett's, Mamo Kahike.[50] Dennis Chun, who had various guest roles in the original series and is the son of Kam Fong Chun (the actor that portrayed the original Chin Ho), has a recurring role as HPD Sgt. Duke Lukela in the remake.[51]James MacArthur, the last surviving main cast member from the original series, agreed to guest-star in a first-season episode; however, he died on October 28, 2010, before filming his appearance.[52]
Larisa Oleynik was cast as Jessica Kaye[53] (changed to Jenna Kaye in the episode broadcast),[54] scheduled to join the Five-0 task force in the show's 19th episode.[55] Oleynik appeared on a recurring basis for the remainder of the 2010–11 season, with an option to become a regular in season 2;[56] however, her character was killed off in season 2, episode 10. It was also announced that Terry O'Quinn would be joining the cast of the show in season two,[57] along with Lauren German, who would play Lori Weston, a former Homeland Security (and FBI agent) official assigned by the new governor to keep an eye on the team.[58]
Since the show began in 2010 Michelle Borth had a recurring role where she appeared as on and off Steve McGarrett's girlfriend, Lt. Catherine Rollins, a Navy Lieutenant. On March 26, 2012, CBS announced that Borth would become a cast regular on Hawaii Five-0 for season 3.[59][60] On March 27, 2014, it was announced that she would not be returning for the fifth season, with the reason for her departure left unknown.[61] On April 24, 2015, it was announced that Borth would return as a guest star for the shows fifth-season finale.[62] In July 2015 it was announced that Borth would have a recurring role in the first three episodes of the shows 6th season.[63] On September 8, 2016, it was announced that Borth would be returning as a guest for the shows 150th episode.[64]Christine Lahti was also cast in a recurring role as Doris McGarrett, the thought-to-be-deceased mother of Steve McGarrett.[65]
On July 10, 2013, ahead of the show's fourth season it was announced that Chi McBride would have a guest spot in the first episode of the season.[66][67] On November 21, 2013, it was announced that McBride would become a series regular beginning with the seasons 10th episode.[68][69] After appearing as a guest star in several season four episodes, Jorge Garcia who plays the character of Jerry Ortega (a conspiracy theorist and high school classmate of Chin's) was promoted to series regular commencing season five. This is the second time Kim and Garcia serve as regulars together with Lost being the first.[70]
Beginning with the second episode of the 2016–17 season, Claire Forlani had a recurring role as Alicia Brown, a retired criminal profiler who helped the team find a serial killer.[71]
On November 17, 2016, it was announced that Oka who portrays Bergman would be departing the series after the thirteenth episode of the seventh season.[72]
On June 30, 2017, ahead of the series's eighth season, it was announced that series regulars Kim and Park would be departing the series due to a salary dispute with CBS. Kim and Park had been seeking pay equality with co-stars O'Loughlin and Caan, but did not reach satisfactory deals with CBS Television Studios. CBS's final offer to Kim and Park was 10–15% lower than what O'Loughlin and Caan make in salary.[6] An update of their characters would be given in the first episode of the new season.[73]
Following Kim's and Park's departures it was announced that longtime recurring cast member Ian Anthony Dale who portrays Kono Kalakaua's husband Adam Noshimuri had been upped to series regular for the eighth season. It was also announced that Meaghan Rath and Beulah Koale would join the series as new characters and new members of Five-0.[8]
On July 21, 2017, it was announced that recurring cast members Taylor Wily, Kimee Balmilero, and Dennis Chun would also be upped to series regulars for the eighth season.[74]
On March 19, 2018, it was announced that Borth would once again return to the series in a guest role for the twentieth episode of the series' eighth season.[75]
Music
Hawaii Five-0 uses the original show's theme song composed by Morton Stevens. Critics received an early copy of the pilot with a synthesizer and guitar-based version of the theme. After negative reaction to the reworked song spread quickly online, Kurtzman said he and others realized that changing the music was a mistake, and arranged for studio musicians,[76] including three who had worked on the original from 1968,[77] to rerecord the theme "exactly as it was", except shortened to 30 seconds[76] from its original length of about 60 seconds.[78] Original instrumental music is composed by Brian Tyler and Keith Power.[79] An additional television score from Hawaii Five-0, featuring music written for the series by Brian Tyler and Keith Power was released in July 2023.[80]
Soundtrack
Hawaii Five-0: Original Songs from the Television Series
Hawaii Five-0: Original Songs from the Television Series is a soundtrack album featuring music used in the CBS television series Hawaii Five-0. The first volume in the series received attention for how show producers integrated these new and previously unreleased tracks from major-name artists into the second-season episodes. This method contrasted with the norm for TV soundtracks, which tend to be compilations of previously released music that is already available individually or on other albums. Hawaii Five-0: Original Songs from the Television Series was released on October 4, 2011.[81]
The car driven by the original Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-O is a 1974 Mercury Marquis. The car has belonged to stuntman John Nordlum since the original series ended. Nordlum has let the car be used in the new series, where it is said to have belonged to Steve McGarrett's father John. The license plate is still F6-3958.[82]
Broadcast and release
The series premiered in the United States on CBS on September 20, 2010, exactly 42 years after the premiere of the original series. Canada's Global TV and NTV premiered the show at the same time as the United States premiere.[83]Hawaii Five-0 has been syndicated for broadcast in several countries worldwide, including Australia,[84] the United Kingdom,[85] New Zealand and South Africa.[86]
Syndication
Originally, TNT acquired the off-network rights to air the series and began airing episodes on the cable channel in August 2014.[87]Ion Television has since acquired the off-network rights to the series; episodes began airing in January 2021.
Streaming
All episodes are available to stream with Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access).
^Set includes 23 episodes of Hawaii Five-0 plus one episode of NCIS: Los Angeles that concludes a crossover event.
^Set includes 24 episodes of Hawaii Five-0 plus one episode of the original Hawaii Five-O series.
^Set includes 193 episodes of Hawaii Five-0 plus one episode of the original Hawaii Five-O and one episode of NCIS: Los Angeles that concludes a crossover.
^Set includes 25 episodes of Hawaii Five-0 plus one episode of the original Hawaii Five-O series.
^Set includes 22 episodes of Hawaii Five-0 plus one episode of the Magnum P.I. remake that concludes a crossover.
^Set includes 240 episodes of Hawaii Five-0 plus two episodes of the original Hawaii Five-O series as well as an episode of NCIS: Los Angeles and an episode of the Magnum P.I. remake both of which concludes crossover events.
Reception and impact
Critical reception
The show has received generally positive reviews from critics. Metacritic gave season one of the show a 66 out of 100 aggregate score based on reviews from 29 critics.[38]Rotten Tomatoes gave season one a score of 74% based on 23 reviews. The site's consensus calls it: "A brisk, slick reboot of an old favorite, Hawaii Five-0's picturesque locales and attractive cast make for pleasurable viewing."[109]
On May 19, 2010, The Honolulu Advertiser offered an opinion about the new version: "A smart script, slick production values and maybe a splash of nostalgia got the remake of Hawaii Five-O placed on the CBS prime-time lineup this fall," but went on to add, "it takes more than a brand name to capture viewers' attention." The piece also pointed out that times have changed since the original left the air, citing other shows that were set in Hawaii which have come and gone. It expressed a hope that the producers will succeed in bringing a new life to the title with this remake.[110] Hawaii Five-0 was also in the Guinness World Records 2012 for Highest-Rated New Show in the U.S. with a record 19.34 million viewers for its January 23, 2011 episode (Kai e'e).[111]
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program
Armen V. Kevorkian, Alexander Soltes, Jane Sharvina, Andranik Taranyan
Nominated
2015
Young Artist Award
Best Performance in a TV Series – Guest Starring Young Actress 17–21
Chanel Marriott
Nominated
SOCAN Awards
International TV Series Music
Keith Power
Won
2016
Won
BMI Film & TV Awards
BMI TV Music Award
Won
2017
Won
SOCAN Awards
International TV Series Music
Won
Effect on Hawaii's economy
The popularity of Hawaii Five-0 resulted in a positive effect on several local businesses that saw an increase in sales after they were featured in particular episodes. Visitors to the USS Missouri Memorial Association increased 25 percent in 2010, a record year. Waiola Shave Ice, the business run by Kamekona on the show, saw a 20 percent increase in shave ice sales, along with a 30 percent rise in overall sales. Kona Brewing Company also saw a 60 percent increase in sales after their beers were featured as McGarrett's favored alcoholic beverage in several episodes. The tourist economy was also impacted, as many Mainlander fans were subsequently inspired to visit the islands after viewing the series.[143]
