Hawaii Five-O

Actor Character

Jack Lord Steve McGarrett

James MacArthur Danny Williams

Kam Fong Chin Ho Kelly

Herman Wedemeyer Edward Duke Lukela

Harry Endo Che Fong

Zulu Kono Kalakaua

Al Harrington Ben Kokua

Richard Denning Gov. Paul Jameson

Hawaii Five-O aired September 2, 1968 through April 5, 1980, it ran for 285 episodes, on CBS

Steve McGarrett Danny Williams Chin Ho Kelly Wo Fat

Hawaii's elite police agency, Hawaii Five-0, handles the tough cases. Lead by former navy officer, chief of detectives Steve McGarrett. In theory Steve McGarrett answers only to the governor of Hawaii. In actual practice McGarrett sometimes answers to know one. For most of the series McGarrett's right-hand-man was Detective Danny Williams. McGarrett called him "Danno" as in the famous line, "Book 'em, Danno. Murder one." Other officers included detectives Chin Ho Kelly (killed in the line of duty), Edward D. "Duke" Lukela, Kono Kalakaua and Ben Kokua.

Steve McGarrett's arch nemesis (appearing in 15 episodes, including the pilot) was the Chinese communist agent, Wo Fat (Khigh Dhiegh). It took tweleve years but McGarrett finally got him (in the last episode).

The title Hawaii Five-O comes from Hawaii being the 50th of the United States of America. Hawaii Five-O is entirely fictional, there is no such agency.

Hawaii Five-O was introduced in a 100 minute TV movie, titled "Hawaii Five O". The TV movie was followed by a weekly series of one hour episodes. For syndication the pilot was retitled "Cacoon". The series went on the beome one of the longest running crime dramas ever. In syndication the series was retilted "McGarrett". A change which I think was tacky and unneccesary.

(click on CD cover to buy the CD)

Morton Steven's theme for Hawaii Five-O was re-recorded by The Ventures and became a popular music hit (#4) in 1969.

My family lived in Hawaii in the 1970s. It was possible then to see Hawaii Five-O being filmed on location. My mother did once.

(click on DVD covers to buy the DVDs)

The first two seasons of Hawaii Five-O have been released in DVD box sets. The second season set is missing the episode "Bored, She Hung Herself". A controversial episode back in 1969 it was only aired once, never shown in sydnication. And it seems that Paramount decided not to include it on their DVD. The third season is scheduled for release on January 22, 2008. The fourth season is secheduled for June 10, 2008.