Hawaii Five-O was another classic TV Crime Drama of the 1970′s.
Hawaii Five-O ran on CBS from 1968-1980. This resulted in the show being on the air from the time I was a toddler, all the way until I was in High School. I remember that the show was weekly viewing in my household during my entire childhood.
The “Five-O” agency of Law Enforcement does not actually exist. Hawaii is the the only state that does not have a State Police Agency.
The building used as Five-O Headquarters in the series is the Iolani Palace, the actual Palace used by the last Kings and Queens of the Island.
The series starred:
Jack Lord – Det. Steve McGarrett
James MacArthur – Det. Danny Williams
Kam Fong – Det. Chin Ho Kelly
Herman Wedemeyer – Det. Duke Lukela
Screen Legend Gregory Peck was offered the part of Steve McGarrett but turned it down.
The role was also offered to actor Richard Boone. (Have Gun, Will Travel)
Kam Fong was once a real-life Honolulu Police Officer prior to turning to acting.
The show produced 278 episodes over its run on CBS.
The show won 2 Emmy Awards during its run.
The show never featured a regular female cast member.
Jack Lord was the only actor to appear in every episode.
The show was one of the first in Television History to be shown in syndicated reruns while the show was still on the air producing new episodes.
The show was the longest running Crime Drama on TV until it was passed by “Law and Order“.
The Tom Selleck series “Magnum PI” started production just as “Hawaii Five-O” left the air, partly so that the State could continue to use all of the TV Production facilities that “Hawaii Five-O” had constructed in the state.
Of the core group of actors on the series, only James MacArthur is still alive today.
CBS is in the process of shooting a TV Pilot for a remake of the series. Actor Alex O’Loughlin (Moonlight) has been cast as McGarrett, while Daniel Dae Kim (Lost) has been cast as Chin Ho Kelly.
