Original Hawaii Five 0 Series Overview
The original Hawaii Five-0 is a police procedural television series that aired on CBS from 1968 to 1980. The show was created by Leonard Freeman and starred Jack Lord as Steve McGarrett, the head of a fictional state police task force in Hawaii. The series title refers to Hawaii's status as the 50th U.S. state, and the "0" symbolizes the zero tolerance approach to crime adopted by the unit. The show ran for 12 seasons and produced 278 episodes, establishing a long-running franchise that includes a reboot which premiered in 2010. The original series was produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman Productions, and its theme music, composed by Morton Stevens, became iconic in American television history. The show was filmed on location in Hawaii, primarily using Honolulu and surrounding areas as the backdrop for its crime-fighting stories.
Hawaii Five-0 premiered on September 20, 1968, and concluded on April 5, 1980. During its run, the series ranked among the top 20 television shows in the United States for multiple seasons, reflecting strong viewership in the 1970s. The show was broadcast in black-and-white for its first two seasons before transitioning to color in 1970. The premise centered on an elite state police unit that handled major criminal cases across the Hawaiian Islands, operating outside the normal bureaucratic structure. Steve McGarrett reported directly to the governor, a plot device that allowed the show to feature high-stakes investigations and political intrigue. The series was known for its blend of action, drama, and Hawaii's tropical setting, which was a novelty for American crime dramas at the time. The show's production was based at CBS Studio Center in Los Angeles, though exterior shots and location footage were captured in Hawaii.
Main Cast and Characters
Jack Lord portrayed Steve McGarrett, the dedicated and disciplined leader of the Five-O task force. Lord was the central figure of the series and remained with the show for its entire 12-season run. His portrayal of McGarrett became synonymous with the franchise, and he was known for his intense performance style and signature catchphrase, "Book 'em, Danno." The character of Danny "Danno" Williams, McGarrett's second-in-command, was played by James MacArthur. MacArthur's character provided a more grounded, by-the-book counterbalance to McGarrett's sometimes unorthodox methods. The partnership between the two leads was a defining element of the show's dynamic and contributed to its longevity.
The supporting cast of the original Hawaii Five-0 included several recurring and guest characters that expanded the scope of the stories. Kam Fong Chun played Chin Ho Kelly, a detective with deep local knowledge and a connection to Hawaiian culture. Zulu, whose real name was Herman Wedemeyer, portrayed Duke Lukela, a Honolulu police detective who often collaborated with the Five-O unit. The show also featured a rotating cast of guest stars, with many episodes showcasing well-known actors of the era. The ensemble cast contributed to the show's ability to tackle diverse crime stories, from drug trafficking and espionage to domestic disputes and political corruption. The cast remained largely stable throughout the series, which was unusual for a show that spanned over a decade on network television.
Legacy and Influence
The original Hawaii Five-0 left a lasting impact on the police procedural genre and on television production in Hawaii. The series helped establish Hawaii as a recognizable setting for dramatic storytelling and paved the way for future productions that used the islands as a backdrop. The show's production model, which combined studio filming with extensive location shooting, influenced how other series approached on-location production. The reboot series that debuted in 2010 on CBS directly honored the original, using the same title, theme music, and the