# Hawaii Five-O (1969)

> A special state police task force led by Detective Lieutenant Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) tracks criminals across Hawaii.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/2184

## Facts

- Seasons: 12
- Episodes: 284
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: crime, drama
- Created by: Leonard Freeman
- Network: CBS
- Cast: James MacArthur, Jack Lord, Kam Fong, Zulu, Maggi Parker, William Smith, Harry Endo, Peggy Ryan
- TMDB rating: 7.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062568/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: brisk, authoritative, sun-drenched, tense, nostalgic

## What critics say

Audiences generally regard the series as a solid, entertaining police procedural with strong early seasons and a memorable theme, though later seasons were less consistently rated.

## Synopsis

Hawaii Five-O (1969-1980) is an American police procedural drama series created by Leonard Freeman for CBS. Jack Lord plays Detective Lieutenant Steve McGarrett, the commander of a special state police task force modeled on a real unit that operated under martial law in the 1940s. James MacArthur plays his second in command, Danny Williams, while Kam Fong plays Chin Ho and Zulu plays Kono, the team members who handle the investigations across the islands. McGarrett wants every criminal caught and brought to justice, and the obstacles are dangerous criminals, political pressures and the sheer breadth of a sprawling island state. The show runs for twelve seasons, with most episodes self-contained case-of-the-week stories that climax in an arrest and McGarrett ordering his subordinate to book the suspect on a specific charge. Set in 1970s Hawaii, the series blends the tense, brisk rhythm of network crime television with the bright, sun-drenched look of its island locations. Its theme music became iconic. Fans of Hill Street Blues, Kojak and Magnum, P.I. will find a familiar resonance in its procedural clarity and authoritative lead detective.

## Shows like Hawaii Five-O

- [Blue Bloods (2010)](https://ember.film/tv/30088)
- [T. J. Hooker (1982)](https://ember.film/tv/996)
- [Rescue: HI-Surf (2024)](https://ember.film/tv/146113)
- [Starsky & Hutch (1975)](https://ember.film/tv/1444)
- [Hawaiian Eye (1959)](https://ember.film/tv/5087)
- [Hill Street Blues (1981)](https://ember.film/tv/3642)
- [Magnum, P.I. (1980)](https://ember.film/tv/696)
- [Martial Law (1998)](https://ember.film/tv/553)
- [NCIS: Hawai'i (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/103203)
- [S.W.A.T. (1975)](https://ember.film/tv/10358)

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