When people talk about the long run of the Hawaii Five-0 reboot, most fans immediately go to the bromance between Steve McGarrett and Danny Williams. It's the core of the show. But if you look a little closer at the secondary characters who really carried the emotional weight of the later seasons, Adam Hawaii Five 0 is the name that sticks.
Honestly, the guy couldn't catch a break. From being the son of a Yakuza boss to a fugitive in Canada, then a convict, and eventually a member of the task force—his arc was a total roller coaster. You've probably watched him go through hell and wondered why the writers kept putting him through the ringer.
From Yakuza Royalty to Five-0 Insider
Adam Noshimuri, played by Ian Anthony Dale, wasn't supposed to be a hero. When he first showed up in Season 2, he was basically the "civilized" face of the Japanese Yakuza. His father, Hiro Noshimuri, was a criminal heavyweight, and Adam was the guy trying to legitimize the family business. It’s a classic trope: the son who wants to go clean but gets dragged back by his bloodline.
Things got messy fast.
His relationship with Kono Kalakaua was the big turning point. A cop dating a mob boss? It’s the kind of drama procedural fans live for. But it wasn't just a fling. They were the real deal. They went on the run together to China and Vancouver because the Yakuza wanted Adam dead for trying to walk away.
Think about that for a second. He gave up an empire for her. He spent a massive chunk of his life looking over his shoulder just because he chose a different path.
The Prison Stint and the Redemption Loop
One of the weirdest parts of his story was when he actually went to prison. He killed two of Gabriel Waincroft's men in self-defense to protect Kono. Instead of letting the team help him find a loophole, he insisted on serving time to "pay his debt."
It felt like a reset button for the character. When he got out, he was different. He was humbler, maybe a bit more desperate to find a place where he belonged. That’s when McGarrett, in a move that some fans found questionable, invited him to join the Special Division of Organized Crime.
Why Adam Noshimuri Stayed After Kono Left
This is where things got really divisive in the fandom. When Grace Park (Kono) and Daniel Dae Kim (Chin Ho Kelly) left the show after Season 7 due to pay disputes, everyone assumed Adam would go with her.
He didn't.
The showrunners decided to keep Ian Anthony Dale around, promoting him to a series regular. The in-universe explanation? Kono was on a mainland task force fighting sex trafficking, and the long-distance thing eventually killed their marriage.
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A lot of people hated this. It felt like a cheap way to keep a popular actor while dismantling one of the show’s best romances. Adam basically stayed on Oahu, drank a lot, and eventually joined the Five-0 task force full-time.
The Dark Turn in Season 10
By the time the final season rolled around, Adam was in a dark place. He got involved with Tamiko Masuda, the daughter of another Yakuza boss. Talk about not learning your lesson.
He went rogue. He lied to Steve. He basically became a double agent, working for the Yakuza to find Tamiko’s kidnappers while pretending to be a cop.
- He kidnapped a guy.
- He put him in a trunk.
- He delivered him to a mobster.
- The guy ended up dead.
It was a huge betrayal of the "Ohana" vibe the show spent ten years building. Steve eventually found out, and the confrontation was brutal. It was one of the few times we saw McGarrett truly give up on someone.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Ending
People often ask if Adam ended up in jail in the series finale. The short answer? No.
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After his rogue mission against Kenji (the guy who killed Tamiko’s father), he actually got a bit of a "get out of jail free" card. He helped the team take down the Yakuza cell, and while his relationship with the team was strained, he was still there in the final scenes.
It wasn't a perfect redemption. It was messy. Honestly, that’s more realistic than the typical TV ending where everyone is best friends again. He was a guy who tried to be good but had "Yakuza DNA" that he could never quite shake.
Actionable Insights for Rewatching the Adam Saga
If you’re planning a rewatch of the Adam Hawaii Five 0 episodes, there are a few things you should keep an eye on to really appreciate the performance Ian Anthony Dale put in:
- Watch the body language change: In early seasons, Adam carries himself with the arrogance of a billionaire. Post-prison, his shoulders are slumped. He looks tired.
- Focus on the Season 8 transition: Notice how the writers try to justify him staying without Kono. It's a masterclass in "writing around" an actor who isn't there.
- Track the Yakuza "relapses": Every time Adam thinks he's out, the show uses a specific musical cue or visual style to show him sliding back. It’s subtle, but it’s there.
The character of Adam Noshimuri was essentially the moral gray area of a show that was otherwise very black and white. He reminded us that you can't always escape where you came from, even if you have a badge and a surfboard.
To get the full picture of his downfall, you really need to sit with the Season 10 episode "Nalowale i ke 'ehu o he kai." It’s the moment where the "good guy" facade finally cracks for good, and you realize that despite all the help from Five-0, Adam was always going to be a man of two worlds.