Jack Lord didn’t just play Steve McGarrett. He basically was the show. For twelve seasons, from 1968 to 1980, the old Hawaii Five O cast defined what a gritty, island-based police procedural should look like. But if you think it was all surfboards and "Book 'em, Danno" behind the scenes, you're mistaken. It was a pressure cooker.
Lord was a perfectionist. Some called him a tyrant. Others said he was just protective of the brand. Regardless, the atmosphere on that Honolulu set was unlike any other TV production of the era. This wasn't just a job; it was Jack’s kingdom.
The Man in the Blue Suit: Jack Lord’s Total Control
Jack Lord didn't even want the role at first. Gregory Peck and Robert Brown were higher on the list. When Lord finally took it, he flew to Hawaii on a Wednesday and started filming two days later. Talk about a whirlwind.
Once he was in, he was all in. After the show’s creator, Leonard Freeman, passed away in 1974, Lord actually became an executive producer with a massive ownership stake. He insisted the crew wear ties. In the Hawaiian heat. He demanded his character drive specific Ford vehicles. He even had a say in the guest stars.
The most famous piece of trivia? Lord’s hair. It never moved. Legend has it he used a specific type of high-hold spray that could withstand a Category 3 hurricane. He was obsessed with the image of McGarrett as an unshakeable pillar of justice.
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Why James MacArthur Really Quit
"Book 'em, Danno." The most iconic line in TV history. James MacArthur, playing Danny Williams, heard it thousands of times. But by 1979, he was done.
Why did he leave? Officially, he said the scripts had become "bland and predictable." He told producers he was heading down the Amazon River and didn't look back. But the rumor mill in Hollywood tells a different story.
William Smith, who joined the old Hawaii Five O cast in the final season, claimed MacArthur quit because Jack Lord wouldn't let him have a proper dressing room. Apparently, MacArthur was changing in a prop truck for eleven years. Imagine that. You're the second lead on the biggest show on TV, and you're stepping over coils of rope to put on your trousers.
The Heart and Soul: Kam Fong and Zulu
While Lord and MacArthur were the faces for mainland audiences, the local heart of the show belonged to Kam Fong and Zulu.
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Kam Fong, who played Chin Ho Kelly, was a real-life Honolulu police officer before he became an actor. He wasn't just playing a part; he had spent sixteen years on the force. His life was marked by incredible tragedy—he lost his first wife and two children when two B-24 bombers collided over their home in 1944. He brought a quiet, weary dignity to Chin Ho that couldn't be faked.
Then there was Zulu (Gilbert Lani Kauhi), the burly Kono Kalakaua. He was a beach boy, a surfer, and a comedian. He provided the muscle and the local "flavor" that made the show feel authentic to the islands.
But Zulu’s exit wasn't pretty. He was fired after the fourth season. Some say it was a nasty disagreement with a publicist. Others hint at a rivalry with Jack Lord. Lord allegedly felt that Zulu was getting too much attention from the Coast Guard during a ceremony. Whatever the spark, Zulu was out, and the dynamic of the original four-man team was never quite the same.
The Rotating Door of the Five-O Team
After Zulu left, things got a bit... messy. Al Harrington stepped in as Ben Kokua. Harrington was a local legend—a Stanford football star and a massive Waikiki entertainer known as "The South Pacific Man." He lasted about three seasons.
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The Late-Arrivals
- Herman Wedemeyer (Duke Lukela): He started as a regular HPD officer and eventually moved into the Five-O office. He was a massive sports hero in Hawaii, nicknamed "Squirmin' Herman."
- William Smith (Kimo Carew): Brought in for the final season to fill the massive hole left by MacArthur. He was a bodybuilding champion and a veteran tough-guy actor.
- Sharon Farrell (Lori Wilson): The first woman to join the main task force in the final season. It was a "too little, too late" attempt to modernize the show's vibe.
Life After the Wave Crashed
When the show finally ended in 1980, the old Hawaii Five O cast didn't just disappear, but they didn't exactly thrive in the "mainland" spotlight either.
Jack Lord stayed in Hawaii. He became a recluse, dealing with Alzheimer’s for years before passing away in 1998. He left his entire $40 million estate to Hawaiian charities. That’s the side of him people forget—the guy who loved the islands enough to give it all back.
Kam Fong’s son, Dennis Chun, actually ended up playing Sergeant Duke Lukela in the 2010 reboot. It’s a beautiful bit of symmetry. Al Harrington also made appearances in the reboot, playing Mamo Kahike, proving that the bond between the actors and the franchise was stronger than any behind-the-scenes drama.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the history of the old Hawaii Five O cast, don't just stick to the reruns.
- Check the Credits: Look for Jack Lord’s name as Director. He directed several episodes, and you can see his specific visual style—lots of tight close-ups and dramatic lighting.
- Visit the Landmarks: If you're in Honolulu, the Ilikai Hotel (where McGarrett stands on the balcony in the intro) and the Iolani Palace (the fictional headquarters) are still there.
- Watch the "Chin Ho" Exit: Episode "A Death in the Family" (Season 10) is one of the few times a main character was killed off at the actor's request. Kam Fong wanted a definitive ending so he wouldn't be tempted to return.
The show was a pioneer. It was the first big production to actually film on location rather than a backlot in Burbank. It gave jobs to hundreds of local Hawaiian actors and crew members. While the 2010 reboot had more CGI and faster cars, it never quite captured the raw, sun-drenched intensity of Jack Lord’s original vision.
To get the most out of your nostalgia trip, try tracking down the original 1968 pilot, "Invitation to a Murder." You’ll see a version of the team that feels slightly different, including a different actor playing the Governor before Richard Denning made the role his own for the next twelve years.