Jack Lord didn't just play Steve McGarrett. He basically was Hawaii for twelve years. If you grew up watching the original series, you know the vibe. The crashing wave, that brass-heavy theme music, and the sight of McGarrett standing on the Ilikai Hotel balcony looking like he owned every palm tree in Honolulu.
It’s kinda wild how long that show lasted. 1968 to 1980. That's a massive run. But it wasn't just about the scenery or the cool suits. The old Hawaii Five-0 cast had a chemistry that the glossy 2010 remake—as fun as it was—couldn't quite replicate. There was a grit to it. Honestly, it felt like these guys were actually working a beat in the Pacific heat.
The Man in the Blue Suit: Jack Lord
Jack Lord was famously intense. On set, he wasn't just the lead actor; he was a producer with a perfectionist streak that would make most modern showrunners sweat. He had this rule: he didn't ask questions. He answered them. If a script had McGarrett asking a witness, "Where were you last night?" Lord would often refuse. He felt a hero should already know or be telling people what’s what.
He lived in Hawaii full-time with his wife, Marie. They weren't just Hollywood tourists. They adopted the islands. When he died in 1998, he left his entire $40 million estate to Hawaiian charities. That’s not just "star power"—that’s a legacy.
"Book 'em, Danno": James MacArthur
You can’t talk about the old Hawaii Five-0 cast without Danny Williams. James MacArthur was the perfect foil to Lord’s stoic McGarrett. He was the "kid" (even though he was in his 30s) who did the legwork.
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Interestingly, MacArthur wasn't even in the pilot. An actor named Tim O'Kelly played Danno first, but test audiences didn't buy him. They needed someone who looked like they could handle a gun and a surfboard. MacArthur fit the bill. He stayed for eleven seasons but eventually quit because he was bored. Basically, he felt the scripts were getting repetitive. He told the producers he was heading down the Amazon River and didn't look back.
There’s also a long-standing rumor from co-star William Smith that MacArthur left because Lord wouldn't let him have a proper dressing room—he supposedly had to change in a prop truck for over a decade. Whether that's 100% true or just set gossip, it paints a picture of how lopsided the power was on that show.
The Real Cop: Kam Fong as Chin Ho Kelly
Kam Fong Chun—known professionally as Kam Fong—was the most authentic member of the team. Why? Because he was a real Honolulu police officer for 16 years before he ever stepped onto a soundstage.
His life was actually incredibly tragic. On June 8, 1944, two B-24 bombers collided over Honolulu and crashed right into his house. He lost his first wife and two children in an instant. He joined the HPD shortly after, perhaps looking for a way to channel that grief.
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When he auditioned for the show, he actually wanted to play the villain, Wo Fat. The producers looked at him and said, "No, you're our Chin Ho." He played that role with a quiet dignity for ten years. When he finally wanted to leave, he asked to be killed off so he wouldn't be tempted to come back. His death scene in "A Death in the Family" remains one of the show's most emotional moments.
The Beach Boy and the Departure: Zulu
Gilbert Lani Kauhi, better known as Zulu, played Kono Kalakaua. He was a local legend—a Waikiki beach boy, a surfer, and a DJ. He brought a massive physical presence to the team.
But his exit was messy. In 1972, Zulu was fired. Reports vary, but it mostly stemmed from a confrontation with a publicist. Some say he was frustrated with his character's limited development. Others point to a specific incident involving a Coast Guard award that supposedly bruised some egos on set.
After Zulu left, Al Harrington stepped in as Ben Kokua. Harrington was another local talent, a former pro football player and teacher. He brought a different energy, but for many purists, the "classic" lineup ended when Kono disappeared.
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Why the Old Hawaii Five-0 Cast Matters in 2026
We live in an era of CGI and hyper-edited action. The original Five-O was different. They filmed on location when that was actually hard to do. They used local people. They showed a version of Hawaii that wasn't just a postcard—it had a dark side, a Chinatown underworld, and international spies.
The cast felt like a family, even if behind the scenes it was more of a strict corporate hierarchy run by Jack Lord.
What you can do next:
- Watch the "V for Vashon" trilogy. If you want to see the cast at their peak, this three-part arc is arguably the best television the series ever produced.
- Check out the "Jack Lord Rule" in action. Next time you watch, notice how rarely McGarrett asks a direct question. It changes how you see the character's authority.
- Visit the 'Iolani Palace in Honolulu. The exterior served as the Five-O headquarters. Seeing it in person gives you a real sense of the show's scale.
The show eventually folded in 1980 after twelve seasons. Most of the original cast has passed away now—MacArthur in 2010, Fong in 2002, Zulu in 2004. But the work they did remains a time capsule of a Hawaii that doesn't really exist anymore. It was cool, it was sleek, and it was unapologetically tough.