Ten years. That’s a long time for a procedural to run, especially when you’re filming on an island that basically charges a "paradise tax" on every single production trailer and lens cap. But the Hawaii Five-O 2010 TV series didn't just survive; it thrived. It’s weird to think back to that 2010 pilot—Alex O'Loughlin looking intense in tactical gear and Scott Caan perpetually annoyed by the heat—and realize how much it changed the game for CBS. It wasn't just a remake. It was a complete overhaul of the 1968 classic that managed to outrun its predecessor's shadow.
Honestly, the "Carguments" were the secret sauce. While other shows were obsessed with DNA sequencers and grim forensic labs, Steve McGarrett and Danny "Danno" Williams were just two dudes in a silver Chevy Camaro arguing about proper police procedure while flying around a hairpin turn on the Kamehameha Highway. It felt human. It felt messy.
The Casting Gamble That Paid Off
Let's talk about Steve McGarrett. Alex O'Loughlin wasn't exactly a household name when Peter Lenkov cast him. He'd done Moonlight and Three Rivers, shows that had loyal fans but didn't exactly set the world on fire. But O'Loughlin brought this weird, frenetic energy to McGarrett. He wasn't just a cop; he was a guy suffering from massive PTSD, a Navy SEAL who didn't know how to turn it off.
Then you have Scott Caan.
Danny Williams was the perfect foil. He hated the beach. He hated the sun. He wore a tie in Honolulu. Why? Because he was a Jersey guy who just wanted to see his daughter, Grace. The chemistry between O'Loughlin and Caan wasn't just good; it was the entire engine of the show. If they hadn't clicked, the Hawaii Five-O 2010 TV series would have been canceled by mid-season. It was that simple.
Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park rounded out the original task force as Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua. This was huge. At the time, having two Asian-American leads in a major network show was a big deal. They weren't sidekicks; they were the backbone. Chin was the tech wizard with a disgraced past, and Kono was the rookie surf-pro turned sniper. They brought a sense of Ohana (family) that actually felt authentic to Hawaii, rather than just being a buzzword the writers threw in to sound local.
The Evolution of the Five-O Task Force
As the seasons rolled on, the team changed. That’s just the nature of a show that lasts 240 episodes. You had Chi McBride join as Lou Grover, a former SWAT captain who brought a much-needed "dad energy" to the group. Later, Jorge Garcia's Jerry Ortega moved from a recurring conspiracy theorist to a series regular, adding a layer of quirkiness that helped balance out the high-stakes shootouts.
Some fans drifted away when Kim and Park left over salary disputes before Season 8. It was a rough patch. Meaghan Rath and Beulah Koale stepped in as Tani Rey and Junior Reigns, and while it took a minute to get used to the new faces, they eventually found their groove. Junior, specifically, gave McGarrett a protege to mentor, which allowed Steve to soften up a little bit. It was a different show by the end, but the core—that relentless pursuit of justice under the Hawaiian sun—remained.
Why Hawaii Was the Real Main Character
You can't talk about the Hawaii Five-O 2010 TV series without talking about the locations. Most shows "cheat" by filming in Vancouver or Atlanta and pretending it's somewhere else. Not this one. They filmed on the ground in Oahu. When you saw a sunset, it was a real Hawaiian sunset. When they were running through the jungle in Manoa Valley, those were real mosquitoes biting the actors.
The production used the Hawaii Film Studio at Diamond Head, and they basically took over the island. They used local landmarks like the Ali'iolani Hale (the real-life home of the Hawaii State Supreme Court) as the Five-O headquarters. It gave the show a sense of place that you just can't fake on a soundstage in Burbank.
The local culture played a part too. The writers tried—with varying degrees of success—to integrate Hawaiian history and language. You had Taylor Wily as Kamekona Tupuola, the former informant turned shrimp truck mogul. He was more than comic relief; he represented the community. The show dealt with the "Kapu" (the forbidden/protected), ancient burial grounds, and the complex relationship between the locals and the military. It wasn't always perfect, but it tried to be more than just a tourist brochure with handcuffs.
The Villains: Wo Fat and the Long Game
Most procedurals have a "killer of the week." Five-O had that, but it also had Wo Fat. Mark Dacascos played the recurring antagonist with a chilling, quiet intensity. The rivalry between McGarrett and Wo Fat was legendary. It wasn't just about crime; it was personal. It was tied to Steve's father, his mother (Doris McGarrett, played by the fantastic Christine Lahti), and a web of international espionage that spanned decades.
This long-form storytelling is what kept the "binge-watchers" coming back. You wanted to know what was in the toolbox Steve's dad left behind. You wanted to know why the Governor (played by Jean Smart in the early days) was so shady. The show took the 1968 premise and added a serialized layer that fit the prestige TV era perfectly.
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The Technical Side of the Action
Let's get real for a second: the action in the Hawaii Five-O 2010 TV series was insane for network television. They didn't just have foot chases; they had full-scale military incursions. Jeff Cadiente, the stunt coordinator, pushed the limits of what a TV budget could do. We're talking helicopter stunts, high-speed boat chases, and tactical room-clearing sequences that felt ripped out of a Call of Duty mission.
Alex O'Loughlin famously did a lot of his own stunts, which eventually took a massive toll on his body. He’s been open about the injuries he sustained—back issues, shoulder problems—that nearly led him to leave the show earlier than he did. That physical commitment showed on screen. When McGarrett looked exhausted after a fight, it wasn't just makeup.
Cross-Over Events and the CBS Universe
One of the coolest things CBS did was lean into the "shared universe" concept. Five-O crossed over with NCIS: Los Angeles, MacGyver, and even Magnum P.I. (the reboot). Seeing LL Cool J’s Sam Hanna team up with McGarrett was a fanboy’s dream. It made the world feel bigger. It made it feel like the Hawaii Five-O 2010 TV series was the anchor of an entire Pacific defense network.
The Finale: Was It Enough?
Ending a ten-year run is a nightmare. You're never going to please everyone. The series finale, "Aloha," aired in April 2020, right as the world was shutting down for the pandemic. It felt bittersweet. Steve McGarrett finally found a semblance of peace, leaving the island to find himself, while the rest of the team stayed behind to keep the torch burning.
Some fans hated that Steve and Danny didn't get a more definitive "happily ever after," but I think the ending worked. It acknowledged that for Steve, Hawaii was a place of duty and trauma as much as it was home. He needed to step away. The final scene on the plane, with a surprise appearance that tied back to the show's mythology, was a nice touch for the long-term viewers.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and New Viewers
If you're looking to dive back into the show or you're a newcomer who just discovered it on streaming, here’s the best way to tackle it:
- Watch the Pilot and Season 1 Finale back-to-back: The jump in quality and stakes is wild. The Season 1 cliffhanger is still one of the best in procedural history.
- Focus on the Wo Fat arc: If you don't have time for 240 episodes, look up a "Wo Fat Episode Guide." Those are the core pillars of the show’s mythology.
- Look for the Easter Eggs: The show is littered with nods to the 1968 original. From the theme song (which was re-recorded using the original musicians) to the vintage Mercury Marquis that Steve keeps in his garage—the "old" McGarrett's car.
- Don't skip the "Halloween" episodes: The production team always went all-out for the spooky season, often incorporating Hawaiian ghost stories (Night Marchers, anyone?) that were genuinely creepy.
The Hawaii Five-O 2010 TV series wasn't trying to be The Wire or Breaking Bad. It knew exactly what it was: a high-octane, emotionally resonant, beautifully shot action show that celebrated the spirit of the islands. It’s the ultimate comfort watch for anyone who wants a little bit of sun, a lot of explosions, and a reminder that family—Ohana—isn't just about who you're related to, but who has your back when the bullets start flying.
Whether it’s the iconic theme song or the sight of McGarrett jumping onto a moving vehicle, the show left a permanent mark on the TV landscape. It proved that you can reboot a classic if you do it with enough heart, enough respect for the source material, and a really fast car.
Stay salty, Five-O.