Jack Lord wasn't exactly known for being a "chill" guy on set. If you talk to anyone who worked on the original Hawaii Five-O, they'll tell you about the iron fist. He was the king of the island. For twelve years, from 1968 to 1980, Steve McGarrett wasn't just a character; he was a cultural force that fundamentally changed how we look at police procedurals. Most people today probably associate the name with the shiny, high-octane reboot that ran for a decade starting in 2010, but the 1968 version? That was a different beast entirely. It was gritty, surprisingly political, and it basically invented the concept of a state-run elite task force before anyone knew why that would be cool.
The Show That Put Hawaii on the Map
Before 1968, Hawaii was basically a postcard to most Americans. It was that place where Pearl Harbor happened and where Elvis went to film Blue Hawaii. Then came Leonard Freeman. He had this wild idea to film a show entirely on location, which was a logistical nightmare back then. Think about it. You had to fly every piece of equipment, every bit of film stock, and half the guest stars over the Pacific. It was expensive. It was risky. CBS almost didn't pull the trigger.
But they did.
The result was a visual explosion. While other shows were stuck in beige Hollywood backlots, the original Hawaii Five-O was showing off the Iolani Palace, the gritty streets of Chinatown, and the lush valleys of Oahu. It gave the show an authenticity that you just couldn't fake. Honestly, the island was as much a character as Danny "Danno" Williams or Chin Ho Kelly. It wasn't just a backdrop; it was the reason the show felt so alive.
Forget the Reboot: This McGarrett Was Different
If you're used to the buddy-cop chemistry of Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan, the original dynamic might come as a shock. Jack Lord played Steve McGarrett with a stoic, almost terrifying intensity. There was no "banter." There were no long heart-to-hearts about their feelings. McGarrett was the boss. Period. He wore a dark suit in the tropical heat and somehow never seemed to sweat, which is a miracle of 1970s tailoring if you think about it.
James MacArthur, who played Danny Williams, was the perfect foil. He was the loyal lieutenant. People always joke about the "Book 'em, Danno" line—which, by the way, wasn't in every single episode, though it felt like it—but that line represented the closure of a narrative loop that audiences craved. It was the moment of justice.
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The supporting cast was equally vital. Kam Fong, who played Chin Ho Kelly, was a former Honolulu police officer in real life. Talk about E-E-A-T before the internet existed! He brought a level of gravitas and local knowledge that grounded the show. Then you had Gilbert Lani Kauhi, known as Zulu, playing Kono Kalakaua. These were actors of Asian and Pacific Islander descent playing professional, high-ranking law enforcement officers at a time when television was mostly a sea of white faces. It was revolutionary, even if we don't always give it credit for being so.
The Villain We Loved to Hate: Wo Fat
You can't talk about the original Hawaii Five-O without mentioning Wo Fat. Khigh Dhiegh played the part with such a slithery, intellectual menace. He wasn't some street thug. He was a high-level operative for Communist China. The show leaned heavily into Cold War anxieties. This made the stakes feel massive. It wasn't just "catch the bank robber." It was "prevent a global incident."
The rivalry between McGarrett and Wo Fat spanned the entire series. It wasn't resolved until the very last episode, "Woe to Wo Fat," where McGarrett finally gets his man. Watching them face off was like watching a high-stakes chess match played with guns and surveillance equipment.
The Music, The Intro, and The Legacy
Let's be real: you're humming it right now. The theme song by Morton Stevens is arguably the greatest TV theme of all time. That drum fill? The brass? It’s iconic. It set the tempo for the entire hour. The opening montage with the giant wave hitting the shore—which was actually filmed at the Ilikai Hotel—became the visual shorthand for "cool."
But the show's impact went deeper than a catchy tune. It changed the economy of Hawaii. It created a local film industry that still exists today. Shows like Magnum P.I. and Lost owe their existence to the trail blazed by the original Hawaii Five-O.
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Why It Hits Different Today
Rewatching it now, you notice things. The pacing is slower than modern TV. There are long stretches of silence. The technology—giant reel-to-reel tapes and massive computers—looks like something out of a steampunk novel. But the writing holds up. These weren't always happy endings. Sometimes the bad guy won a round. Sometimes McGarrett had to make a choice that wasn't morally "clean."
The show tackled things like the aftermath of the Vietnam War, drug addiction, and organized crime in a way that felt sophisticated for the 70s. It didn't talk down to the audience. It assumed you could keep up with complex plots and international intrigue.
Misconceptions and Fun Facts
- The "Five-O" Name: Many people think it’s just a cool name. It’s actually a nod to Hawaii being the 50th state. Simple, but most people forget that.
- The Car: McGarrett's 1968 Mercury Park Lane Brougham (and later the 1974 Marquis) was a beast. Jack Lord actually owned the '74 car after the show ended.
- The Hair: Jack Lord’s hair was a feat of engineering. It reportedly required a massive amount of hairspray to stay in place during those windy outdoor shoots.
- The "Book 'em" Origin: The phrase became so popular it entered the American lexicon as a general term for making an arrest.
The Grind of 281 Episodes
Producing a show like this for 12 seasons was an endurance test. By the end, the cast was exhausted. James MacArthur left after Season 11 because he just couldn't do it anymore. The final season, Season 12, is often criticized for losing the "soul" of the show, but looking back, it's impressive it lasted that long at all. Most shows today struggle to get past Season 3.
The original Hawaii Five-O wasn't just a TV show; it was a weekly event. Families sat down together to watch it. It was the bridge between the old-school detective shows of the 50s and the gritty, realistic dramas of the 80s and 90s.
How to Experience the Original Today
If you want to dive into the world of 1970s Honolulu, don't just watch clips on YouTube. You have to see the full episodes to appreciate the slow-burn tension.
- Start with the Pilot: The movie-length pilot, "Cocoon," sets the stage perfectly. It introduces the Wo Fat rivalry immediately.
- Look for Guest Stars: A young Harrison Ford, Christopher Walken, and Martin Sheen all showed up on the show. It’s a "who’s who" of Hollywood legends before they were famous.
- Pay Attention to the Locations: If you’ve been to Hawaii, it’s a trip to see how much Honolulu has changed—and how much it hasn't.
The original Hawaii Five-O remains a masterclass in branding, location shooting, and lead-actor charisma. While the reboot had the flash, the original had the grit. It proved that you could film a high-quality, serious drama thousands of miles away from a Hollywood studio and capture the imagination of the world.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to reconnect with the series or discover it for the first time, start by sourcing the remastered high-definition prints. The original 35mm film was beautifully preserved, and the colors of the Hawaiian landscape pop in a way the old standard-definition broadcasts never allowed. Seek out the Season 1-4 "Golden Age" episodes for the tightest scripts. Additionally, for a deep dive into the production history, look for the book Booking Hawaii Five-O by Karen Rhodes, which provides the most factual, behind-the-scenes look at the casting and filming hurdles the crew faced. Finally, compare the original's portrayal of "The Governor" with the reboot; you'll find the 1968 version offers a much more nuanced look at the political pressures of a young state.