Hawaii Five-O (1968)
The landmark CBS police procedural that turned Hawaii into television's most iconic beat — and made "Book 'em, Danno!" a permanent part of American culture.
Hawaii Five-O - Series Information
- Original Title: Hawaii Five-O
- First Air Year: 1968
- Last Air Year: 1980
- Created by: Leonard Freeman
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 60 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 12
- Number of Episodes: 284
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: September 20, 1968 (United States - TV-PG), September 20, 1968 (Canada - PG), September 20, 1968 (Germany - 16), September 20, 1968 (France - 16), September 20, 1968 (Brazil - 14), September 20, 1968 (Mexico - A), September 20, 1968 (Spain - 16)
- Networks: CBS
- Alternative Titles: hawaï police d'état (CA), McGarrett (US), Отдел 5-O (SU), 하와이 5-0수사대 (KR), Hawaii Fem-0 (SE), Hawaii Fünf-Null (DE), Χαβάη Πέντε-0 (GR)
- Production Companies: Leonard Freeman Production, CBS Studios
- Production Countries: United States of America
Hawaii Five-O - Plot
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for 12 seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. Jack Lord portrayed Detective Lieutenant Steve McGarrett, the head of a special state police task force which was based on an actual unit that existed under martial law in the 1940s. The theme music composed by Morton Stevens became especially popular. Many episodes would end with McGarrett instructing his subordinate to "Book 'em, Danno!", sometimes specifying a charge such as "murder one".
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Hawaii Five-O - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Leonard Freeman
Main Cast
- Jack Lord
- James MacArthur
- Kam Fong
- Al Harrington
- Harry Endo
- Zulu
- Richard Denning
- Herman Wedemeyer
- Sharon Farrell
- William Smith
Writers
- Robert Janes
- Bill Stratton
- Seeleg Lester
- Anthony Lawrence
- Herman Groves
Hawaii Five-O - FAQs
Where can you stream Hawaii Five-O today?
Hawaii Five-O is available to stream on Paramount Plus (Essential and Premium tiers), as well as through the Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Apple TV Channel, and Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel. Episodes can also be purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home.
What is the meaning of "Book 'em, Danno" in Hawaii Five-O?
"Book 'em, Danno" is the show's most iconic catchphrase, spoken by Det. Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) to his partner Danny Williams at the close of many episodes. It became a defining piece of American television pop culture, signaling the arrest of the week's criminal — sometimes with a specific charge like "murder one."
Who are the main actors in Hawaii Five-O?
The principal cast includes Jack Lord as Det. Steve McGarrett, James MacArthur as Danny "Danno" Williams, Kam Fong as Chin Ho, Al Harrington as Ben, Harry Endo as Che Fong, Zulu as Kono, Richard Denning as the Governor, Herman Wedemeyer as Duke, Sharon Farrell as Lori Wilson, and William Smith as Det. James "Kimo" Carew.
Is Hawaii Five-O based on a true story?
Hawaii Five-O is a fictional drama, but creator Leonard Freeman drew inspiration from a real special police unit that operated in Hawaii under martial law during the 1940s. The show's setting and procedural structure reflect genuine aspects of Hawaiian law enforcement, lending it an authentic feel despite its fictional storylines.
How many seasons and episodes does Hawaii Five-O have?
Hawaii Five-O ran for 12 seasons and 284 episodes on CBS, from September 20, 1968, to April 5, 1980. Each season contained between 20 and 25 episodes, making it one of the longest-running crime dramas in American television history at the time of its conclusion.
What is Hawaii Five-O about?
Hawaii Five-O follows Det. Lt. Steve McGarrett, head of a fictional elite state police task force operating across the Hawaiian Islands. Each episode presents a self-contained crime investigation — from murder to espionage — combining sun-soaked location filming with taut procedural storytelling and a memorable Morton Stevens theme score.
When did Hawaii Five-O first air on television?
Hawaii Five-O premiered on CBS on September 20, 1968. The series ran continuously for twelve seasons before concluding in 1980, establishing itself as a landmark of American network television and paving the way for later Hawaii-set productions including the 2010 CBS reboot Hawaii Five-0.
Did Hawaii Five-O inspire a modern reboot?
Yes. CBS launched a reimagined Hawaii Five-0 in September 2010, which ran for ten seasons until 2020. The reboot retained the core premise of an elite Hawaiian task force and honored the original's legacy with updated characters and contemporary storylines, introducing the franchise to an entirely new generation of viewers.
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