Show Type: Police Drama

First Telecast: September 26, 1968

Last Telecast: April 26, 1980

Though based in the Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu, the men of Hawaii's Five-O group were not members of the Honolulu Police Department. They worked instead as part of the Hawaiian State Police and were accountable directly to the Governor.

Stolid, unemotional Steve McGarrett was the head of Five-O, and worked with his own men and the local police in solving various individual crimes and fighting the organized forces of the Hawaiian underworld. Most hated of all the evil men in the islands was the criminal genius Wo Fat. He would pop up periodically to make life difficult for McGarrett, who was bound and determined  to put him in jail. Though Steve did manage to interfere with Wo Fat's illegal operations, he couldn't piece together sufficient evidence to bring him to court.

Hawaii Five-O was filmed entirely on location and it may well have been the beautiful scenery as well as the action and adventure that made it so popular. Whatever the causes, Hawaii Five-O was immensely successful. It was the longest continuously running police show in the history of television. Surprisingly, there was very little turnover among the leads. Steve did have several secretaries - May being replaced by Jenny, with Luana turning up later, and one of his assistants, Kono, left after four seasons, but for most of the cast, the working conditions in Hawaii were too pleasant to give up. After ten seasons, however, Kam Fong tired of the role of Chin Ho Kelly and was written out of the show by having his character killed in the final episode of the 1977-78 season.

At the end of the following season, James MacArthur decided he had enough of playing McGarrett's top assistant, Danny "Danno" Williams, and he too left Hawaii Five-O. That fall, three new members were added to the Five-O team, including former policewoman Lori Wilson. The ratings were falling, and the infusion of new people didn't help. It became obvious to all that this would be Hawaii Five-O's last season.

Near the end of it's run on April 5, 1980, McGarrett's most bitter enemy was finally brought to justice. Disguised as a scientist, McGarrett sprung a trap that sent Wo Fat, seen for the first time in five years, to jail.

The Iolani Palace, which in this series was the seat of the Hawaiian government, had at one time housed the Hawaiian Legislature. That time was long gone, however, as it had been a museum for many years prior to the start of Hawaii Five-O.

Reruns from the last season's episodes aired under the title McGarrett on CBS Late Night.