The TV show that transformed Hawaii

By Bob Sigall

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Sep 30, 2011

~~<p>When "Hawaii Five-0" went on the air 43 years ago this week, on Sept. 26, 1968, locals were concerned that a crime show might portray Hawaii negatively. Somehow, however, the 300 million people who watched the show in 80 countries did not see Hawaii as crime-ridden. They saw beautiful beaches and mountains. With the opening shot of a perfectly formed wave, they were hooked.</p>
<p>KHON2 News anchor Joe Moore, who guest starred in about 15 episodes, believes that the economic impact of the original Five-0 was enormous. "Because the show aired before the explosion in cable channels and the Internet, its worldwide audience every week was much larger than for the remake. The huge growth in our tourism can be directly attributed to the exposure given the islands every week on 'Hawaii Five-0.' It was an hourlong commercial for Hawaii every week for 12 seasons."</p>
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When "Hawaii Five-0" went on the air 43 years ago this week, on Sept. 26, 1968, locals were concerned that a crime show might portray Hawaii negatively. Somehow, however, the 300 million people who watched the show in 80 countries did not see Hawaii as crime-ridden. They saw beautiful beaches and mountains. With the opening shot of a perfectly formed wave, they were hooked.

KHON2 News anchor Joe Moore, who guest starred in about 15 episodes, believes that the economic impact of the original Five-0 was enormous. "Because the show aired before the explosion in cable channels and the Internet, its worldwide audience every week was much larger than for the remake. The huge growth in our tourism can be directly attributed to the exposure given the islands every week on 'Hawaii Five-0.' It was an hourlong commercial for Hawaii every week for 12 seasons." Login for more...