McGarrett would GO

It used to be that before the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, most people called a large destructive wave that wiped out a small tropical island — or Hilo — a tidal wave. Only we Hawaii people called it a tsunami. At least that was what I was told by my mainland college roommate: “It’s not sushi, it’s a TIE-dal wave. Don’t you guys surf tidal waves?”

No, we don’t really surf a tidal wave. There’s a surf meet. We surf 30-foot waves. It’s called the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, or just “The Eddie.” But I wasn’t going to go into the details of the life of one our beloved heroes, nor explain to her that, no, we were not “crazy Hawaiians surfing a TIE-dal wave,” but that we were honoring a man who put his life before others and who was one of the bravest men to face a 30- to 50-foot wave. Because Eddie would GO.

So it looks like Waimea Bay is getting hit with monster waves this week. Am I the only one struck by the ironic twist that the week “The Eddie” could happen, the “Hawaii Five-0” episode will feature a tsunami?

I would love to say that the “Hawaii Five-0” writers and producers planned this phenomenal surf event to happen the same week “Kai e‘e,” or “tidal wave,” is to air, but I’m sure the lucky synchronicity has more to do with the weather than CBS’s scheduling. Or perhaps Peter Lenkov is a fortune teller. Or he is ready to face a big wave, which is what seems to be headed toward McGarrett and the Five-0 Team.

And you know Steve would go. Go get the bad guys, go secure the crime scene, go get Gracie so Danno can protect her. Go Steve.

All I can say is that some of you may be too exhausted from watching the AFC Championship game on Sunday, but I’m going to be waiting for the return of Kamekona, McGarrett’s Navy Intel girlfriend, AND the first shirtless Danno scene. Hold your applause, ladies, because if a tsunami of danger is headed Five-0’s way, then Danno may jump back into his shirt and tie quicker than you can say “Book ’em, Danno.”

Ah, yes, there’s the famous line we have not heard in a few episodes.

But I’ll save that for another time …

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Wendie Burbridge is a published writer, playwright and a teacher of literature and fiction writing at Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama. Most recently, her story “The Cave Man’ was published in “’Oiwi 4, Kupa’a Makou ma hope o ka ‘Aina  (We Stand Firm Behind the Land) — Kanaka Maoli Voices on Annexation, Statehood, and Ceded Lands.” As a student at Gonzaga University she studied theater arts and acted in and directed productions in Spokane, Wash. She also worked in Extras Casting for NBC and Warner Brothers on various television shows and films in the Pacific Northwest.