Protecting all that is pono
To Hawaiians, āE Malamaā means more than āto protect.ā Malama is a powerful word and we use it to express love as well as care-for our āaina and for our āohana-all themes that The Five-0 Team embody. And tonightās episode does not disappoint.
From the beginning we meet the brave Julie Masters, played by Mariana Klaveno, a witness in the trial of a drug tsar, Aaron Brenner (Robert Prescott). Sheās on the run after her original protector was killed by a couple of HPD-dressed assassins (Sebastian Siegel and Steve Chapman). Chin Ho Kelly takes her under his protective wing to get her to the courthouse on time. With a little help from McGarrett, and his big log of fun, Chin helps Julie hike out of the forest, hot-wires and siphons gas into a stray motorcycle, and also makes a lasting connection with our plucky star witness.
It seems like all of the Five-0 Team got to be heroes tonight. McGarrett, always the resourceful SEAL, teaches Chin how tracking humans really works, makes an assassin trap, and does emergency lung-filling first aid on someone who doesnāt really deserve it. And, no, I donāt mean the guy playing Brennerās attorney.
Even Kono didnāt disappoint. I donāt think I have ever been so impressed by someone spelling her own name out loud. And I am always hoping for a Kono kickboxing fest in every episode, and even though we had to wait until almost the end of the show to see her cat-like grace, it was a treat to see her figure out the rest of the puzzle and get her licks in. It was also nice to see a lot of really cool strong women in this episode. Kono is a given, but add Julie, prosecuting attorney Roberts (Michaela McManus), Dannoās ex-Rachel (Claire Van Der Boom), and The Cleaner (Malia Mathis), and thereās no denying that this episode was filled with some bad-ass ladies. Nicely done, āHawaii Five-0.ā
And I donāt know about you, but I was cheering the most for Danno tonight. Protecting his daughter from guns in her ZIP code was all I needed to hear to confirm him as the winner of this yearās Peopleās Choice Award for Father of the Year. I loved Danno taking on The Man to protect his daughter, his ex-wife, and, yes, even Step Stan, from corrupt bureaucrats. Danno Williams ā Badge No. 7576 ā has now been indoctrinated into the real world of Hawaii. For he now knows the genius of a Liliha Bakery Coco Puff, and that not all of our appointed politicians are pono or righteous. I know, shocking.
Well, not shocking that he loves Coco Puffs. If youāve never had one, take Dannoās advice, they should be illegal ā they are that good.
Overall, the Five-0 team is very good at protecting what is theirs and what is put into their care. As if we needed any more reminding.
āāā
Wendie Burbridge is a published writer, playwright and a teacher of literature and fiction writing at Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama.
30 responses to “Protecting all that is pono”
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Another fantastic write up Wendie….but did you have to mention the coco puffs cause now I want one….hehe š
It was just another outstanding Hawai’i 5-0, until the Liliha Bakery Box showed up. If I was on the edge of my seat up to that point, I surely was on my feet with arms tightly around the TV…like most of Liliha’s legions of fans. Strange they didn’t actually show those sweet plump little critters. But then, that might have caused a huge traffic jam at Kuakini and Liliha Streets for sure. LOL Great Post Game wrap-ups, Wendie.
Damn, the secrets out of the box! Liliha Bakery just may raise up the prices now that they accept VISA…
YES! Kono rocked last night. McGarett always rocks. They should really have an episode where he AND Kono fight the bad dudes together, bad a** to bad a**. And Mainlander here. Are those coco puffs better than Krispy Kreme?
oh YES. Coco puffs beat Krispy Kreme’s hands down. You must come and try! š
I would love to come and try Coco puffs, I love chocolate!
KK isn’t even on the same planet compared to Coco puffs.
Crispy Kreme don’t compare to coco puffs or malasadas. If You go to Oahu in May or June try the Mango Malasadas at Lenords. The best ever.
Leonards malasadas are just air. . . all fluff. If you want a REAL malasada, you gotta try the ones at Agnes’ Portuguese Bake Shop in Kailua! No filling needed because those malasadas are the BOMB and the ones Danny eats in that early episode! Try it! Fat Tuesday is coming up!
How very true! H50 was so filled with action, I needed to pause and take a rest! I, to, loved seeing all the main characters get to kick it! I especially loved watching Danno imbedding his badge number in the Housing Commisioner’s forehead.
Oh yeah that was classic. Never mess with Danny. And he gets on Steve’s case for being impulsive! LOL
Now Danno needs to eat some Malasadas.
Actually, he already did…in the pilot or one of the early episodes.
Komoda Store Bakery Cream Puffs…..Molokai Sweet Bread…..
Yeah from Lenords.
Spectacular scenery as usual, and the Coco Puffs were fun. I bet there was a run at Liliha Bakery today. BUT, as for the show itself, not so great. Turned off by the overly-predictable ‘dirty’ cops in the opening scene, and Alex’s “jungle face paint” seemed way over-the-top. And Julie running/escaping through the jungle in heels was laughable…but even more so after she gave a shoe to Alex, so she was running barefoot(?) through the woods.
Having two unrelated story lines was interesting, and there were some good sequences, but the continuing lack of “local” or at least “local-looking” actors in key roles is a sore spot. Change the background scenery, and this show could have occurred in Anywhere USA.
Last nights show was truly awsome. I’m glad that the writers are giving time to all four actors. Even with Steve and Danny separated, the writers still managed the banter they are now famous for. The two actors ability to show concern underneath their banter makes it even better.
Great review Wendie, as always! And after reading about the Coco Puffs again, I know what I’ll be trying when I’m in HI!
again a great review! love the double meaning at the beginning š
I’ll always love the show, but the writing is lacking. Definitely no twists or shockers like the law and order series or without a trace.
Oh, you guys made me hungry! Does Liliha Bakery mail order to Montana? BTW! I almost forgot! Another great review, Wendie. I loved the episode…but, Coco Puffs? Sounds yummy!
To steal a line from “Fax to da Max:”
SCENCE
At the Post Office, several workers inspect an oily package.
Clerk: “Eh, what you think? Coco Puffs from Liliha’s or Malasadas from Leonards?”
What do you mean? The story lines are GREAT!!! It’s always exciting to watch the new episodes coming out. I even line watching the past. The cast is also GREAT! I think they have finally come together…they are the 5-0 Fantastic Four.
Another great review Wendie Joy!!! Your wit and insight are incredible. I hate Tuesdays because IŹ»m up late watching 5-0…but look forward to your reviews. I particularly liked the fact that Aaron gave up her shoes then hiked through our forests barefoot!
Kumu C
Fantastic blog!!! Love your comment and couldn’t agree more. When it comes to feeling safe and under the protection of any of the Five-O’s – we know they’ll never disappoint us each week and as for badge #7576 – he left a lasting impression on us all….never ever mess with a caring father of an eight year old.
I am just reading this post for the first time and, after reading what you said about Kono spelling her last name, I had to share this with you.
My mother was an Assistant County Attorney where we lived and one of the people she worked with (not the County Attorney’s Office another branch) was a woman named Rondslaven (either that or Rodnheaver). My mother said she could always tell when someone had teed off Ms. Rondslaven off because my mother could her spelling out her name over the phone ‘That’s R-O-N-…”
She also knew she’d be getting a phone call shortly in HER office because whoever Ms. Rondslaven had spelt her name for was now calling to complain.
LOVE this show!
Great story:) Thanks for reading and commenting! šĀ
I am just reading this post for the first time and, after reading what you said about Kono spelling her last name, I had to share this with you.
My mother was an Assistant County Attorney where we lived and one of the people she worked with (not the County Attorney’s Office another branch) was a woman named Rondslaven (either that or Rodnheaver). My mother said she could always tell when someone had teed off Ms. Rondslaven off because my mother could her spelling out her name over the phone ‘That’s R-O-N-…”
She also knew she’d be getting a phone call shortly in HER office because whoever Ms. Rondslaven had spelt her name for was now calling to complain.
LOVE this show!
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