Daughters maintain legacy of ‘Five-0’ creator and wife

The original "Hawaii Five-0," created by Leonard Freeman and starring Jack Lord, ran 12 years on CBS, from 1968 to 1980, and put the islands on the map in the television industry. Hawaii’s beautiful beaches, flowers, foliage, mountains and other scenery were seen by millions watching the weekly show. It was the best tourism commercial Hawaii’s visitor industry could have.

The state’s beauty continues to be seen in reruns and in the new "Five-0," now in its fifth season, starring Alex O’Loughlin. The exec producer is the personable Peter Lenkov.

The latest "Five-0" dividend for the state comes from Leonard and Rose Freeman‘s daughters, Robin Freeman Bernstein, Susan Freeman Mann and Lisa Freeman, who recently established the Leonard & Rose Freeman Family Fund at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation. They created the fund in honor of their parents, who believed in giving back to the community that supported them for so many years.

The Freeman daughters were here to celebrate the 100th episode of the new "Five-0" Sept. 13 and make the first set of grants. Emme Tomimbang, who has long been involved with "Five-0" and produced two programs about the series, steered the Freeman women to the foundation, which is run by President and CEO Kelvin Taketa.

"Our family is about the spirit of gratitude and aloha," said Bernstein in a conference call. "Hawaii has been our home and in our heart and soul. We call Emme the fourth sister. She suggested the foundation a year ago. … It’s our way of saying mahalo."

Mann said the current show has provided the sisters the opportunity to spend time in Hawaii and "rekindle our love with islands and everyone we have had the pleasure of working with. Mom became the steward of ‘Five-0′ when Dad died in 1974 and now it’s our time."

Lenkov said the Freemans have been big supporters of the reboot, and Rose Freeman was a "very wise" sounding board. (She died March 4, 2012.)

"After all, this was Leonard’s baby, I’m just a caretaker for a few years, making sure the fire stays lit," Lenkov said in an email.

"When we launched 5 years ago, we aired on Monday nights and I always looked forward to her Tuesday morning reviews. And she wasn’t afraid to tell me when she didn’t like something, which made her all the more valuable as a partner on this journey.

"I still find myself giving notes to my staff writers based on the wisdom of Rose, and to this day, every time I finish a script — write ‘fade out’ — I think to myself, what would Rose think? Would she like it? Would she be proud?"

TOMIMBANG’S shows about "Five-0" were specials for her "Emme’s Island Moments" TV program. The first, "Memories of Hawaii Five-0," which aired Oct. 20, 1996, was co-produced with James MacArthur and Kam Fong Chun, regulars on the original "Five-0." (MacArthur, who played Danno Williams on the series, died Oct. 28, 2010, at 72. Chun played Chin Ho Kelly. He died Oct. 18, 2002, at 84. His son, Dennis Chun, plays Duke Lukela in the new "Five-0.")

The second program was "Hawaii Five-0 Then and Now," which ran May 31, 2012. Tomimbang said she met Rose Freeman when she did the first special. They kept in contact and always got together whenever Freeman came to town.

Freeman’s daughters kept in touch with Tomimbang after their mom’s death.

"They asked me about charities here and if I could help them with their fund they wanted to start in memory of their father and mother," Tomimbang said. "I was honored!I steered them to Hawai‘i Community Foundation. My husband and I have a Tomimbang-Burns fund there and I have an Emme Tomimbang Education Fund for grants given to public school seniors going into journalism or the media field. Jack and Marie Lord also gave much of their wealth upon their passing to HCF. So, it’s the home to ‘Five-0.’"

Robin Freeman met Taketa when they were attending different colleges in Colorado. Taketa later became a law clerk for retired Judge James Burns, Tomimbang’s husband.

"There is a strong Burns-Freeman connection," she said. "Gov. John Burns, James’ dad, gave the go signal for ‘Five-0′ to film here back in the day. Rose even gave me the copy of a letter that the governor sent to Lenny (Freeman) telling him Hawaii welcomes the ‘Five-0′ show concept. And the rest is history."

MacArthur’s widow, golf pro H.B. MacArthur, is in town. Son Jaimie MacArthur, 29, is a good golfer, and his mother said he wants to write movies but is now focusing on golf, working at a country club.

CELEBRATIONS: Tomimbang marks her birthday Monday; Carole Kai‘s birthday is Tuesday. Former Star-Bulletin reporter Lyle Nelson turned 90 Oct. 22. Lyle is still winning marathons in his age group.

I marked my 65th Roosevelt High Rough Riders reunion, class of 1949, on Oct. 15 at the Hale Koa Hotel. The luncheon was filled with memories as we looked at the faces of classmates from so many years ago. We also thought of those we have lost.

Most of us took time to thank Ruthie and Orby Groves, their family and LaVerne Fernandez Nimsger and Evelyn Loo Lee for organizing our reunions over the years. The emcee was Derrick Nii, the Groves’ son-in-law. Groves’ ohana members Cathy Nii, Aulani and Niki Farias and Cindy Lopez also helped out.

Our sponsor was classmate and retired Brig Gen. Irwin "Yoka" Cockett.

Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.