“Hawaii Five-0” started its eighth season last September in a precarious position. After the summer departure of series regulars Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park, many questioned the continued success and longevity of the show.
But the show gained a second wind with the debut of two new characters, Tani Rey and Junior Reigns; and held fast to the memory of Kim and Park, by often mentioning their characters Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua.
Adding Ian Anthony Dale, Dennis Chun, Taylor Wily and Kimee Balmilero to the main cast helped keep “Five-0” one of the most diverse shows on television.
With the eighth season finale set to air on Friday, here are a few of the highlights of the year. “Five-0” was renewed for a ninth season in April and is scheduled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original version of the show this fall.
>> Best McDanno Scene: McG and Danno grow old together (Episode 10)
The “Five-0” fandom loves McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) and Danno (Scott Caan) as partners and best friends — and often refer to both characters as McDanno. When Danno is shot in the chest and the team has to fight to save his life, he has near-death visions of a potential future — with McGarrett at his side until the end.
Dreams of opening a successful Italian restaurant in Chinatown, and enjoying their retirement watching Tani and Junior take over Five-0. His son Charlie graduates from the HPD academy, while all of the Five-0 ohana, including Uncle Steve, look on. He imagines himself and Steve, older, white-haired, sitting together on the shore behind McGarrett’s house discussing Danno’s grandkids and bickering as if they were still working a case with Five-0.
For a favorite McDanno moment — that’s a hard one to beat.
>> Best Newbie: Eddie the Dog
Former Drug Enforcement Administration detection dog Eddie is one of the newest members of the Five-0 task force. Brought on board by McGarrett, after Eddie’s DEA handler was killed in a botched drug bust, he is now a recurring character on the show.
Named after the legendary Hawaiian big-wave surfer Eddie Aikau, the yellow Labrador retriever does his own stunts and action sequences, and has quickly become a fan favorite.
>> Best Duo: Tani and Junior
Newcomers Tani Rey and Junior Reigns, played by relative unknowns Meaghan Rath and Beulah Koale, have kicked some new life into “Five-0.” While McGarrett recruited them, and Uncle Lou (Chi McBride) and Daddy Danno have taken the time to mentor them, the “kids” have really stepped up to find their place on the team. It is refreshing how well they play off each other, and can still lean on each other. And while they can handle themselves as rookies, they also respect their elder Five-0 teammates — which makes us love them even more.
>> Best Use of Hawaiian Folklore: Halloween (Episode 5)
Since season two, the annual Heleui episode has usually focused on Hawaiian folklore and ancient legends.
This year the team investigated several murders where the killer saw herself as the Half-Faced Girl of Old Pali Road after she had been left for dead and half of her face had been eaten by wild boars. Seeking her revenge, she made her victims look like they have been killed by Pele because they were taking pork over the Pali. Or with concrete as if by Menehune, who would turn anyone who interrupted their work to stone.
The kidnapping of a little girl recalled the Green Lady of Wahiawa, the ghost of a heartbroken mother who lost her own child and seeks another to replace her.
While the modern Half-Faced Girl slipped through Five-0’s fingers, they did gain new insight into our island chicken-skin stories.
>> Best Culturally Informative Episode: Five-0 Lands on Kahoolawe (Episode 20)
The story of Kahoolawe and why it is called the “Target Island” is not as common as Hawaii residents might think, according to the world of “Five-0.” McGarrett and his former love interest Catherine Rollins (Michelle Borth) fly to the uninhabited island to find a suspected uranium deposit wanted by a terrorist cell.
While the plotline of the episode was purely fantasy, having Kahoolawe showcased on a prime-time television show can help the work being done to save the many unique and culturally significant archaeological and historic sites on the island.
>> Best Ohana Moment: Five-0 Saves Duke’s Granddaughter (Episode 22)
One of the most anticipated episodes of season eight featured Sgt. Duke Lukela (Dennis Chun) going rogue in order to save his kidnapped granddaughter, Akela (Cidni Romias). Chun is definitely a fan favorite and to learn more about his character’s backstory created a strong buzz in the “Five-0” fandom.
The episode was full of tension and action, as the team worked to not only save the little girl, but also to clear their friend’s name.
Likewise, the dramatic scene where Duke puts himself in harm’s way to rescue his mo‘opuna show us just how far Five-0 will go in order to save the ones they love.
Wendie Burbridge writes the “Five-0 Redux” blog for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. She can be reached through Facebook at facebook.com/Five0Redux.
