Hawaii Five-0: Now and Then – What Would The Lord Think? – PT 2
October 20th, 2010
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Part two of a three part series examining Hawaii Five-0 now and then (H50NAT): Places. Hawaii Five-0 was a popular television show that aired on the CBS network from 1968 to 1980 and now is in syndication. Filmed in Hawaii, the show was based on the fictional state police force known as Hawaii Five-0. The team name is a reference to Hawaii’s admission to the union as the fiftieth state, joining the United States in August of 1959.
Jack Lord starred in Hawaii Five-0 as Steve McGarrett, head of the Hawaii State Police. It is rumored that fellow cast and crew members called Jack “The Lord” due to his insistence on perfection, involvement in all aspects of the show and refusal to fraternize with others as noted in this TV Guide story from 1971. He was particular about his trademark pompadour hairstyle and stylish suits.
Lord continued to live in Hawaii and passed away there in 1998. As I watched the pilot episode of the rebooted Hawaii Five-0 television show, I pondered what Jack Lord would have thought of the new production.
The reboot stays true to the original show by reviving the famous theme song and pipeline wave logo, though in an updated way. Both series highlight the gritty parts of Hawaii which visitor bureaus do not want tourists to see. The reboot characters enter the show more developed and with their own baggage providing storylines for future shows. The director, writers and actors give a nod to the original cast while making the show their own. Lord was set on being the sole star of the show rather than sharing the limelight.
The Places
Tropical Waikiki beach and downtown Honolulu are central to both the original and reboot Hawaii Five-0 series. The sandy beach arching to meet Diamond Head crater at the east end of Waikiki Beach is one of the most recognized vistas in the world. The distinctive blue and white Ilikai Hotel continues to be a favorite filming location. Who can forget the tight pan in to Jack Lord standing atop the Ilikai penthouse balcony in the original opening credits? Next to the Ilikai and Hilton Hawaiian Village is the newly renovated Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, a location which has been used for scenic outdoor scenes in both shows. Rumor has it that Jack Lord liked to spend time at the Ilikai and would probably enjoy sitting on the lanai watching the reboot episode filming perhaps offering directorial suggestions.
Diamond Head view from the Duke Kahanmoku Lagoon (photo credit: D’Arcy Norman)
Jack Lord lived in Kahala near the beachfront Kahala Inn. The hotel has been used for location scenes in both series. The scenic pool area overlooks the Pacific and it is hard to miss the scenes where dolphins are performing tricks in the pool. I bet Lord enjoyed the commute to work on the days they filmed at the Kahala Inn. He could almost literally roll out of bed and be on the set.
When not chasing criminals, the team is often back at their office. The original show offices were in the top floor of the Iolani Palace. Once home to last of the ruling Hawaiian royalty, the palace is now a National Historic Landmark. Outdoor shots of the Five-0 team offices in the original show indicate the team used rooms in the front of the building. Actually, the filming was done in the rear rooms as you can see the State Capital building as you look through the windows in the rear of the set.
The reboot team offices are located across King Street in the Hawaii State Supreme Court building (Aliʻiōlani Hale) marked by the eighteen foot tall golden statue of King Kamehameha in front of the building: a popular landmark. These two buildings are important to the cultural history of the state and of Hawaii people. Jack Lord was active in the community and would appreciate the focus on Hawaiian history.
In both shows, peeling out of the office, the force races cars down Ala Moana and Ala Wai Boulevards, Kalakaua Avenue, Diamond Head Road and the streets of Chinatown. The original show commonly used stock shots for many of these scenes. As we watched the cars chasing down the city streets, the make, model or color of the cars would suddenly change based on the film clip available. Let’s hope the reboot pays a little more attention to continuity during production.
It is interesting to note how different Honolulu and especially Waikiki appear when comparing shots of the same areas from the two different shows. Waikiki today is far more developed than it was 30 years ago. Many of the kitschy mom and pop shops of yore have been replaced by high-rise hotels, high-end retail stores and indoor shopping malls. It won’t be long before the Waikiki of Jack Lord’s day will be gone forever.
For those who cannot get enough Hawaii Five-0 discussion, visit Mike Quigley’s Hawaii Five-0 trivia and oddities page or follow Mike on Twitter. Mike also maintains links to other Hawaii Five-0 sites on his Hawaii Five-0 FAQ page.
To be continued…check back here on 808Talk for the third and final part of this special three parts series on Hawaii Five-0 now and then.
View my entire “Hawaii Five-0: Now and Then” series at tag: H50NAT
About this guest blogger:
April M. Williams is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a great friend of 808Talk. She is also the author of the book “Social Networking Throughout Your Career”, available in paperback and on the Kindle.
Learn more about April by visiting her at the websites below.
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilmwilliams
Twitter http://twitter.com/AprilMWilliams
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AprilMWilliams
CyberLife Tutors Blog http://www.cyberlifetutors.com/blog/
Personal Blog http://aprilmwilliams.wordpress.com
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