In December 1979, Hawaii Five-0 ended production after 12 seasons and 284 episodes. The final episode would not air until April 5, 1980, nearly four months after the last episode to be filmed (episodes were not shown in the order in which they had been filmed) had been shipped to California to be edited, the lights had been extinguished, and the last bit of stage pancake had been removed. 

 

In some ways, it was a happy day; after all, twelve years is a very long time to do any one thing, especially when the work week comprises 80 hours, the series creator has passed away, and everyone from the guest stars to the directors must be imported from the mainland. In other ways, it was a sad day; after all, in twelve years, people cease being co-workers and become family. To paraphrase William Shakespeare (Romeo & Juliet), family partings are especially great sorrow.

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Of those who began working together in the pilot episode, "Cocoon" in December 1967, only two remained, Jack Lord, who portrayed the protagonist, Steve McGarrett, and Khigh Dhiegh, who portrayed the antagonist, Wo Fat. Perhaps, that is why only they, aside from guest stars, appeared in the series finale, "Woe to Wo Fat". It was, after all, only fitting that McGarrett should complete the task he had set out to accomplish in the series pilot, to put Wo Fat behind bars. 

 

​​On the following pages, you will find some of the more interesting facts about Hawaii Five-0. The first one, Five-0 and Technology, is especially interesting, because it shows the advancements that were made during the show's 12-year run. 

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​The Characters and the Actors Who Portrayed Them