Five-O forever

The iconic isle-based cop drama releases its first season on DVD

Prayers were answered this week for all those who've faithfully watched reruns of the one truly iconic Hawaii-made TV series -- shown locally on Christian station KWHE.

'Hawaii Five-0' » See the reruns: 7 p.m. weekdays on KWHE (Oceanic channel 11) » See the documentary: Emme Tomimbang's "Memories of Hawaii Five-0," with new footage from a party last week celebrating the show's 30th anniversary and the Ilikai Hotel's $40 million makeover, will be broadcast at 9 p.m. March 22 and 3 p.m. March 24 on KHON. » See the DVD: "Hawaii Five-0: The First Season" is in stores now from Paramount Home Video, for about $50.

The DVD box set of "Hawaii Five-0: The First Season" was released Tuesday, and stores around the island have been reporting brisk sales and reorders.

The DVD release was a meaningful event not only for those abroad who felt the allure of paradise through the adventures of Steve McGarrett, but also for fans born and raised here who delighted in seeing their island home as backdrop for one of the more memorable cop shows ever.

The show was an inspiration, in particular, to Chris Lee, director of the University of Hawaii's Academy for Creative Media and a movie producer.

As a teenager here in the late 1960s -- the drama's early years -- Lee said his love of "Five-0" "was the reason I went to Hollywood."

He remembers "following the crews around the island and always bugging them. There was little security around the shoots, and the cast and crew integrated themselves into the community so well. There was not much in terms of moviemaking inspiration here back then, so it was exciting to visit the location shots. I even got Jack Lord's autograph."

Lee recalls seeing an episode on TV recently with guest star Christopher Walken -- "and I said to myself, 'That's my childhood there.' ... There were sequences that included the old Honolulu Stadium." That episode, from the second season, was about a local accused of shooting a Navy shore patrolman.

"It was an important show," Lee said, "a milestone, once you really look at what they were able to accomplish then. It was quality storytelling.

"And even though it was an exaggerated Hawaii as shown on 'Five-0,' the stories reflected issues in Hawaii, like labor and ethnic conflicts. Plus, it really got out to get local actors and give them jobs.

"The standard it set hasn't been met yet here in Hawaii."

Questions: How well do you know 'Five-0'?

1 Name as many images from the "Hawaii Five-O" opening sequence as you can remember -- no peeking.

2 The famous title song: Who wrote it? Who covered it? How did it do on the charts?

3 Name two Steve McGarrett stock phrases introduced in the pilot episode, "Cocoon."

4 Name the newbie actor and the established actor who starred together as a street hustler and an embezzler.

5 Did McGarrett ever catch his arch-nemesis, Wo Fat?

Answers: How well do you know 'Five-0'?

1 A crashing wave; aerials of Diamond Head, Ala Moana area, Waikiki, Aloha Tower; Steve McGarrett on an Ilikai Hotel balcony; black sedan on Kalakaua Avenue; woman running on the beach; Punchbowl statue; a woman, then a boy, then a woman turning to camera; underbelly of a jet and a plane overhead; setting sun; Tahitian dancer's hips; La Ronde; Tops Restaurant, police blue light; shots of the cast; high-speed footage of Kalakaua Avenue

2 The composer was Morton Stevens, who won the show's only Emmy, in 1973, for other "Five-0" music. The famous Ventures recording reached No. 4 on the charts.

3 "Whadaya got?" and "Book him!" -- often repeated thereafter as, "Book 'em, Dano."

4 In Episode 77, "Two Doves and Mr. Heron," John Ritter played hustler Ryan Moore, and Vic Morrow plays embezzler Edward Heron.

5 McGarrett catches Wo Fat a few times, but can't hold him. In the final episode, the two fight it out, man to man, and Wo Fat is "booked."