The BEST episodes of Hawaii Five-O

Every episode of Hawaii Five-O ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Hawaii Five-O!

The investigations of Hawaii Five-O, an elite branch of the Hawaii State Police answerable only to the governor and headed by stalwart Steve McGarrett.

Last Updated: 7/12/2025Network: CBSStatus: Ended
Woe To Wo Fat
star
9.80
30 votes

#1 - Woe To Wo Fat

Season 12 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/5/1980

The series concludes with the final showdown between McGarrett and Wo Fat. Three scientists have gone missing. They have one thing in common: they all attended a symposium that discussed a possible space-based, laser defense system. McGarrett impersonates a fourth scientist, Dr. Elton Raintree, who attended the same gathering and is soon abducted. Wo Fat is behind it all and wants the scientists to complete their work and produce such a device.

Directors: Barry Crane
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Pray Love Remember, Pray Love Remember
star
9.15
40 votes

#2 - Pray Love Remember, Pray Love Remember

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/1/1969

When a young female student is found murdered on campus, suspicions fall on her boyfriend but McGarrett senses that something is not right.

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Deathwatch
star
9.11
44 votes

#3 - Deathwatch

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/25/1968

McGarrett must protect a protect a mob underboss so he is able to testify against his superior, Joe Matsukino. However, Matsukino has many tricks up his sleeve to silence his former colleague permanently.

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The Payoff
star
9.00
3 votes

#4 - The Payoff

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/9/1970

McGarrett must apprehend two abductors who are on the run with the proceeds of their crime in order to protect the lives of their co-conspirators.

Writer: Ken Pettus
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King of the Hill
star
8.78
65 votes

#5 - King of the Hill

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/8/1969

Danno is taken hostage by a Vietnam veteran who is suffering delusional flashbacks and sees everyone as forces sent to kill him.

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F.O.B. Honolulu (2)
star
8.50
4 votes

#6 - F.O.B. Honolulu (2)

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/3/1971

Five-O must deal with treason, murder and double-crosses in order to solve the case and prevent the U.S. from being flooded by fake currency.

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Six Kilos
star
8.34
64 votes

#7 - Six Kilos

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/12/1969

Chin Ho and Dan Williams are tracking a safecracker but he pulls a gun and Danno ends up shooting him. McGarrett takes his identity of Harry Brown and must infiltrate a sophisticated gang of international thieves.

Directors: Seymour Robbie
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The Waterfront Steal
star
8.33
3 votes

#8 - The Waterfront Steal

Season 8 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/21/1975

When Five-O fail to prevent a series of thefts at dockside warehouses, an influential owner creates trouble for McGarrett.

Directors: Allen Reisner
Writer: Albert Aley
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Charter For Death
star
8.33
3 votes

#9 - Charter For Death

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/25/1973

When a large amount of diseased rats are found on a boat with all the crew dead, Five-O must contend with an outbreak of bubonic plague.

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star
8.33
3 votes

#10 - A Lion In The Streets (2)

Season 12 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/4/1979

Labouring under a ban on cooperation by native Hawaiians because of a Kahuna, McGarrett must try to prevent war on the streets...

Directors: Reza Badiyi
Writer: Robert Janes
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Why Wait Till Uncle Kevin Dies?
star
8.25
4 votes

#11 - Why Wait Till Uncle Kevin Dies?

Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/30/1973

A string of five murders of wealthy men leads McGarrett to a crooked inheritance scheme.

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Sweet Terror
star
8.18
11 votes

#12 - Sweet Terror

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/1969

McGarrett must counter a threat by international terrorist Erich Stoss to use a fungus to wipe out Hawaii's sugar cane, half of the world's supply.

Directors: Richard Benedict
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Journey Out Of Limbo
star
8.03
29 votes

#13 - Journey Out Of Limbo

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/31/1972

Danno is found in the back of a truck, dazed and confused, and McGarrett and the others must help him piece together how he came to be in that situation.

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star
8.00
7 votes

#14 - The Cop On The Cover

Season 10 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/29/1977

McGarrett must solve both a mysterious kidnapping and the problem of having a nosy reporter analysing his every move.

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star
8.00
7 votes

#15 - The Descent Of The Torches

Season 10 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/20/1977

Five-O must find out whether the death of an archaeologist is linked to his supposed desecration of tomb of King Kamehameha.

Directors: Douglas Green
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The Golden Noose
star
8.00
3 votes

#16 - The Golden Noose

Season 12 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/15/1980

McGarrett is suspicious of an aide who arrives in Hawaii to retrieve millions of dollars held in trust for a Southern Asian state and he must prevent a daring gold robbery.

Watch Now:Apple TV
star
8.00
9 votes

#17 - Up The Rebels

Season 10 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/15/1977

An Irish terrorist uses disguise and deception in order to be able to smuggle explosives for the Troubles.

Directors: Don Weis
Writer: Robert Janes
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The Last Of The Great Paperhangers
star
8.00
4 votes

#18 - The Last Of The Great Paperhangers

Season 9 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/4/1976

A masterful forger plans a massive robbery of Navy funds, and McGarrett is made to look rather inept...

Directors: Philip Leacock
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Deadly Persuasion
star
8.00
2 votes

#19 - Deadly Persuasion

Season 8 - Episode 16 - Aired 12/18/1975

A disturbed young man steals nerve gas to use against a visiting royal family as revenge for the death of his father.

Directors: Allen Reisner
Writer: Tim Maschler
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How To Steal A Submarine
star
8.00
2 votes

#20 - How To Steal A Submarine

Season 8 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/14/1975

A vice-principal enlists the help of his students and a submarine to smuggle drugs.

Writer: Walter Black
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star
8.00
4 votes

#21 - Murder - Eyes Only (2)

Season 8 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/12/1975

McGarrett must try his utmost to foil Wo Fat's plans which include hostages and brainwashing.

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'V' For Vashon: The Patriarch (3)
star
8.00
4 votes

#22 - 'V' For Vashon: The Patriarch (3)

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/28/1972

Dominick Vashon, the patriarch of the clan, makes his attempt to bring down McGarrett and Five-O.

Directors: Charles S. Dubin
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For a Million - Why Not?
star
8.00
4 votes

#23 - For a Million - Why Not?

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/2/1971

Five seemingly good citizens with different motives band together to steal $6,000,000 while McGarrett is away on Maui at a trial.

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The Grandstand Play (2)
star
8.00
3 votes

#24 - The Grandstand Play (2)

Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/10/1971

The son of the baseball player becomes the vital witness in a murder, but he is reluctant to tell either his father or Five-O of the crime.

Directors: Paul Stanley
Writer: Adrian Spies
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F.O.B. Honolulu (1)
star
8.00
2 votes

#25 - F.O.B. Honolulu (1)

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/27/1971

Wo Fat and other top international agents converge on Hawaii to place bids on printing plates for twenty dollar bills, which are in the possession of a former friend of McGarrett.

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