The Hawaii Five-O writers and directors are creative in more ways than one. First off, this episode started with the ending in the opening scene, then jumped back 48 hours to tell what led to McGarrett fighting in an MMA octagon ring. Second, it’s become apparent, you have to shoot which locations are available to fit the storyline.
This home on Kailuana Place (MLS# 1105729) is on the same street as the initial crime scene
Just as the previous episode featured a Kailua home that was supposed to be in Kahala, this one also featured a Kailua home that was supposed to be in Diamond Head.
After the opening scene with the MMA fight, a body that was duct-taped to a chair was dumped in a pool. The victim was a restaurant owner, played by Todd Bradley—a friend of mine that’s a local waterman, entrepreneur, and co-founder of C4 Waterman, a large manufacturer of stand-up paddle boards (SUPs). If anyone can hold his breath underwater to shoot that scene, he can!
The street that home was on was Kailuana Place, which happens to be in the same Kailua neighborhood of Beachside where last episode’s home was. Kailuana Place has always been a desirable place to live, however, was put on the map when Obama came to stay there. The home Obama used to stay in sold for $6.9 million in December of 2010. There was also a home and adjacent lot on Kailuana that went for $14 million earlier this year!
The Five-O team quickly discovers that there were other home invaders that were burglarized, where the male in the family is tied to a chair. The first one, however, was the only one. It turns out all the homes being hit were the homes of restaurant owners in Waikiki, where there was valet parking. They soon put together the crime ring of valet attendants that were taking keys and breaking into homes.
During a raid on one of the valet worker’s homes, they discover photos of all the prospective hits and are able to thwart another robbery. The subtitles on this one said Aina Haina, however, the home appeared to be somewhere like Makiki Heights or Judd Hillside, as you could see Honolulu city lights in the backdrop. The would-be victim there was played by another friend of mine, Sean Ginella, who also happens to be a good waterman in real life.
Upon interrogating the valet burglar, it becomes apparent they weren’t murderers. The investigation led to the deceased restaurant owner’s non-profit company, where he had an MMA gym that kept kids off the streets. There was a fighter there that went AWOL for a few weeks that quickly became a suspect.
After a chase through Kakaako, McGarrett and Dano catch him and McGarrett dislocates the fighter’s shoulder during a scuffle. The investigation then turned to the brother-in-law of the victim, who ultimately admits to the murder when the Five-O team confronts him at the gym.
View over Kakaako from Koolani condo (MLS# 1112958) where the MMA gym and chase scene were
Since McGarrett injured the MMA fighter’s shoulder, he couldn’t compete in a fight the following evening, which was for charity. McGarrett ultimately jumped into the ring for the big event, which put us back to where the episode began. The writers were also able to weave in some more dialogue between the Wo Fat and John McGarrett’s dealings, which I’m sure will surface in episodes to come…
If you’re looking to live your Hawaii Five-O life in either Kailua or Kakaako, feel free to contact me for more information.
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