Traditions — March 11, 2010 2:00 — View Comments Written by: STA

The Things that Entertained Us: Magnum P.I.

From Hawaii Five-O to 50 First Dates, to Dog the Bounty Hunter, our islands have been the backdrop for numerous movies and TV shows. The beaches, sunsets, and swaying palm trees all serve to create an environment that lends itself to storytelling. Of all the movies and TV shows that have come and gone, Magnum PI has left an indelible mark on the islands. I was fortunate enough to watch the series run from 1980 through 1988. As the series progressed, so did its popularity, culminating in Emmy Awards wins for Tom Selleck (Magnum) in 1984 and Jon Hillerman (Higgins) in 1987. At its peak, Magnum PI drew over 18 million viewers.

As a local, I enjoyed watching the stories unfold as the back ground of our islands rolled before my eyes. I spent half the time following the story, the other half trying to figure out what part of the island was filmed. In truth, I was thrilled to see our islands on national TV, even though all I had to do was look out the window. Magnum PI captured our islands while intriguing us with unorthodox stories. My favorite episode, entitled Home From the Sea (1983, 4th season), finds Magnum stranded in the ocean after a surf ski accident. Treading water for hours as he fends off sharks, Magnum thinks of his father who during his childhood, trained him to tread water for long periods of time. While he fights for his life, Higgins, TC, and Rick all have a sixth sense feeling that Magnum is in trouble. They stop their activities to find and rescue Magnum. This episode was one of many that set this series apart, a series that may not have come to fruition had it not been for Tom Selleck’s integrity and commitment to personal values.

In 1980, the role of Indiana Jones in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark was offered to Tom Selleck. After much deliberation, Selleck honored his commitment to Magnum PI and gave up the coveted role which eventually went to Harrison Ford. A conflict in scheduling prevented Selleck from taking the role of Indiana Jones and ironically, filming for Raiders of the Lost Ark began and finished in Hawaii long before production of Magnum PI began. This unfortunate but interesting footnote is now a just a bump in Tom Selleck’s illustrious career. Thanks to a bit of misfortune, we are now the lucky recipients of another great TV series based in Hawaii. For more information on Magnum PI, visit the following links below and please share with us your favorite Magnum PI moments at Hawaii Traditions.