Hawaii Five-0 (TV Series) Ho'onani Makuakane (2013) User Reviews

Five-0 the way it should be

[memoriesofhawaiifive0 · 10/10 · 14 December 2013]

Finally! A really good episode from the remake team. From the research and writing to the casting and acting to the direction and editing, this is an A-One production.

The attention to historical detail was excellent. The portrayal of both Japanese and American sentiment at wartime was well done. The behavior of the Five-0 team members was much more mature and befitting their positions in government.

I hope the remake team will use "Ho'onani Makuakane" as a turning point and go forward with continued outstanding production practices. The results are well worth the effort.

The best episode I've seen so far

[mts43 · 9/10 · 1 February 2021]

I have been watching reruns of the series that were bagun a few weeks ago. They are currently in Season 4. I really enjoy this high quality series, and Ho'onani Makukane is the best episode that I've seen to date. The Nisei internment in WWII is among the worst things ever done by our own government to American citizens, ranking right up there with Slavery and the annihilation of Native Americans.

Great Episode

[JimRPh62 · 10/10 · 29 December 2013]

I don't usually write reviews, but this episode moved me to do so. I suppose what I write may be a spoiler, so be warned.

This episode seamlessly transitioned from a World War II time line to the present day. It was natural. Similar efforts by other shows were often jarring.

The scenes involving World War II and the Japanese internment camp were very well done. To the best of my knowledge, they were historically accurate. Most such Hollywood flashbacks take obvious liberties with history. I felt this was a true reflection of what was.

Basically, this was a wonderful tribute to the soldiers and citizens of Hawaii during and immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor. This show illustrated the injustice done to Japanese Americans and also showed how they were normal patriotic Americans caught up in a time of fear and prejudice. It remembered the sacrifice many of them made as American soldiers.

This episode also seemed to omit the usual "in your face" product placement that has often made the new Hawaii Five-0 seem like a long commercial. It also omitted the frequent poor humor, much of the tiresome bickering between Danny and McGarrett, and the cardboard characters like Danny's daughter Grace. In summary, it was and will probably remain Hawaii Five-0's finest hour.

Favorite Episode!

[frankiegump-32211 · 10/10 · 15 August 2021]

Although I am leaving this review years later I thought it was important to leave my thoughts. I was an avid fan while the show ran and decided to rewatch the entire show at the moment.

As a fan of World War II history I thought the story behind this episode was impactful. The historical research was well done and transferred the message directly to the small screen. After this episode aired I actually used clips from this episode for a project in college to demonstrate Japanese-American Internment Camps.

I believe this is the most well done episode in the Five-0 Franchise. I was blown away rewatching it just as much I was during my first viewing! It's a must watch whether you're a fan of the show or not!

Fabulous

[epmasciana · 10/10 · 30 May 2017]

One of the best things I have ever seen on TV. It addressed the atrocities of the internment camps against Japanese Americans without preaching and the storyline was fabulous. Could watch it again and again. Acting and dialogue always great on this show, though can be a bit too violent.

A Moving Tribute to the Greatest Generation but Shamed Past!

[ShelbyTMItchell · 10/10 · 14 December 2013]

Hawaii Five 0 known for it's wit and charm. Gets out of the usually silly stuff and murder of the week as they investigate not just WWII and the day the world changed on Pearl Harbor 1941 seventy-two years ago.

But how Japanese Americans were treated like enemies in which they were really loyal. And how the USA our govt treated them. As a lot of them besides being sent to internment camps. Were also proving to test their loyalty joined the Army.

As a man who was sent as a young boy to the camps. Felt one of the soldiers, another WWII and a guard at the camp killed his father after breaking the rules going out. Chin Ho reveals to the man that he is half-Japanese and really the talk with him was moving. Really got to love Chin.

As McGarrett opens the cold case up. And it is not what or how it ends. But it is a moving episode. Where America finally apologized over the 80K out the over 120K that were imprisoned back in the late 1980s. As how their lives were ruined and destroyed. Hoping to never let history repeat itself.

Also a celebration and remembering the Greatest Generation as well as my late grandfather fought in WWII. Never, ever forget!

One of the best in series

[MiketheWhistle · 10/10 · 22 December 2018]

As the other reviews state definitely one of the best ep's of the series. In part because of the greatest generation, but also how they run the crime down. It also has to be noted that in addition to the Japanese illegally imprisoned, the US also imprisoned German and Italian Americans in the same way but it is not often recognized.

4.10 is **** Best Ever in Series

[edwagreen · 10/10 · 14 December 2013]

After a couple of mediocre episodes, including disastrous one during Halloween, 4.10 is the best I've seen in a long time and probably the best of this series.

It deals with the accusation of a 77 year old man, a retired Hawaiian teacher, that his father was murdered by a soldier while the family suffered in the internment camps set up after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Steve shows compassion for the old-timer even after he pulled a gun on the man he suspected, now confined to a wheelchair with early Alzheimer's.

We see through flashbacks what Japanese-Americans went through during this time in history.

The ending is somewhat of a surprise and apologies are in order, but it was an extremely well-written episode. Hope to see more like these.

Pretty Good Episode

[chris_neumann · 8/10 · 31 January 2014]

Compared to most of the standard story lines, this was a refreshing change. I enjoyed the acting as they almost seemed like normal people, not caricatures. The one dimensional guests and main characters were missing in this show.

It was interesting to have historical occurrences presented accurately in the show. They did a pretty good job presenting the Pearl Harbor attack for a TV show.

Although it had a sappy ending, I hope there will be more well-written episodes as opposed to some of the dregs we have seen so far this season.

One of the most memorable episodes

[shelbythuylinh · 10/10 · 22 November 2021]

A former Japanese American imprisoned with his family among 120,000 of those back in WWII after Pearl Harbor tries to kill a former soldier who the Japanese American accuses of killing his father to steal a sword.

As the team gets to the bottom of this and try to figure out as the US Government has the biggest ever scar in life that they are try to repay and make up to those imprisoned and most all of them gone like the parents or grandparents.

But the damage is done. But it is how to try to rewrite a wrong with a right. US also imprisoned those German and Italian Americans but not as well recognized like the Japanese Americans.

Well it was another person that did it and spent a life of crime unlike the man that was being accused who now has a Japanese wife to prove he is not racist.

They toned down the humor and the usual car chases to remember and never forget.