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The Best Episodes of Hawaii Five-0

Every episode of Hawaii Five-0 ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Hawaii Five-0!

Binge this in 7d 4h•Peaking at 8.3/10

Steve McGarrett returns home to Oahu, in order to find his father's killer. The governor offers him the chance to run his own task force (Five-0). Steve's team is joined by Chin Ho Kelly, Danny

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Hawaii Five-0 Season 1 Episode 12 - Hana ‘a‘a Makehewa (Desperate Measures)
    8.3/10(16 votes)

    #1 - Hana ‘a‘a Makehewa (Desperate Measures)

    S1:E12

    It's Christmas in Hawaii, but instead of celebrating, Five-0 is negotiating a hostage situation when the man who killed McGarrett's father resurfaces. The murderer, Victor Hesse, threatens to detonate an explosive that he's strapped to Chin Ho's chest.

    Director:Chris Fisher
    Writer:Carol Barbee

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  2. Hawaii Five-0 Season 2 Episode 1 - Ha‘i‘ole (Unbreakable)
    8.3/10(15 votes)

    #2 - Ha‘i‘ole (Unbreakable)

    S2:E1

    While McGarrett sits in prison awaiting trial for the murder of the governor, Danny brings him a surprise visitor to help clear him. Meanwhile, Kono is suspended from the force, pending an internal investigation.

    Director:Steve Boyum
    Writer:Paul Zbyszewski

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  3. Hawaii Five-0 Season 1 Episode 13 - Ke Kinohi (The Beginning)
    8.2/10(16 votes)

    #3 - Ke Kinohi (The Beginning)

    S1:E13

    McGarrett discovers new clues in his mother's murder when his sister is kidnapped.

    Director:Brad Turner
    Writer:Nicole Ranadive

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  4. Hawaii Five-0 Season 1 Episode 16 - E Malama (To Protect)
    8.2/10(14 votes)

    #4 - E Malama (To Protect)

    S1:E16

    When the sole witness in a high-profile murder case disappears, Five-0 must head into the jungle to locate and protect her from assassins who are closing in fast.

    Director:Brad Turner
    Writer:Carol Barbee

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  5. Hawaii Five-0 Season 6 Episode 24 - Paʻa ka ʻipuka i ka ʻupena nananana (The Entrance Is Stopped with a Spider's Web)
    8.2/10(10 votes)

    #5 - Paʻa ka ʻipuka i ka ʻupena nananana (The Entrance Is Stopped with a Spider's Web)

    S6:E24

    Trapped inside a dilapidated building in Oahu’s Chinatown, Five-0 must protect a wounded Gabriel and plan their escape when enemy gunmen storm the building looking to kill him and anyone who gets in their way.

    Director:Stephen Herek
    Writers:Bryan Wynbrandt, Steven Lilien

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  6. Hawaii Five-0 Season 1 Episode 24 - Oia‘i‘o (Trust)
    8.1/10(15 votes)

    #6 - Oia‘i‘o (Trust)

    S1:E24

    When Five-0 gets too close to the truth about Wo Fat and his associates, the criminal mastermind retaliates by trying to destroy the team. They've always played by their own rules, but when the Governor can no longer protect them, it's time for Five-0 to pay the consequences of their actions.

    Director:Brad Turner
    Writer:Paul Zbyszewski

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Hawaii Five-0

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  7. Hawaii Five-0 Season 4 Episode 14 - Na hala a ka makua (Sins of the Father)
    8.1/10(11 votes)

    #7 - Na hala a ka makua (Sins of the Father)

    S4:E14

    An escaped convict who wants Five-0 to prove his innocence abducts Danny and McGarrett; Grace punches a person at school.

    Director:Peter Weller
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Hawaii Five-0 Season 10 Episode 1 - Ua ʻeha ka ʻili i ka maka o ka ihe (The Skin Has Been Hurt By the Point of the Spear)
    8.1/10(11 votes)

    #8 - Ua ʻeha ka ʻili i ka maka o ka ihe (The Skin Has Been Hurt By the Point of the Spear)

    S10:E1

    A new ally helps McGarrett and Five-0 when mob bosses on the island are being targeted by an assassin. Also, Five-0 says goodbye to one of their own.

    Director:Duane Clark
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Hawaii Five-0 Season 1 Episode 8 - Mana‘o (Belief)
    8.0/10(17 votes)

    #9 - Mana‘o (Belief)

    S1:E8

    When Danny's ex-partner is found dead at a Hawaiian luau the Five-0 team's investigation leads them to some dirty cops and a powerful cocaine cartel.

    Director:Matt Earl Beesley
    Writers:Jim Galasso, Paul Zbyszewski

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  10. Hawaii Five-0 Season 1 Episode 20 - Ma Ke Kahakai (Shore)
    8.0/10(16 votes)

    #10 - Ma Ke Kahakai (Shore)

    S1:E20

    While hiking in a remote area of the jungle to see the famed petroglyphs, McGarrett and Danny instead find a homicide victim. Meanwhile, their aunt's failing health leads Kono and Chin Ho to visit home, where Kono finally learns the truth about the scandal that ended her cousin's career with the Honolulu Police Department.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Hawaii Five-0 Season 4 Episode 10 - Ho‘onani Makuakane (Honor Thy Father)
    8.0/10(12 votes)

    #11 - Ho‘onani Makuakane (Honor Thy Father)

    S4:E10

    The attempted murder of a Pearl Harbor veteran leads Five-0 to use decades old evidence to investigate a deadly crime committed within the internment camps on Oahu during World War II.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Hawaii Five-0 Season 5 Episode 7 - Inā Paha (If Perhaps)
    8.0/10(11 votes)

    #12 - Inā Paha (If Perhaps)

    S5:E7

    When McGarrett is kidnapped by Wo Fat, he experiences what would have happened to the team if they had taken a very different path, on the 100th episode.

    Director:Larry Teng
    Writer:Peter M. Lenkov

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  13. Hawaii Five-0 Season 1 Episode 7 - Ho‘apono (Accept)
    7.9/10(16 votes)

    #13 - Ho‘apono (Accept)

    S1:E7

    When a Navy SEAL, who's on the run for a murder he swears he didn't commit, takes hostages and safe haven aboard the U.S.S. Missouri memorial battleship, McGarrett must use every SEAL skill in his arsenal to diffuse the situation.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Jim Galasso

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  14. Hawaii Five-0 Season 1 Episode 9 - Po‘ipu (The Siege)
    7.9/10(16 votes)

    #14 - Po‘ipu (The Siege)

    S1:E9

    When a member of the security detail for an upcoming Aid Summit is murdered before he can reveal the details of an assassination plot, Five-0 is brought in to investigate the murder and protect the target, a ruthless dictator.

    Director:Brad Turner
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Hawaii Five-0 Season 1 Episode 10 - Heihei (Race)
    7.9/10(16 votes)

    #15 - Heihei (Race)

    S1:E10

    Five-0 is baffled when a highly skilled ring of thieves pulls off a heist of an armored car, killing two security guards but leaving the money behind. Their only lead in the case requires Danny to reluctantly ask his ex-wife for a favor.

    Director:Elodie Keene
    Writer:Sarah Goldfinger

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  16. Hawaii Five-0 Season 1 Episode 15 - Kai e‘e (Tidal Wave)
    7.9/10(14 votes)

    #16 - Kai e‘e (Tidal Wave)

    S1:E15

    Five-0 struggles to stay a step ahead of a major tsunami that has the island evacuating its shores as they investigate the disappearance of the head of the Tsunami Warning Center.

    Director:Duane Clark
    Writers:Jessica Grasl, Melissa Glenn

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  17. Hawaii Five-0 Season 2 Episode 10 - Ki‘ilua (Deceiver)
    7.9/10(12 votes)

    #17 - Ki‘ilua (Deceiver)

    S2:E10

    McGarrett finds himself in need of the Five-0’s help when he goes to North Korea with Jenna Kaye to deliver a ransom to rebels who are holding her fiancé hostage. Meanwhile, the Five-0 investigate the murder of an investigative reporter who seems to have ties to Jenna.

    Director:Kate Woods
    Writers:Peter M. Lenkov, Paul Zbyszewski

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  18. Hawaii Five-0 Season 2 Episode 22 - Ua Hopu (Caught)
    7.9/10(11 votes)

    #18 - Ua Hopu (Caught)

    S2:E22

    Just as McGarrett finally gets his hands on his arch nemesis Wo Fat in a special ops raid, he’s blindsided when he finds that the Japanese Yakuza is hot on their trail and wants them both dead.

    Director:Larry Teng
    Writer:Stephanie Sengupta

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  19. Hawaii Five-0 Season 3 Episode 1 - La O Na Makuahine (Mother's Day)
    7.9/10(11 votes)

    #19 - La O Na Makuahine (Mother's Day)

    S3:E1

    The team goes after Wo Fat and Delano for the death of an important person. Steve must resolve the issues between him and his "dead" mother, once he finds her alive and well.

    Director:Bryan Spicer
    Writer:Peter M. Lenkov

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  20. Hawaii Five-0 Season 4 Episode 3 - Ka ʻoiaʻiʻo ma loko (The Truth Within)
    7.9/10(11 votes)

    #20 - Ka ʻoiaʻiʻo ma loko (The Truth Within)

    S4:E3

    A conspiracy theorist helps Five-0 when a missing artifact is the key to solving a double murder.

    Director:Duane Clark
    Writers:Bryan Wynbrandt, Steven Lilien

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  21. Hawaii Five-0 Season 4 Episode 6 - Kupouli ‘La (Broken)
    7.9/10(11 votes)

    #21 - Kupouli ‘La (Broken)

    S4:E6

    When Halloween comes to Hawaii and a zombie-like man is shot, Five-0 races to stop a madman who is conducting experiments on humans.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Hawaii Five-0 Season 4 Episode 7 - Ua Nalohia (In Deep)
    7.9/10(12 votes)

    #22 - Ua Nalohia (In Deep)

    S4:E7

    While working the murder case of an undercover ATF agent, McGarrett and the Five-0 team are tasked with watching Mary’s newly adopted baby after she gets sick.

    Director:Joe Dante
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Hawaii Five-0 Season 1 Episode 3 - Malama Ka Aina (Respect the Land)
    7.8/10(16 votes)

    #23 - Malama Ka Aina (Respect the Land)

    S1:E3

    An escalating gang war spills into the stands of a high-school football game, killing several people; an unlikely partnership arises.

    Director:Alex Zakrzewski
    Writer:Alex Kurtzman

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  24. Hawaii Five-0 Season 2 Episode 5 - Ma‘ema‘e (Clean)
    7.8/10(12 votes)

    #24 - Ma‘ema‘e (Clean)

    S2:E5

    The FIVE-0’s investigation into the murder of the state’s women’s volleyball coach leads them to find out more bad news about Kono, and Chin Ho reconnects with his former fiancée, Malia.

    Director:Steve Boyum
    Writer:Stephanie Sengupta

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  25. Hawaii Five-0 Season 2 Episode 7 - Ka Iwi Kapu (Sacred Bones)
    7.8/10(12 votes)

    #25 - Ka Iwi Kapu (Sacred Bones)

    S2:E7

    When the Five-0s investigate the murder of a young couple filming a spooky documentary about a traditional Hawaiian burial site, they are threatened by a drifter who puts a curse on Danny.

    Director:Joe Dante
    Writer:Michele Fazekas

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Best Episodes Summary

"Hana ‘a‘a Makehewa (Desperate Measures)" is the best rated episode of "Hawaii Five-0". It scored 8.3/10 based on 16 votes. Directed by Chris Fisher and written by Carol Barbee, it aired on 12/13/2010. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Ha‘i‘ole (Unbreakable)".