Hawaii Five-O is an American television series that starred Jack Lord in the lead role for a fictional state police department. The show ran for 12 seasons, from 1968 to 1980. The twelfth season was repackaged into syndication under the title McGarrett.he CBS television network produced the program, which aired from September 20, 1968 to April 5, 1980. Currently, the program is broadcast in syndication throughout the world and on-demand streaming media via CBS Interactive. Created by Leonard Freeman, the show was shot on location in Honolulu and throughout the island of Oahu as well as other islands — with occasional filming in other locales like Los Angeles, Singapore and Hong Kong.