Afternoon at McGarret – Hawaii 5-0 TV Tour

The best part of this tour is not simply spotting a familiar street corner. It is sitting at McGarrett’s House, looking out toward the water, and meeting Shawn Mokuahi Garnett, the actor who played Cousin Flippa. You get a real connection to the show, plus a friendly local guide who ties the filming sites to Honolulu.

I like the small group limit of 10, since it gives you room to ask questions. I also like the choice of buying a $13.50 sandwich lunch or bringing your own. The air-conditioned van, hotel pickup, drinks, snacks, and return ride make this easy to fit into a Honolulu day.

The main caution is simple: this tour is focused on the 2010 to 2020 reboot, not the original Jack Lord series. At $229 per person, it is a serious purchase, so the value depends heavily on how much the newer show means to you and how much you enjoy guided sightseeing.

Key points to know before booking

• McGarrett’s House is the emotional center: You can visit the home used as Steve McGarrett’s residence, see its famous outdoor setting, and meet Shawn Garnett when scheduled.
• The tour covers more than one house: You also ride past and stop at other Honolulu filming locations tied to Hawaii Five-0 and, in some cases, other television productions.
• Sean, Matt, and Eric have earned strong praise: Guide quality can shape the day, and the best guides add show details, Honolulu history, local stories, and humor.
• Lunch is optional: Choose The Beefy McGarrett, The McGarrett Chicken, or The Veggie McGarrett for $13.50, or bring your own food.
• The older series is not the focus: Fans of the 1968 to 1980 Jack Lord production may find the tour too centered on the reboot.
• Weather and timing can affect the visit: Poor weather or failure to reach the minimum group size can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Why McGarrett’s House matters so much

For most people, the house is the reason to book. It is used as Steve McGarrett’s home in the reboot, and the setting gives the tour something a simple driving circuit cannot provide. You are not just hearing that a scene was filmed somewhere nearby. You get time at a recognizable location, with the home’s owner welcoming the group and the oceanfront setting providing the sort of photo opportunity fans remember from the show.

The outdoor chairs are a particularly important detail. Several people who loved the tour described sitting there as surreal, since the chairs are linked so closely with the series. That photo opportunity is not guaranteed in every visit, though. A wedding at the property once meant the group had to leave earlier than expected and could not use the chairs. Keep that in mind if the chair photo is your main goal.

Inside the property, you can see the real home used for the McGarrett setting. The house owner has sometimes joined the visit and chatted with the group. That personal welcome adds warmth and gives the stop a less commercial feel.

Meeting Shawn Garnett, Cousin Flippa

The planned cast connection is Shawn Mokuahi Garnett, who played Cousin Flippa. He is widely described as friendly, funny, and willing to spend time answering questions and posing for photos. This is not a quick wave from across a room. The format allows for conversation, which is one reason the small group matters.

Shawn also brings a local connection to the show. You can ask about his time on set, the character, and what it was like working on a production filmed around Oahu. Some groups have also met Dennis Chun, known on the show as Duke, but you should not book this tour expecting a particular second cast member. Shawn is the named cast contact for the experience.

The meet-and-greet is a strong value point for dedicated fans, but it also explains the price. You are paying for access to a private home, a cast connection, transport, and a guide for roughly four hours. If you only want to see filming locations from a car, $229 may feel steep. If the chance to sit at McGarrett’s House and speak with Cousin Flippa is central to your holiday, the cost makes more sense.

What happens during the four-hour ride

The day begins with pickup, with hotel transport offered and drop-off included at the end. You travel in a small, air-conditioned van rather than navigating Honolulu traffic yourself. That is useful in Oahu, where parking can take time and several filming locations are spread across the city and surrounding areas.

The guide provides commentary as you travel. The strongest guide reports describe Sean, Matt, and Eric as funny, friendly, and well informed about both the show and Honolulu. Good commentary can turn a drive past an ordinary building into a useful piece of television history. You may hear details about filming, the studio, local customs, Hawaii’s past, and other productions made on the island.

Guide quality appears to be the most variable part of the day. One person found the narration repetitive, with too many locations identified without enough explanation. That is a fair concern. This tour works best when the guide gives you the reason a place matters, not just the fact that a camera once pointed at it.

The small group helps here. With no more than 10 people, you can ask questions and request a photo stop when the schedule allows. It also makes the ride more personal than a large coach tour. Still, the exact stops and amount of time at each one can change, so do not expect a fixed list of every location from every episode.

Diamond Head and the scenic stops

Diamond Head State Monument is part of the route, and admission is included. The stop gives the day a scenic break from television references. You get one of Oahu’s best-known natural backdrops, along with a chance to understand why filmmakers use the island so often.

The supplied schedule lists 15 minutes for the Diamond Head stop. That is enough for a look and a few photos, not a hike to the summit. If you want to climb Diamond Head, plan that separately on another day. This tour does not provide the time for a full monument visit.

Other stops may include locations connected with Hawaii Five-0, the Five-0 headquarters, and places associated with Danny. Some people also enjoyed seeing locations from Magnum P.I. and other Hawaii productions along the route. These stops are valuable even if you are not a serious fan, since the drive shows you parts of Honolulu you might miss while staying around Waikiki.

Do not expect every location to look exactly as it did on television. Sets are often dressed for a scene, camera angles hide surrounding streets, and ordinary buildings can seem surprisingly plain in real life. The guide’s stories and your own memory of the show do much of the work.

Lunch at McGarrett’s House

Lunch is optional and costs $13.50 per person. You can select one of three sandwiches:

• The Beefy McGarrett
• The McGarrett Chicken
• The Veggie McGarrett

A sandwich, chips, and a drink have been served for the lunch option. Bottled water, soda, and snacks are included during the tour, and you can bring your own lunch instead. That flexibility is useful for picky eaters, dietary needs, or anyone who wants to keep the added cost down.

The meal is less about fine dining than the setting. Eating on the porch or near the house, with the show’s familiar view around you, is the point. Some people found the sandwich very good and fresh. One person felt the lunch was merely okay. I would treat it as a themed picnic rather than a restaurant meal.

If you are booking mainly for the house and cast meeting, paying for the sandwich is a reasonable convenience. If you already have food or prefer a particular diet, bring your own and save the extra charge. The important thing is that the food choice does not prevent you from enjoying the house visit.

The original series versus the reboot

This distinction deserves clear warning. The tour focuses almost entirely on the Hawaii Five-0 reboot that ran from 2010 through 2020. Its locations are still accessible and recognizable, which makes them practical for a current tour.

The original Jack Lord series ran from 1968 to 1980, and this experience does not primarily recreate that era. If your favorite McGarrett is Jack Lord and you want to revisit the original production, you may leave disappointed. The tour operator has acknowledged this focus directly, so treat the experience as a reboot tour with broader Honolulu film connections.

For a fan of Alex O’Loughlin, Scott Caan, or the newer cast, the focus is exactly right. For someone who enjoys both shows, the tour can still be worthwhile, but the older series should not be your main reason for booking.

Is $229 a fair price?

At $229 per person, this is not a budget sightseeing trip. You are paying for approximately four hours, hotel pickup and drop-off, a local guide, a small group, bottled water, soft drinks, snacks, admission to Diamond Head, access to McGarrett’s House, and the cast meeting with Shawn Garnett. Lunch costs extra.

The value is strongest for a committed Hawaii Five-0 fan who would otherwise spend money and time finding filming sites alone. You also avoid parking worries and get context that is difficult to gather from a map. The cast meeting and private-home visit are the parts that separate this from a standard movie-location drive.

The value is weaker if you are only mildly familiar with the show, dislike guided commentary, or expect a long list of major set visits. Some stops are viewed from the van or handled quickly. The tour is about a personable half-day outing, not a full production-history course.

The overall rating is 4.8 from 235 ratings, with 93 percent recommending it. That points to a strong fit for its intended audience, while the lower ratings help identify the risks: high price, uneven guiding, and limited appeal for original-series fans.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend the tour to:

• Fans of the 2010 to 2020 Hawaii Five-0 series
• Couples looking for a themed Honolulu day
• Families with adults who want a shared television connection
• Solo visitors who enjoy meeting cast members and asking questions
• People who want guided sightseeing beyond Waikiki
• Anyone who would rather ride than manage Oahu parking and directions

It can also work for a companion who has never watched the show. The scenery, local stories, and drive around Honolulu give the day broader appeal. Still, the biggest moments are tied to the series, so a nonfan should join because they enjoy film locations and island sightseeing, not because this is a general Honolulu highlights tour.

The experience may not suit you if you want a quiet luxury outing, a long Diamond Head hike, or a tour devoted to the original series. It is also not ideal if you need a guaranteed chair photograph or a guaranteed meeting with multiple cast members.

Practical details that affect the day

The tour is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Most people can participate, and public transportation is nearby, though the included pickup makes using a bus or taxi unnecessary for many people.

Book early if your dates are fixed. The experience averages 77 days of advance booking, which suggests that popular vacation periods can fill well ahead of time. The maximum group size of 10 is a real advantage, but it also limits capacity.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. Weather can cancel the experience, and the same applies if the minimum number of bookings is not reached. In either case, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book the Hawaii Five-0 tour?

Book it if McGarrett’s House and Cousin Flippa sound like the highlights of your Honolulu visit. The private-home setting, cast conversation, small van, and film locations create a personal experience that a self-guided drive cannot easily match.

Think twice if $229 feels high for a four-hour tour, if you want the Jack Lord series, or if you need every stop to be a major screen landmark. My practical advice is to watch or revisit several episodes of the reboot before you go. You will recognize more locations, ask better questions, and get far more from the price.

FAQ

How long is the Hawaii Five-0 TV tour?

The experience lasts approximately four hours, including transportation, filming locations, the McGarrett’s House visit, and the optional lunch stop.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes a local guide, bottled water, soda or other soft drinks, snacks, hotel pickup and drop-off, admission to Diamond Head State Monument, and the planned cast meet-and-greet with Shawn Mokuahi Garnett.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is optional and costs $13.50 per person. You can choose The Beefy McGarrett, The McGarrett Chicken, or The Veggie McGarrett, or bring your own lunch.

Which Hawaii Five-0 series does the tour focus on?

The tour focuses mainly on the 2010 to 2020 reboot. It is not primarily designed around the original Jack Lord series from 1968 to 1980.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 10 people, making it a small-group experience.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum group size may result in another date or a full refund.