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This, in a nutshell, is "Hawaii Five-0", one of the most popular shows on television today. It is a collage of the Hawaiian lifestyle interwoven with an exciting, dramatic crime story. To the Islanders "Hawaii Five-0" is their link with Hollywood's glamorous show business world.

What's it like to work on Hawaii Five-0 and live in Honolulu for eight months of the year? Is the lifestyle any different from that of the Mainland? To find out the answers to these questions, 'TEEN visited one of the show's regulars, Jim MacArthur, during one of his brief trips to Los Angeles. He greets you warmly at the door of his San Fernando Valley home and motions you into the den.

As you look around the wood paneled walls, the bookcases, the Oriental rugs and brick fireplace, you would never guess that the MacArthurs spend the greater part of their lives in Honolulu.

"I must apologize for the awful mess, but we're franticly packing to catch an early flight back to Hawaii." He says, pointing towards several stacks of storage boxes scattered around the room.

Because Jim gets to see the best of both worlds, so to speak, we ask him if he feels there are any vast differences between Hawaii's lifestyle and that of the Mainland.

"Well, I think the main difference is the climate. The style of living among kids today has gotten more relaxed everywhere. On the Mainland, there are a lot of fads and people wear what's in. In Hawaii, there isn't much of that, because it's so hot. Everyone wears clothes that are cool. Life is more easygoing over there, I think. But don't forget that Honolulu per se is pretty much of a tourist mecca. I don't mean that in a bad sense, but Honolulu is geared for tourism, People go in and out all the time. Waikiki beach is very beautiful, but living there is kind of a transient existence. There are no major differences." He concludes.

Jim's life, however, is slightly changed when he's living in Hawaii.

"My wife Melody and I live in a condominium apartment there and we live in a house in Los Angeles. That right there is a different kind of lifestyle." He explains.

"This house isn't very nicely furnished at all now, I might add," he says, "but we usually put all the good stuff in storage when we're away. That's because we usually rent the house when we're in Hawaii. Anyway, getting back to what I was originally discussing, I don't feel isolated in Honolulu. The first year I was there I felt very 'rockbound' as they say. You get rock fever-feel trapped, hemmed in. But now I've developed a good circle of friends and life is very full in Hawaii. I probably have more friends there than in LA," he grins.

"Also, when I'm in Hawaii I get a lot thinner. You see you never wear anything but the lightest garments there and if you're fat you become very conscious of it. You always have to look down at the rolls around your middle if you're fat! I hate to see my stomach rolling around so I tend to be more weight conscious there. I play a lot of tennis and take part in a lot more sports, which helps keep me in good shape. Hawaii encourages a much more outdoor existence. I tend to be a lot more bookish living in this house, surrounded by these books," he exclaims, waving his arms toward the bookcases. "The most exercise I get around here is sawing logs off a tree!"

The MacArthurs spend eight months a year in Hawaii. The other four months they spend traveling.

"I love to travel", Jim says enthusiastically. "During the last three months we've been from Alaska to Florida to England, Spain and Turkey. I've been doing several personal appearances and have found that I love doing them! In Alaska, I was the emcee for the Miss Alaska beauty pageant, which was fun. We just keep going, one step ahead of our creditors," he jokes.

When the travel bug hits the MacArthurs in Hawaii, they usually take off for one of the other islands.

"It's so easy to pack a bag and hop on a plane, because in fifteen minutes or so you're on another island. If you want to get away and lie on a beach for a couple of days and do absolutely nothing, the other islands are perfect. I couldn't live anywhere in Hawaii but Honolulu though, I'd probably go crazy living on the quiet, sleepy outer islands because I'm very active."

At that moment, his wife enters the room, dressed in a floral bathrobe with a towel wrapped around her head. "Well, hello there," Jim greets her warmly. "What are you doing? Packing, I hope!" he teases.

"No I'm not, but I'll start on that now. I just took a shower and washed my hair and I thought I'd let you know what the plans are for dinner tonight. How do meatball sandwiches sound?" she asks coyly.

"Fine. Fine." Jim replies, and Melody happily disappears into the bedroom to finish packing.

Melody was at one time a regular on the television series "F Troop" but due to geographical imperatives, she has to all intents and purposes stopped pursuing her acting career" Jim remarks. "I mean, it’s a little difficult to run an acting career from three thousand miles away, and the only show to do on the islands is 'Hawaii Five-0'"

Jim and Melody were married in Hawaii in July of 1970.

"We were actually married on the island of Kauai, in a cave. The fern grotto, it's called. We went up the river in a barge to get to it, which was kind of wild. Melody wore a missionary style wedding dress with puffed sleeves or something, and I had on a red sash, Hawaiian wedding shirt and white pants, which is the standard thing worn at Hawaiian weddings. It was a very beautiful ceremony." He reminisces.

"What is the islanders' reaction to Hawaii Five-0?"

"They love it. In fact, we have about eighty-six percent of the local people watching our show. A lot of the islanders try to get on the show. They're lined up to get on! It's a big social event to them. One time, we had a vice president of a bank who flew back from the island of Hawaii at his own expense. He lost a considerable amount of money just to appear on the show." He comments as he leans over to fill his glass. He shakes his head. "It's amazing what lengths some people will go to be seen on television sometimes!"

Jim doesn’t feel that there is anything different about working on a television show in Hawaii.

"It's just the same as anywhere. There's much better color, though, in Hawaii. Everything technically is done in Los Angeles. All the films are sent back and processed in LA, so really it's all the same."

Does the high cost of living and the constant, expensive flow of guest stars being flown over from the Mainland hinder the show any?

"No, I don't think so at all. They just spend the money. You can't cut any corners if you want to put on a good show. I think we've proved that, because we don’t cut any corners and our ratings are very high. Our photography on the show is excellent. Our cinematographer, Porky Morrison, is an incredible talent and he's one of the funniest men I know." Says Jim. "But, no, I don't think that the expense of the show has any bearing on anything."

Jim had never been to Hawaii before he accepted the role in the show.

"I had a pretty good idea what it was like." He raps. "I was surprised it was as built up as it is though. I took the role because I thought it would be a good thing for me, as I had been playing a lot of young parts for a long time. I thought that maybe taking the role in 'Hawaii Five-0' and playing a policeman would be a great change for me. I was getting so bored with doing those motorcycle movies."

'Hawaii Five-0' has been on the air for four years now, but Jim is still content with working on the series.

"The last four years have been a real blessing, because I'm not the kind of guy who wants to take my clothes off in movies…I don't have the figure for it." "I'm quite happy doing the show and I'd be delighted if the show continues for another four years!"

A recent article in TV Guide on Jack Lord said "Lord has an apparent compulsion to control everything and everyone connected with the show."

When asked about this, Jim comments, "Well, I don’t really want to get into a thing about Jack. Everyone asks me about that particular article. It was very vitriolic and for what reason I don't know. As long as Jack and I have worked together, we have gotten along as equals. There's never been any…well, we've had a couple of run-ins, but that's only natural when you're working closely with someone. Jack doesn’t control the show. The director controls it. Jack certainly has his say, but I don’t feel he has any compulsions to control everything."

'Hawaii Five-0' has a rigid schedule. They commence filming every morning at 6:30 and work until 6:30 or 7:30 at night, every day except Sundays.

"The actors can look forward to mornings and afternoons off every once in a while," he explains, "but the crew works all the time. I do wish we all had Saturdays off, though!"

Much as Jim loves working on the show, he does feel that sometimes there is too much violence involved.

"A couple of times I have felt that there has been a little too much emphasis on violence on the show. I believe that television should not be wantonly violent, and there were a few times when 'Hawaii Five-0 was. That upsets me. I don't see any reason for it," he concludes emphatically.

'TEEN thanks Jim for his time and leaves him to enjoy his meatball sandwiches and complete his packing so that he and Melody will make the flight to Hawaii the next day to commence filming.

Crime in paradise had certainly proved to be a winning formula, and one that will probably be around for several years to come.

If you're planning a trip to Honolulu, you may stumble on the 'Hawaii Five-0' crew on location. As Jack Lord says, "We'll be there. Aloha."

Donated by Annette Nixon