Definition
NCIS: Hawaiʻi is an American police‑procedural television series that follows a team of Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents operating from a field office in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Overview
The series premiered on CBS on September 20 2021 and is the fourth installment in the NCIS franchise, succeeding NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, and NCIS: New Orleans. Created by Christopher Silber and Jan Nash, the show is produced by CBS Studios in partnership with Paramount Television. It combines elements of crime investigation, military law enforcement, and the scenic backdrop of the Hawaiian Islands.
The narrative centers on a Special Agent in Charge (SAC) who leads a diverse team of field agents and a technical specialist as they investigate crimes involving Navy personnel, maritime incidents, and related offenses within the Pacific jurisdiction. Episodes typically interweave procedural case work with character‑driven subplots that explore the personal lives of the agents and the cultural context of Hawaii.
As of 2024, the series has been renewed for multiple seasons, with new episodes broadcast weekly on CBS and simultaneously released on streaming platforms that carry CBS content.
Etymology/Origin
- NCIS: An acronym for Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the federal agency within the U.S. Department of the Navy responsible for investigating felony crimes, preventing terrorism, and protecting Navy assets.
- Hawaiʻi: The Hawaiian word for the U.S. state of Hawaii, derived from the Proto‑Polynesian hawaiki meaning “homeland.” The diacritic (okina) indicates a glottal stop preceding the final syllable.
Characteristics
- Genre: Police procedural, crime drama, action‑adventure.
- Setting: Primarily filmed on location in Honolulu and surrounding areas on the island of Oahu, with additional interior scenes produced at CBS Studio Center. The Hawaiian setting influences both visual style and storyline, incorporating local geography, military installations, and cultural elements.
- Cast and Characters: The core ensemble includes a Special Agent in Charge (portrayed by Vanessa Lachey) and a team of field agents and a technical specialist, portrayed by actors such as Alex Tarrant, Yasmine Al‑Bustami, and Jason Antoon. Supporting characters include local law‑enforcement liaisons and Navy personnel.
- Production Elements: Episodes run approximately 42–44 minutes, adhering to a one‑hour broadcast slot. The series utilizes a mix of on‑location shooting, aerial cinematography, and standard studio production techniques. Story arcs often balance stand‑alone investigations with season‑long character developments.
- Broadcast and Distribution: Airs on the CBS network in the United States and is distributed internationally through licensed broadcasters and streaming services.
Related Topics
- NCIS (franchise) – The broader media franchise encompassing the original NCIS series and its spin‑offs (NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, etc.).
- Naval Criminal Investigative Service – The real‑world federal agency that serves as the series’ institutional basis.
- Television production in Hawaii – The regional industry that supports the filming of NCIS: Hawaiʻi and other productions set in the Pacific.
- Police procedural genre – The television and film genre focusing on law‑enforcement investigations, to which the series belongs.
All information presented reflects verified sources as of April 2026.