One West Waikiki
One West Waikiki
One West Waikiki is an American crime drama television series created by Glen A. Larson that originally aired from 1994 to 1996. Set in Hawaii and following the investigative exploits of a brilliant forensic pathologist, the series is often viewed by fans as carrying the combined tone of Larson’s earlier hit Quincy, M.E. and the sun-soaked action of Magnum, P.I. — long before the modern reboot of Magnum aired in 2018.
Series Overview
The series stars Cheryl Ladd as Dr. Dawn Holliday, a forensic specialist from Los Angeles who relocates to Honolulu and joins the Honolulu Medical Examiner's office. With her scientific skills and uncompromising ethics, Holliday investigates suspicious deaths that often lead her into deeper local conspiracies and criminal activity across the Hawaiian Islands.
She is paired with local detective Mack Wolfe, played by Richard Burgi, creating a dynamic of forensic science meets street-level police work — a thematic successor to the interplay between Dr. Quincy and Lt. Monahan in Quincy, M.E.
Air Dates and Format
The show originally aired in syndication from August 1994 to May 1996. Despite critical praise for Ladd's performance and the show's glossy, exotic setting, it ran for only two seasons totaling **19 episodes**.
Production
- Created by Glen A. Larson
- Distributed by Rysher Entertainment
- Executive Producers: Glen A. Larson and Lou Shaw (note: Shaw was not formally credited but inspired earlier format elements seen here)
- Filmed on location in Honolulu, Oahu
- Genre: Forensic crime drama, Police procedural
- Original run: August 1994 – May 1996
- Network: First-run syndication
Quincy Connection and Jack Klugman
Although One West Waikiki carries the forensic procedural DNA of Quincy, M.E., it notably did not feature Jack Klugman, who famously portrayed Dr. Quincy. By the time One West Waikiki aired, Klugman and Larson had gone their separate ways following the end of Quincy, M.E., and Klugman did not participate in this later project.
Before the Magnum Reboot
One West Waikiki aired more than two decades prior to the 2018 reboot of Magnum, P.I., making it a transitional series in the Larson legacy — one that bridged the classic era of 1970s and 1980s procedurals with a modern, character-driven forensic framework.
Cast
- Cheryl Ladd – Dr. Dawn Holliday
- Richard Burgi – Detective Mack Wolfe
- Paul Gleason – Lieutenant Hudson
- Keone Young – Dr. Akune
Episodes
Total episodes: 19 across 2 seasons For a full episode list, see: One West Waikiki Episode Guide – IMDb
External Links
- One West Waikiki on IMDb
- One West Waikiki Review – Quincy Examiner
- Glen A. Larson Biography – Quincy Examiner
See Also
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