‘Hawaii Five-0’ actor Al Harrington dead at 85 after stroke
Al Harrington, the Hawaiian actor known best for playing Detective Ben Kokua on the original “Hawaii Five-0,” died Tuesday.
He was 85.
Harrington suffered a stroke last week and had been hospitalized, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
A high school and college football player, Harrington joined the cast of “Hawaii Five-0” in 1972, replacing Zulu, who played Kono Kalakaua, as the only Polynesian member of the team. He spent three years on the show alongside Jack Lord, James MacArthur, Kam Fong Chun, Richard Denning, Peggy Ryan, Glenn Cannon, Herman Wedemeyer and Danny Kamekona.
Until “Law & Order,” “Five-0″ was the longest-running crime show, lasting 12 seasons on CBS.
Harrington also had a recurring role in the “Hawaii Five-0″ remake, playing local surf shop owner Mamo Kahike, as well as other small roles, including “Scrubs,” “Forrest Gump” and “The Jeffersons.”
When “Charlie’s Angels” went to Hawaii in 1977, he made a guest appearance, as well as on the original “Magnum, P.I.,” which filmed on the same production sets as “Hawaii Five-0.”
Eventually, Harrington returned to Hawaii, where he became a teacher and launched a second career with his dance revue show, during which he became known as “The South Pacific Man.”
In 2018, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts.
“Al was not only an actor but he was an entertainer, humanitarian, coach, teacher, community leader, role model and most of all a dear friend,” wrote Dennis Chun, the son of Harrington’s “Five-0″ co-star. “My father deeply treasured and appreciated Al’s aloha and friendship.”
Harrington is survived by his wife, Rosa, sons Alema and Tau, daughters Summer and Cassi and several grandchildren.
