The Treasure of Kalaniopu'u (6.9)

[higgybaby1]

The waterfall jump scene looks strikingly similar to the cliff jump scene from "Full House" where the family goes to Hawaii...

[IKnowWhatYoureThinking]

Welcome to the site Mark. I haven't seen the movie, but it wouldn't strike me as odd that the script writers would do that if that were the case.

[rubber chicken]

The waterfall jump scene looks strikingly similar to the cliff jump scene from "Full House" where the family goes to Hawaii...

Despite it being Full House (snicker snicker) I was curious to find out if it was Kapena Falls... I found the episode on youtube (the scene starts six minutes in). It's actually Waimea Falls, on the North Shore. Here's another photo. Lost used this location, and many surfing movies have shown cliff diving scenes here. These falls are in the Waimea Valley Audubon Center (formerly Waimea Falls Park or Waimea Falls Adventure Park), which was seen in the Magnum P.I. episode Beauty Knows No Pain. But if Waimea Falls was ever used in Magnum P.I. I haven't seen it since starting to research locations.

I know Kapena Falls has also been used in Lost, and I read that a Jeep went off the cliff in The Rundown.

By the by, in this episode water is seen going over the cliff-top, but it should be noted that the cliff isn't actually a waterfall.

[Zudobug]

I found it curious that the natives who chase Magnum and co. in this episode always seem to have sparkling clean yellow outfits. They live in the wild and, although they obviously wash their clothes it seems that they have access to some kind of detergent in order to get their clothes so clean.

[Jay-Firestorm]

The ranking on TV.com has this as the ninth most popular episode of the series. I’m not sure it’s quite THAT outstanding, but I certainly find this a very enjoyable outing none-the-less.

[rating=9.5]

To promote Robin Masters’ latest novel, a treasure hunt with a $1,000,000 prize is staged. Magnum is hired to protect the woman overseeing the contest, whose life could be in danger from over-eager treasure hunters. Very silly but a lot of fun…

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This review contains spoilers.

This silly but likable episode is MPI’s take on the classic comedy ‘It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’ (1963), with everyone going crazy as they rush around looking for hidden treasure. And I have to say, regarding this episode, it’s one that I’ve often tended to overlook – coming to re-watch it to review, I found it really enjoyable.

The episode surely ranks as the most semi-regulars seen at one time – it features Doc. Ibold, Agatha, Kika (the pedicab owner from the fifth season’s ‘Under World’ and ‘Round and Around’ a couple of episodes ago), Lt. Tanaka AND Carol (and the first time some of the characters have been seen for a while, too)!

The story is silly, but in a good way, and a welcome change from some of the fifth and sixth season episodes that take themselves far too seriously.
It’s a nice idea to have a plot based around one of Robin Masters’ novels, and it works well. One little throwaway line that I liked, was T.C. commenting how he had read all of ‘Mad Buck Gibson’s books – Mad Buck Gibson, of course, being the adventure writer from the second season episode of the same name.

The only thing I don’t particularly like about this episode is the character of Amy Griswald (Nancy Stafford). I found her grating (and not in the usual MPI ‘love to hate’ way of some guest characters). Nancy Stafford badly over-acts at points, and the hotel scenes between Amy and Magnum are pretty dull and unnecessary, and really let the story down – I would have much rather have seen more of the treasure hunters on the trail of the hidden loot.

But other than that, there’s little to complain about here. After the signing up stage, we see none of the other treasure seekers, being limited to the aforementioned semi-regular cast – but hey, that’s television!

The ending is also very good, with the various characters leaping over the waterfall as the chase the money blowing away – Magnum and Higgins finally can’t resist, and take the plunge themselves, which is where the episode ends.

Although shown earlier in the season, in many ways this episode – with its light-hearted plot and many recurring characters, would have made quite a good season finale, in my opinion.

At time of writing (August 2009), TV.com ranks this as the ninth most popular episode (based on users ratings); while I’m not sure if it’s quite THAT outstanding (I’m not sure if it would scrape my personal Top 10), it certainly is one of the better episodes from this episode of the show’s run. Yes, it’s very silly, but it turns out to be better than some of the show’s more serious offerings later on.

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Others notes, bloopers and misc.:

* Universal seemed to like Woody Woodpecker cartoons in their live-action shows – sorry to mention that other great love of mine, but another example is in ‘The A-Team’s first season episode ‘The Rabbit Who Ate Las Vegas’, where Murdock is seen watching Woody on TV.

* Okay, how fake were those bats in the cave that Rick was scared of?! They seemed to be stuffed toys slid along a zip-wire! Not very convincing at all!

* The DVD version of this episode once again has all of the act breaks abridged.

[J.J. Walters]

The only thing I don’t particularly like about this episode is the character of Amy Griswald (Nancy Stafford). I found her grating (and not in the usual MPI ‘love to hate’ way of some guest characters). Nancy Stafford badly over-acts at points, and the hotel scenes between Amy and Magnum are pretty dull and unnecessary, and really let the story down – I would have much rather have seen more of the treasure hunters on the trail of the hidden loot.

But.... without these Amy/Magnum hotel scenes we wouldn't have seen Amy (Nancy Stafford) in a nightie, or be amused by the "computer does not make mistakes" exchange!

[Jay-Firestorm]

The only thing I don’t particularly like about this episode is the character of Amy Griswald (Nancy Stafford). I found her grating (and not in the usual MPI ‘love to hate’ way of some guest characters). Nancy Stafford badly over-acts at points, and the hotel scenes between Amy and Magnum are pretty dull and unnecessary, and really let the story down – I would have much rather have seen more of the treasure hunters on the trail of the hidden loot.

But.... without these Amy/Magnum hotel scenes we wouldn't have seen Amy (Nancy Stafford) in a nightie, or be amused by the "computer does not make mistakes" exchange!

True I guess

[Carol the Dabbler]

Are you sure?

Waimea has a lot more water running off it, and the rock formation doesn't quite look the same.

Judging by RC's later post, you were right, James, but depending on recent weather, the same waterfall can look quite a lot different -- more/less water, more/less rock exposed, etc. You'd never recognize Waimea Falls on Kauai from my 70's photo if all you'd seen was the usual postcard shot. And yes, apparently each of the islands has its own Waimea ("twin water") Falls.

Okay, how fake were those bats in the cave that Rick was scared of?! They seemed to be stuffed toys slid along a zip-wire!

I bet you just loved the bats in "Legend of the Lost Art," Jay! The one that was circling around in the little chamber appeared to be a stuffed toy tied to a string, being whirled in a circle by a prop man on a ladder above the cave set.



I haven't seen this episode for a while, so don't know whether this was explained or not -- but I was just reading the episode list in Larry Manetti's book, and got to wondering whether the name Kalaniopu'u was a real (or at least meaningful) Hawaiian name or word. It turns out that Kalaniʻōpuʻu was the name of the Ali'i who was king/chief of the Big Island at the time of Captain Cook's visits.

[Styles Bitchley]

I found it curious that the natives who chase Magnum and co. in this episode always seem to have sparkling clean yellow outfits. They live in the wild and, although they obviously wash their clothes it seems that they have access to some kind of detergent in order to get their clothes so clean.

I agree. This detail really throws off the historical scenes. The outfits are clearly brand new and made of synthetic materials/dyes. Still, it's a silly episode so...whatever.

Overall, I really liked this one. Fun stuff with all the recurring characters coming out of the woodwork.

[steveadl]

I noticed some references to the movie IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD - constantly figuring out how the money gets divided up, people standing around the hole as a couple of the "team" digs in it, and the bills of money floating through the air at the end.

Definitely right, was going to post that myself but you beat me to it (by almost 2yrs ). This is the second MPI episode that references/pays homage to 'It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World.' The other epsidode being Season 7's 'AAPI.' I think perhaps one of MPI's writing staff during seasons 6 & 7 must have been a fan of the film.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Magnum says that he escorted Robin Masters around the island to "scout locations" for his new book. In "The Case of the Red Faced Thespian" (S4), it is stated that Robin "never does research for his novels". Scouting novel locations is considered research.

This may not be a flub. I can think of several possible explanations:

1) Some people do use the term "research" to refer to any gathering or verifying of information (scouting locations, for example), but others restrict its meaning to more rigorous "scientific" endeavors. Perhaps Robin is one of the latter.

2) Even if Robin didn't do research back in Season 4, he may have changed his methods by Season 6.

3) Even if his standard routine hasn't changed, it's possible that he (or his publisher) had the treasure hunt in mind all along, so Robin had to make sure that the settings for this particular novel matched up with real places.

4) As often conjectured, the novels may actually be written by Higgins, with Robin Masters merely the public figurehead. Perhaps Magnum once expressed curiosity as to why he never sees (or hears about) Robin doing research, and was told that he never does any. (Of course, this wouldn't stop Higgins from doing TONS of research.)

[J.J. Walters]

3) Even if his standard routine hasn't changed, it's possible that he (or his publisher) had the treasure hunt in mind all along, so Robin had to make sure that the settings for this particular novel matched up with real places.

Hadn't thought about this one. You're right. It really shouldn't be considered a flub. I've removed it.

"The Treasure of Kalaniopu'u" is back to being "flub-less".

[miltontheripper]

Great episode! I agree that the use of multiple "regulars" made this a fun and comedic episode all around.

[nha trang]

Just an average, fun episode in my book. Nothing special. Of course Tanaka wants to get involved in the mystery...but then again so does the whole gang! Yee-Haw!

[Frodoleader]

Another random episode watched, simply by popping in the DVD and watching what comes up.
The funny thing was, I could not recall ever seeing this episode before (although I know I have, since I have watched the entire MPI series from episode one to the end). This was a fun epi with the whole gang taking part. I found it interesting to see a scene without the series regulars. That is the scene with Doc Ibold and Kika changing the tire on the side of the road.
And maybe I am mistaken, but the final shot with Magnum and Higgins jumping off the cliff, it sure looks like TS and not a stunt man. Is it possible that TS did this actual jump into the water?