Ohana Forever: The Fight to Save NCIS: Hawaii

By: Paige Zinaman

There are a handful of times where we sit, and we can list the shows that have impacted our lives. I can count that on one hand. It could be from the suspense and drama, the family aspect of a show or it could simply come down to the representation that show presents. When you stop and think about chosen family, a healthy Woman Loving Woman (“WLW”) relationship at the center, a Female Person of Color (“POC”) lead you’d most likely see “NCIS: Hawaii” has all that in tenfold. What makes “NCIS: Hawai’i” worth fighting for? The fight to save “NCIS: Hawai’i” is important because the show provided much-needed diverse and authentic representation on television, featuring a female person of color as the lead character, a meaningful LGBTQ+ relationship and a genuine portrayal of Hawaiian culture. “NCIS: Hawai’i” has fostered a profound sense of visibility, belonging and “found family” for underrepresented viewers, making its cancellation a devastating loss that underscores the critical need for more inclusive and impactful storytelling on the small screen.

The announcement that star Vanessa Lachey would be playing Special Agent-In-Charge Jane Tennant caused waves through social media. Why? Because this is the first time that a female POC actress has played the lead in a ‘NCIS’ show. Vanessa says it best, “There are women in my position who are of my ethnicity in ‘NCIS,’ and so to be able to see it represented on television is so…it’s an honor that I get to be the one to do the representation.”

Tennant is also the best visual of what it’s like to be a divorced mom of two, showing authentic realities in such a graceful stance. Lachey has championed the series from the start. She has also shouldered a franchise’s history and did it with grace. When you see a woman in charge in a male dominated work force (where reality meets fiction) you are always worried about where it’s going to lead. Lachey has led this series humbly; she is a leader in the storm and rallied the fans to stay focused on what matters.

When I think of what I want to see in a WLW relationship on Broadcast Television, Kate Whistler (Tori Anderson) and Lucy Tara (Yasmine Al-Bustami) – so cutely nicknamed “Kacy” – is the total package. Their relationship was everything you’d want to see as it was spicy (who remembers that door scene?), it was tender, and it was flawed. It is imperfectly perfect in every sense. I remember Yasmine and Tori talking about the importance of Kacy at PaleyFest 2022. I walked away in tears because they were so excited, ready to shoulder the weight of a community on their shoulders. They were so authentic and hopeful. They were something unique, something magical. It is because of this that Kacy has grown to what they are now. They are a promise that our voices matter and are a hope that love no matter who it’s with or where they’re from is accepted. Kacy represented the first time in NCIS franchise history that a same sex couple relationship was the main relationship of the show. They are revolutionary. Ask anyone on social media and you’ll be flooded with the same response. Kacy saved viewers when they were at their lowest and gave hope to those who needed it the most. They held their smiles, and it was like a promise that they would fight with us until the end, which until recently I didn’t think would happen this quickly. The loss of Kacy would be more than a loss of two strong, independent characters. Anderson said it best in a post on X, “This is a huge loss for representation.”

Following the unjust (in fan opinion) cancellation of “NCIS: Hawaii,” the series’ followers have taken to social media to air their anger and hurt. Many of them are calling for CBS to save the show because the ratings were good and that should speak for itself. Others want another season to have a final goodbye, if that’s what CBS continues to push. Many just want the family that the cast and crew built together to have a chance to say goodbye properly. There is so much left to tell and fans are not ready to let this show go. The fight to “Save NCIS: Hawai’i” has been going on for weeks with trending hashtags #SAVENCISHAWAII massing over a thousand tweets per day and still gaining momentum. There is also a petition going around with over eighteen-thousand signatures in four days. Meaning one hundred and eight-seven signatures every hour. The fans are dedicated. They are restless for CBS to correct a senseless act. When I reached out to ask these fans just what made “NCIS: Hawaii” so unique and why it should be saved, one user said, “It’s a serial drama with so much heart and representation.” While another user shared, “I love the respect for Hawaii. I love the culture and the history. I love the way they show the beauty of the islands. I love the way they should the diversity and how they show the strength of the people.” “NCIS: Hawai’i” has brought jobs to over four hundred native Hawaiian industry workers – individuals who were just as blindsided by the cancellation as the cast and crew. This show brought respect to the islands of Hawaii, by the history they tell in each episode to the representation of characters like Kai Holman (Alex Tarrant) who is a character struggling after returning home from war. This show was rich in native history and a crime show second. The cancellation of “NCIS: Hawaii” diminishes the jobs of many, and the culture viewers sought week after week.

It is startling to think that when it comes to representation of any and all forms, it is fading before our very eyes. GLADD dropped their annual report where on Broadcast TV, Lucy was the only MENA (Middle East/North Africa) representation on television. Yasmine portrayed Lucy with such fierce confidence and authenticity that had us wanting more. More depth, more back story, more of Yasmine just being able to tell the story of Lucy Tara that many shows won’t allow. The LGBTQIA+ community fights every day to be seen as humans. We breathe and work and we have families. We just want to be seen in a positive light and have our stories told. The lack of representation for characters and actors like Jane Tennant through Vanessa Lachey makes it even harder to believe that change can happen. This movement is one for the history books and you can follow the campaign @SaveNCISHawaii on X and Instagram. Share the stories of why this show means so much to you. Keep the voices loud. It’s safe to say the war is not over and with fans like these, it’s only a matter of time before the voices are heard.

I think it’s very clear why shows like “NCIS: Hawai’i” hit so close to the hearts of so many, me included. It’s more than a show, as Vanessa Lachey has stated. It’s Ohana – the Hawaiian word for “family.” It’s a found community where people can be who they are, feel safe to explore who they want to be and have the support to go so far. “NCIS: Hawai’i” has given a voice to the underrepresented, shined a light on injustice and given us a home to belong to. So, whether you see yourself represented by Jane Tennant’s female empowerment and representation, with Kai Holman and his struggles of life after war or find yourself finding solace in the positive and authentic love of Kacy, no matter the outcome know that this moment with these people gave us more than we could ever ask for. To the cast and crew, Mahalo Nui Loa (“thank you very much”). You’ve paved a way for us to be seen like never before. You have a forever support in our Ohana and we hope you know just how much we love and support you all.