Hawaiian Eye

1 9 5 9 - 1 9 6 3 (USA)
134 x 60 minute episodes

A Private detective series billed as 77 Sunset Strip in Hawaii. Both series were produced by Warner Brothers, both featured two handsome free-swinging young detectives as alternate leads, both made use of nutty sidekicks for comic relief, and it was not unusual for the characters in one show to turn up in the other.

The stars of the series (apart from the weekly bevy of beautiful women parading around the place) were Tom Lopaka and Tracy Stele, two young private eyes based in poolside offices at the Hawaiian Village Hotel.

The main leads alternated with each episode and both had assistance from sexy local nightclub songstress Cricket Blake (played by Connie Stevens) - who sang at The Shell Bar - and colourful local cab driver Kazuo Kim, who was played by a Hawaiian actor with the extremely dubious and rather unfortunate name of Poncie Ponce. Kim's trademarks were his straw hat, dumb jokes and ukulele.

Grant Williams joined the cast as new detective Greg MacKenzie and Eisley left the series in 1962, his place being filled for the final season by Troy Donahue as the hotels social director. Lieutenant Danny Quon was the contact on the Honolulu police force.

Thanks to Chester Alexander for additional information