Welcome 2016!

I just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who have taken the time over the past year to read and comment on this blog.  I hope it has done what I set out for it to do…. be an upbeat place to come and read and comment on our favorite show.  A place where we try to find as many fun and positive things as we can , the things that have always made watching Five-0 the wonderful experience it is.

While I encourage everyone to speak their minds and express whatever opinion they desire, I find it refreshing that pretty much all of you still share my enthusiasm for the show while still not closing our eyes to what could be better or expressing opinions on what we saw as lacking.  It’s wonderful how the majority of the commentators on these pages do not find it necessary to trash any portion of the show, it’s actors or creators in a effort to make their argument stronger.  It’s sad, really when you think about it.  If a person needs to trash someone else to make themselves seem more important or knowledgeable that doesn’t really say too much about that person, does it?  That only by trashing someone, bringing them down to a low enough level, can they can feel superior.

Of course, no one is perfect.  We all have, in the heat of temper or after a particularly trying time in our lives or simply trying to make a joke that fails miserably, said things that are less than kind.  Anyone who says they have never said a thing they have later regretted is lying.  We have all done it.  Each and every one of us.  The best any of us can do is try our very best and hope the simple fact that we are all fallible humans who will screw up from time to time doesn’t get us into too much trouble. 🙂

All in all, 2015 was a great year for Five-0.  The end of Season 5 and the start of Season 6 have proved that our show has not lost it’s luster and it continues to give us all the things that have always made it a great way to spend a Friday night.  Five-0 always manages to keep things fresh and exciting.  Yes, there still are stories dangling out there that I hope we do get to see resolved one day.  I would love to see the Doris/Joe/Shelburn/PapaFat storyline resolved….. so many questions there still to be answered.  And what about little Charlie Edwards?  We haven’t seen or heard a thing about him since Halloween.  Did he miraculously recover?

Yes, there are things still dangling out there but all in all, I found the last year extremely satisfying.  I thought, for a majority of the episodes, the crimes of the week were engaging and full of wonderful twists and turns.  When we lost a well known character forever, others turned up to take their place and we never seemed to miss a beat.  Gabriel will never be the ultimate Big Bad WoFat was but damn… he is terrifying and so much fun to hate.  Catherine is gone but hopefully Lynn will be there to fill the hole left in Steve’s heart.  And as always, there were wonderful bromance moments, team moments and full Ohana moments galore which always makes particular Five-0 episodes the most special.

For me, I will always remember 2015 as the year I finally….  finally…  got to a Sunset on the Beach.  It is an experience I will never forget.

Catching up with Dennis Chun, who I now consider an old friend simply because he has the genuine ability to make everyone he meets feel that way, was a fantastic way to spend an afternoon in the boiling sun.  Being able to finally meet Peter Lenkov and tell him how much I appreciate all he’s done to bring back Five-0 was something I’d always hoped I’d get the chance to do.  Laughing and singing along with a Five for Fighting sound check, eating coco puffs and leaping into the 85 degree water of Waikiki beach in a futile attempt to cool off…. ahhhhh a day I will not forget for a very long time.

But after an afternoon I thought could not be topped came an evening only made in dreams.  Standing along the red carpet, meeting and getting to spend a few wonderful moments with all the people who bring us this fantastic show was a dream come true.

After 5 years I finally got to thank Daniel Dae Kim in person for being the reason I even tuned into the Pilot of Five-0 in 2010.  Being able to come home and personally tell my husband that, yes, Grace Park is even more gracious and stunning in person.  Joking around with Jorge Garcia and Taylor Wiley.  Getting to snuggle up against Ian Anthony Dale for the most wonderful group selfie ever!

My only disappointment was not being able to meet Alex up close because, as would be totally expected, he was in such demand he didn’t have the time to come back (come back…. come back…. 😉 ) to our spot on the carpet.  But he looked at me…. right at me… and actually spoke to me!  I think my heart has only now begun beating again! LOL

(For my full review of SOTB 2015 see https://h50koolaid.wordpress.com/2015/09/20/h50-sunset-on-the-beach-season-6-the-view-from-the-beach/ )

But most of all, I will remember 2015 as another wonderful year full of fun and friends brought to me because of Hawaii Five-0.  For all the wonderful people I have met through social media on Twitter and to my Facebook Ohana who I would have never had the pleasure to know without the show.  And to those who I have had the ultimate pleasure to meet in person, none more special to me than my sistah from another mistah @Jlopie1 and all the Hawaii Ohana who were so wonderful to she and I in Hawaii.  You are all very special people in my life and I look forward to continuing our friendship long after Hawaii Five-0 is just a very happy memory.

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou to you all.  I hope 2016 brings you love, health, joy, happiness and all your hopes and dreams fulfilled.  Now…. look out 2016….. here we come!

Aloha. Malama Pono