S2·E21 Pa Make Loa (Touch of Death) (I)

Episode recap

The twenty‑first episode of the second season of Hawaii Five‑0, titled “Pa Make Loa (Touch of Death) (I),” opens the series’ first crossover with the NCIS: Los Angeles team. The episode places the Honolulu‑based special police major crimes unit, which operates at the behest of the governor of Hawaii, in direct collaboration with federal investigators from Los Angeles. The joint task force is assembled after intelligence surfaces that a suspect is moving within the islands with the intent to release a deadly virus into the civilian population. The threat of a biological weapon raises the stakes for both agencies, prompting an intensive, coordinated response that blends the local knowledge of the Five‑0 detectives with the investigative resources of the NCIS: Los Angeles operatives.

Throughout the hour, the two teams work to locate the individual responsible for the potential outbreak. Their efforts involve sharing forensic leads, pooling surveillance assets, and navigating jurisdictional challenges that arise when state and federal authorities intersect. The episode emphasizes the urgency of preventing a public‑health catastrophe, underscoring the procedural rigor and tactical expertise each group brings to the investigation. The narrative maintains a focus on the procedural aspects of the case—identifying the suspect’s movements, securing potential release sites, and attempting to neutralize the virus before it can be deployed.

The episode concludes without resolving the central conflict, deliberately setting up a continuation of the storyline in the subsequent NCIS: Los Angeles episode, season three, episode twenty‑one, titled “Touch of Death (II).” By ending on a cliffhanger, the story reinforces the interconnected nature of the two series and signals to viewers that the resolution will require further cooperation between the Hawaiian and Los Angeles teams. The crossover format highlights the shared thematic concerns of both shows—law enforcement confronting high‑risk threats—while also showcasing the distinct operational environments of Hawaii and the mainland.