S2·E4 Mea Makamae (Treasure)

Episode recap

In the fourth episode of the second season, titled “Mea Makamae (Treasure),” the Hawaii Five‑0 task force turns its attention to a crime that unfolds beneath the surface of the islands’ famed ocean. The episode opens with the team receiving word that a deep‑sea diver has been found dead. The diver was recognized for locating valuable shipwrecks, a fact that immediately suggests a possible link between his murder and the treasure he routinely recovered.

Steve McGarrett, the unit’s commander, and his partner Danny Williams—portrayed by the series’ lead actors Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan—lead the investigation. Operating under the authority of the governor, the Five‑0 team is tasked with solving major crimes throughout the state, and this case brings them onto the water’s edge. The narrative follows the detectives as they board a vessel and head out onto the clear, turquoise waters that surround Oahu. Their objective is to gather evidence at the scene of the diver’s death and to trace any connections to the illicit trade in historic artifacts.

While on the water, the investigators coordinate with local maritime resources, employing the expertise of divers and marine specialists to locate the site where the victim was discovered. The episode emphasizes the juxtaposition of Hawaii’s natural beauty with the darker undercurrents of crime, illustrating how the task force must navigate both the literal and figurative depths of the case. Throughout the investigation, the team examines the diver’s recent activities, his known shipwreck discoveries, and any potential rivals who might have coveted his finds.

The episode’s structure interweaves procedural elements with the distinctive Hawaiian setting, reinforcing the series’ premise of a specialized major‑crimes unit operating at the behest of the state’s governor. By the conclusion of “Mea Makamae (Treasure),” the Five‑0 detectives have assembled a clearer picture of the motives surrounding the murder, setting the stage for further inquiry into the illicit treasure market that operates beneath Hawaii’s waves. The story underscores the series’ blend of crime drama, action, and the unique geography that defines the Hawaiian archipelago.