Prior to this story with Adriana, Kai has been very focused on work or his father. Over the course of nearly two seasons of NCIS: Hawai’i, he and his father have started to put together the pieces of their fractured relationship. Things aren’t perfect by any means, but they have come a long way since Kai showed up unexpectedly to start working at Pearl Harbor in the series premiere. Thus far, Kai’s warmest interactions have been with his father in rare moments of bonding and healing. Since the premiere, they’ve slowly been coming back together, but they still fight regularly and struggle to ever be on the same page.
Let’s be real for a second—NCIS: Hawai’i has a lot going for it: the exotic setting, a diverse cast, and the ever-popular crime procedural structure. But if we’re zooming in on character development, Kai Holman’s arc is screaming for a revamp. Fans aren’t just watching; they’re noticing. And if the writers want to keep audiences glued in Season 3, it’s time to flip the script. Kai Holman, played by Alex Tarrant, was introduced as the island-born agent with family baggage and an edge. We got glimpses of his struggles, his loyalty, and his complex relationship with his dad. But let’s be honest—after Season 1, things started to feel… stale.
One of the stories throughout the second season has been a perfect example of their rocky relationship, which is Wally inadvertently getting his struggling business tied into a criminal enterprise led by Kai’s childhood best friend AJ Hale (Jonah Ho’okano). While AJ was stopped, thanks to some tough work from Kai and Whistler, it highlighted the differences between Kai and his father that are going to take a long time to work on or come to terms with. Thus, this relationship doesn’t provide the lightness we need to see from Kai occasionally. Other than with Wally, we’re missing out on so much potential development for Kai as he grows and begins to lighten up. The team has become his family, allowing Kai to begin fixing the chip on his shoulder that he has carried since high school and the death of his mother. While he’s close with each member of his team, these relationships don’t provide the same kind of opportunities that, for example, his relationship with Adriana did. His team is there to support him and offer sage advice on his personal situations, but those relationships aren’t often written on procedurals to provide the same lasting change as outside forces do. Introducing a love interest and romantic storyline for Kai would do just the trick though, and it’s much-needed as the series continues for another season.
Kai always keeps his walls up. He also manages to pull off the stone-cold demeanor of a law enforcement officer better than anyone else around him. But, this behavior translates over to Kai’s personal life, which is stunting his growth. As great as his relationship with his father can be, it’s bogged down and complicated by years of trauma that Kai is still actively working through. While we all love Kai’s relationships with the members of his team, his chosen family, they’re still at work and those stories can only rarely revolve around the characters individually. Meanwhile, Adriana’s brief, one-episode stint on the show brought some levity to the character, breaking down Kai’s walls temporarily and allowing us to see another side of him. A side that enjoys life and is eager to be happy, find love, and live the life he has always dreamed of. After so long, it’s nice to get a longer look at the real Kai buried underneath his hardships. This is something that could continue on in his platonic friendship with his other childhood friend, Hina (Daniella Nuela Zalopany). But, the easiest way is for Kai to finally get a real love interest. It’s been too long, and he deserves some love.
Season 3 is the perfect opportunity to breathe new life into Kai Holman. He’s got the backstory, the charm, and the fanbase. All he needs now is a set of writers willing to take risks and dive deep. If they do? NCIS: Hawai’i could level up in a big way. If they don’t? Well, the fans might check out before the next crime scene.
