NCIS: Hawaiʻi was the fourth spinoff in the wildly successful NCIS franchise. Pulling from the original fictional military investigative series, Hawaiʻi takes the crew to the tropical island for new adventures with a new crew. This installment of NCIS stood out because it featured the franchise’s first female lead, Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant, played by Vanessa Lachey, adding an exciting and inclusive new element to the military drama. The show focused on her directing her team, while also balancing her household, proving herself to be a leader in all aspects of her life.
The series debuted on September 20, 2021, on CBS and was met with mixed reviews. However, fans of the other spin-offs quickly took a liking to the fresh take. A season two followed, premiering on September 19, 2022, followed by a season three, which arrived on television in February 2024. Unfortunately for fans, in April 2024, CBS announced that the series would be canceled. The move was abrupt and even cut season three short to just ten episodes, while the previous ones had 22 episodes each. So why was NCIS: Hawai’i canceled? There is more than one answer. Let’s explore what went wrong, though we must warn you, a few spoilers lie ahead. This show takes place in the Oahu, where Jane and her specialized crew known as Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents, examine high-pressure national security threats and work to unravel criminal conspiracies. The tight-knit crew is an extended family to the fearless single mother whose goal is to protect national security.
They work out of the Pearl Harbor Field Office, where much of their operation takes place with elements of Hawaiian culture and the United States’ steep military history within the state. Jane works closely with Captain Joe Milius, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Enver Gjokaj), who is also her love interest. Jane confides in her dear friend and former mentor Maggie Shaw, a former CIA officer (Julie White). She offers advice about both life and the complex cases that Jane must face from day to day. As the series progressed, viewers were introduced to a deadly bioweapon, which became the focal point of the finale.
What Happened in the Series Finale?
The series conclusion of NCIS: Hawai’i was packed with plenty of action. Senior Field Agent Sam Hanna, played by LL Cool J, comes up with a bold plan to protect his own team from the odorless compound by exposing himself to it after the vicious Dr. Annalise Cruz (Rachel Mars) devises a plan to obliterate his NCIS ELITE crew. As Sam puts his plan in motion, his team members stop him, assuring him that there is another way. Meanwhile, Jane and the rest of the agents begin pursuing Dr. Cruz. Sam is also trying to reach the nefarious scientist, but collapses, confirming that he was still exposed to Compound X, which has also been planted at a concert.
The agents bravely foil the attack, which could have killed hundreds, and take down several of the culprits. However, they are not out of the clear yet. Dr. Cruz ambushes them and takes medical examiner Dr. Carla Chase (Seana Kofoed) at knifepoint. As tensions hit an all-time high, Sam recovers enough to shoot Cruz and free Dr. Chase.
With the team having defeated their biggest adversary, they celebrate their victory and Sam’s recovery. While things are finally back to normal, the final scene proves that there is no such thing as “normal” in the NCIS universe. Maggie greets Jane when she arrives home, who warns “You’re probably going to need a drink for what’s coming next.” The credits roll after, leaving fans with more questions than answers. With there being unfinished business, many couldn’t help but wonder why CBS would end Hawai’i.
Why Was ‘NCIS: Hawai’i’ Canceled?
NCIS: Hawai’i was canceled for a number of reasons. During a May 2024 Los Angeles press hearing, CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach shed insight into the decision, which factored in cost and ratings. “It is incumbent on us to always keep the schedule fresh, keep the momentum going. We had to make some really tough choices this year,” Reisenbach told reporters. “Everything came back [from the Hollywood strikes] really strong, but ultimately we have to look at the cohesiveness of the schedule flow. We have to evaluate the financials and the performance overall, and we make tough decisions.”
The numbers suggested that the show was on the right path. Season three of NCIS: Hawai’i premiered to 5.6 million average viewers on February 12. The numbers reached nothing less than 4.8 million over the remainder of the season. Still, this was not enough to keep NCIS: Hawai’i afloat.
Many People Have Pushed for a Season Four
Fans took their support of the show to new heights, going beyond social media posts and hashtags. Multiple Change.org petitions were launched in an effort to save the spin-off. The most popular one, titled Save NCIS: Hawai’i on CBS, attracted over 44,000 signatures, even as recent as March 2025. Another of these pleas earned over 5,000 signatures.
Lachey had a strong reaction to the news writing in an Instagram Story post, “Gutted, confused, blindsided.” Nevertheless, Reisenbach made it clear that CBS would not reverse course on the matter. She stated firmly that there was no chance of the network reconsidering giving it another chance, as they had with “S.W.A.T.,” which was given two chances at a do-over before being canceled for good in March 2025.
