If you’re one of the many fans left staring blankly at the screen after the NCIS: Hawaii finale, wondering “Wait, that’s it?”—you’re not alone. For a show that brought suspense, romance, and Pacific island vibes into our living rooms, the ending felt more like a cancelled flight than a grand finale. But here’s the kicker: it didn’t have to be that way. Let’s dive into what went wrong—and how one smart twist could’ve saved everything.
While it’s been months since the series ended, there is still a buzz about the controversial cancelation of NCIS: Hawai’i. CBS launched the series in 2021 and introduced Vanessa Lachey’s Jane Tennant. Lachey’s character was the first female and Asian-American lead in the NCIS franchise, breaking ground for the police procedural that has become an institution throughout its 21 years on television. The cast included a lot of diversity, making it truly unique within the franchise. All these positive qualities made the shocking cancelation of NCIS: Hawai’i ahead of season 4 all the more devastating for its dedicated fan base.
Many fans jumped into action following the cancelation, even launching a petition to save NCIS: Hawai’i. Their efforts were hardly for naught, considering NCIS’ parent network, CBS, decided to revive Shermar Moore’s canceled S.W.A.T. series on two occasions. The news of NCIS: Hawai’i’s cancelation came just three weeks after filming wrapped up, and the timing significantly impacted the NCIS: Hawai’i season 3 capper, which defaulted to the series ending following the cancelation. The NCIS: Hawai’i finale wrapped up with a major cliffhanger, which was a massive blow to those already fretting about the series’ end.
NCIS: Hawai’i Could Have Cut Jane & Maggie’s Scene For A More Satisfying Ending. The Cast Of NCIS: Hawai’i Almost Had The Perfect Sendoff. When NCIS: Hawai’i season 3 came to a close, it looked like everything would be alright for the cast of NCIS: Hawai’i. After solving a case and eliminating a deadly bioweapon threat on the island, Kai, Jesse, Lucy, Kate, Jane, Sam, Carla, and Ernie raised a glass of champagne and toasted their success. It was a riveting case and a joyous end. The writers could not have given the characters a better series finale – if that was how it ended.
However, when Jane arrived home from the celebration, her former mentor, Maggie Shaw, was waiting on the couch instead of her daughter Julie. She told Jane that she needed to sit down to hear what she was about to say to her next. Then, the episode ended. It was a terrible ending for a series that would not live on to discover what the former CIA operative was about to say next. The series could have quelled much frustration by simply cutting the final scene of NCIS: Hawai’i.
That said, the series could have quelled much frustration by simply cutting the final scene of NCIS: Hawai’i. The memory of all the beloved characters from the show raising a glass on a beautiful day, celebrating their accomplishments and their success as a team, would have been a lovely picture to leave in the hearts and minds of those who didn’t want to see it end. While cutting the scene may have been extensive logistically, it would have been the right thing to do when bringing NCIS: Hawai’i to a close.
NCIS: Hawaii had all the ingredients—charm, drama, chemistry—but the finale fumbled the recipe. With just one meaningful change—a twist that delivered emotional closure—the show could’ve gone down in NCIS history as one of the best. It didn’t need a full rewrite. It needed one bold move. And that’s the real tragedy.
