The End That Came Sooner Than Expected
When NCIS: Hawai’i was abruptly canceled after its third season, many fans were stunned. The tropical spin-off had built a dedicated viewership and seemed poised for a long run like its predecessors. But under the surface of disappointment, there was an unexpected silver lining — the series’ sudden end actually spared fans from witnessing a deeply emotional goodbye: Sam Hanna’s departure from the agency. Let’s dive deep into why this cancellation, though frustrating, may have saved the audience from a heartbreaking farewell, and what it says about character arcs, legacy, and closure in the NCIS universe.
A Quick Recap of NCIS: Hawai’i’s Journey
The Island Spin-Off That Brought New Energy
Launched in 2021, NCIS: Hawai’i gave fans a fresh take on the NCIS brand. Set in Oahu, it centered around Special Agent Jane Tennant (played by Vanessa Lachey), the first female lead in the franchise.
Familiar Faces Joined the Ride
Midway through its run, the show brought in veteran character Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) from NCIS: Los Angeles — injecting new energy, fan nostalgia, and inter-series synergy.
Why Fans Were Shocked by the Cancellation
Ratings Were Steady, So What Happened?
NCIS: Hawai’i wasn’t breaking records, but its numbers were respectable. So when CBS announced its cancellation in 2025, fans were left scratching their heads.
The Industry Shake-Up Post-Strike
One factor was the aftershock of the 2023–2024 Hollywood strikes, which caused widespread reshuffling across networks. CBS had to make tough choices — and NCIS: Hawai’i didn’t make the final cut.
Enter Sam Hanna — A Legacy Character
From LA to the Pacific
Sam Hanna first graced screens in NCIS: Los Angeles, a role LL Cool J owned for over a decade. When that series wrapped, he crossed over to NCIS: Hawai’i, giving fans a comforting bridge between old and new.
A Fan-Favorite Through and Through
Sam wasn’t just another agent. He was a father figure, a tough but fair team player, and a symbol of stability in a chaotic world.
The Rumored Exit — Sam Was Going to Leave Anyway
Behind-the-Scenes Buzz
Insiders suggested that LL Cool J’s return was always meant to be short-lived. Whether due to contract limits or his own creative ambitions, Sam was preparing for one final exit.
Another Emotional Farewell? Not Again!
Remember how tough it was saying goodbye to Gibbs? Or when Tony left for Paris? The NCIS franchise has delivered some gut-wrenching goodbyes — and Sam’s would’ve been no exception.
Had the Hawai’i-set series continued, it would have meant more of Sam Hanna and his struggles. While this would have been great for fans of the character, it would have also meant that we would have needed to watch him grieve. Watching our favorite characters grieve is always hard, as we end up feeling the emotions that they portray. We end up grieving with them, and we just want to be able to reach through the screens and pick them up. This would have been the case with Sam, especially considering the type of man that he is and the loss that he has already been through.
Due to the cancelation, we were spared all of that. With the grief happening off screen, we didn’t need to experience the former NCIS: Los Angeles character make the difficult decision to leave NCIS completely. Not only would this have been hard to watch, but it would also have taken time away from the core members of the NCIS: Hawai’i team, and it would have made a fourth and final season annoying to watch as we looked for closure for everyone else.
What’s Next For Sam After His NCIS Season 22, Episode 18 Return. While we learned about Sam resigning, we also learned that he is up to something big. After Vance offered him a chance to return to the agency, Sam shared that he wouldn’t be able to do that. He has some personal projects to take care of, and one of them was hinted to be linked to NCIS: Los Angeles’ Hetty Lange (Linda Hunt), bringing us the update that we had all been waiting for to find out that Hetty was still alive.
If Sam returns to NCIS again, there is hope of another update on Hetty and how this project is going.
At the end of the canceled NCIS: Los Angeles, the series didn’t have time to get Hetty out of Syria, but Nell’s team was able to extract her. Vance knows that she is working on a project with the DMZ, which means that it is something official but also dangerous. Due to this, Sam made it clear that he wouldn’t confirm anything, but we know Sam well enough to know that he wouldn’t just give up on protecting people. If Sam returns to NCIS again, there is hope of another update on Hetty and how this project is going.
