'Hawaii Five-0' gets traditional blessing

LOS ANGELES, July 15 (UPI) -- The new police series "Hawaii Five-0" kicked off production in Honolulu Thursday with a traditional Hawaiian blessing in honor of its host culture, CBS said.

Series stars Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park, as well as the producers and the entire "Hawaii Five-0" crew, participated in the event.

Kahu Kelekona Bishaw from Kamehameha Schools officiated over the ceremony, which included traditional royal maile leis, a Pule Wehe -- opening prayer -- and Pule Ho'oku'u -- closing prayer -- calling upon the elements and inviting goodness, protection, peace, happiness and success. Joining in the celebration was Police Chief Louis M. Kealoha, the network said in a news release Thursday.

The show is a contemporary take on the classic TV series, which starred Jack Lord and ran from 1968 to 1980, about a new elite federalized task force whose mission is to wipe out the crime that washes up on the islands' sun-drenched beaches. It is to debut this fall.