Magnum Mania!

The Curse of the King Kamehameha Club

Episode ID: 11
Episode Number: 1.11
Air Date: 2/19/1981
Writer: Babs Greyhosky
Director: Winrich Kolbe
Producer: J. Rickley Dumm
Exec Producer: Donald P. Bellisario

Recurring Characters

Remi Abellira (Moki)

Guest Stars

Gretchen Corbett (Christine Richards), Lew Ayres (Sidney Dollinger), Manu Tupou (Charlie), Sol K. Bright (Makua), Herman Wedemeyer (Coroner), Elizabeth Smith (Mrs. Macao)

Plot Outline

A Kahuna appears to have placed a "curse" on the King Kamehameha Club, where Rick is organizing a surf-ski competition. Magnum and others are skeptical, but the locals take the curse very seriously. When one of the competitors suddenly collapses and dies, fire breaks out in the kitchen and Rick falls ill. They have no choice but to believe there may be some truth to the curse.

Rating

8.0 (15 votes) MM Episode Forum Thread & Poll

Notes

1 This is the first "Rick-centric" episode of the series.

2 Magnum's surf ski and the King Kamehameha Club surf ski race are seen and mentioned for the first time. The KKC race is 26.5 miles, from Molokai to Oahu. Out of 279 entrants, Magnum finishes a disappointing 58th. The race will be seen and mentioned in several more episodes to come.

3 This is the last episode to use the original Ian Freebairn-Smith theme song in the opening credits. Starting with the next episode, Mike Post & Pete Carpenter's familiar theme song, used on the end credits and in-episode incidental music since "The Ugliest Dog in Hawaii" (1.8), will be used throughout the remainder of the series' run.

4 This is the last episode to feature Moki (Remi Abellira), the KKC bartender.

5 Legendary Hawaiian singer/entertainer Sol K. Bright (author of "Hawaiian Cowboy") has a small role in this episode as Makua. Sol is member of the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.

6 Gretchen Corbett (Christine Richards) played attorney Beth Davenport in Seasons 1-5 of The Rockford Files. Tom Selleck had previously appeared in several episodes of that series as rival P.I. Lance White. Corbett is the first of several familiar Rockford Files faces to guest star in Magnum P.I., including Noah Beery Jr. in "All Roads Lead to Floyd" (1.13). Corbett will have another lead guest star role in "The Look" (4.9).

7 Rick is slipped a diuretic and suffers muscle paralysis. He has to be taken to Honolulu General.

8 When T.C. is talking to Magnum about the surf ski race, he briefly looks at the camera and clearly breaks the fourth wall. This is one of the few times anyone other than TM does this.

9 The historic Walker Estate in Nuuanu Pali is used as a filming location. It will be featured prominately in "Smaller Than Life" (4.3). [pic]

10 Magnum wears the rarely seen black and purple "Jungle Bird" shirt again, instead of the usual red one. It was previously seen in "Skin Deep" (1.6).

11 Rick, frustrated with the sudden spate of trouble at the King Kamehameha Club, mentions the club that he owned in the "Pilot Movie", Rick's Café Americain (aka "The Snow Palace"), although here he refers to it as "Rick's Cafe Americana". This is the first of only a handful of times that the original club is ever mentioned. He even mentions Sam the D.J., and while it's not made overly clear, it seems that the club went bust.

12 The King Kamehameha Club still has 45 years left on its lease, paying about $2000 a month. (Noted by Mike Barnes)

13 The coroner is played by Herman Wedemeyer, a regular cast member of Hawaii Five-O ("Duke" Lukela).

14 Magnum, at least some of the time, parks in other peoples "Reserved" parking spaces at the King Kamehameha Club.

15 The book that T.C. is reading in the Ferrari is The Kahuna (1972) by L. R. McBride.

Quotes

1
Charlie: I doubt his powers [the Kahuna's] can extend over you, Magnum, but then ... you never know.

2
(T.C. is reading from a book while riding in the Ferrari with Magnum)
T.C.: One of the most important rules about Kahuna's is summed up in one of their vows: Erm Janoa will keep thyself unknown. That is why curses are warning of death prayer...Death prayers?
Magnum: Keep going. That is why what?
T.C.: Um, That is why curses are warning of death prayers that are made known to their victims through the 'Mana'. Thomas, where did you get this book?
Magnum: I got it from Higgins. What else does it say about Kahuna's?
T.C.: Kahuna's look just like you and me... (both laugh) According to legend, the only way to know for sure if someone is a Kahuna is by the presence of a ruby flash, detectable in the eyes. (in a newscaster voice) "A ruby flash detectable in the eyes". Why am I reading this nonsense?
Magnum: Because I want to know what to expect when I find Makua.
T.C.: Makua?
Magnum: Yeah, he's the Kahuna that cursed the club yesterday.
T.C.: Whoa, whoa, whoaaa Thomas! You said you was taking me to some nice exotic place for lunch. You ain't mention nothin' about lookin' for no Kahuna!
Magnum: Take it easy T.C.. That stuff's all folklore anyway.
T.C.: Oh yeah? Well you tell that to Henry Lewis. (Who died at the club after it was cursed)

3
(Magnum, T.C., and Higgins are at Honolulu General checking on the status of Rick, when Magnum is approached by TV reporter Christine Richards and her cameraman)
Christine: Do you think the curse had anything to do with his illness?
Magnum: You're just not gonna give up are you! You're bound and determined to get yourself a splashing byline on network news! (Magnum violently slaps away the TV camera) Turn that damn thing off!
T.C.: Hey, hey Tom. Take it easy.
Christine: I'm only trying to do my job. You ever heard of the first amendment?
Magnum: Oh look, I believe in freedom of speech too, but I'm sick and tired of you hounding me, making insinuations, and turing this whole thing into sensationalism. (points finger at Christine) Now you just stay out of my way!

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