Waikiki (1980 film)

Waikiki
DVD cover
Genre	Action Crime Drama
Written by	Don Balluck Ron Friedman Robert Janes Curtis Kenyon
Directed by	Ron Satlof [1]
Starring	Dack Rambo Donna Mills Steve Marachuk Tanya Roberts Cal Bellini Darren McGavin
Music by	Stu Phillips
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Douglas S. Cramer Aaron Spelling
Producer	Robert Janes
Production locations	Kailua, O'ahu
Cinematography	Robert L. Morrison
Editors	Joe Morrisey John Shreyer
Running time	96 minutes
Production company	Aaron Spelling Productions
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	April 21, 1980 (1980-04-21)

Waikiki (also known as Waikiki Mission) is a 1980 American action crime drama television film that originally aired on ABC. ^[2] Directed by Ron Satlof, it stars Dack Rambo, Steve Marachuk, Donna Mills, Tanya Roberts, Cal Bellini, and Darren McGavin and follows a pair of private detectives called on to investigate the bizarre serial murders of young women in Waikiki. ^[3] The film combines elements of a crime thriller with the atmosphere of an exotic resort in the 1980s. Despite the serious nature of the plot, the film maintains a light and dynamic atmosphere thanks to the colorful characters and local landscapes.

Plot

The film is set in Waikiki, Hawaii. The main characters are two private detectives, one a laid-back Californian and the other a streetwise New Yorker. They team up to investigate a series of mysterious murders of young women occurring in the Waikiki area. The murders cause alarm in the community, and the detectives dive into the investigation, which includes visiting nightclubs, interacting with locals, and immersing themselves in the Hawaiian culture.

As the story progresses, the detectives encounter danger, intrigue, and unexpected discoveries, getting closer to solving the mystery of the ruthless serial killer known as "The Cane Field Murderer." ^[4]

Cast

• Dack Rambo as Ronnie Browning
• Donna Mills as Cassie Howard
• Steve Marachuk as David King
• Tanya Roberts as Carol
• Cal Bellini as Rex ^[5]
• Darren McGavin as Captain Mcguire
• Robert F. Lyons as Mark Barrington
• Mark Slade as Lloyd Barrington
• Branscombe Richmond as Walter Kaamanu
• Betty Carvalho as Annie Kaamanu
• Jenny Sherman as Amy
• Angus Duncan as Joe Farnsworth
• Karen Austin as Joanie
• Anne-Marie Martin as Penny
• Robert Apisa as Kahea
• Jack Hisatake as Kona
• Tommy Fujiwara as Coroner
• Suzanne Schulman as Lori
• Sigrid S. Sundstrom as Terri
• Paul Verdier as French tourist
• Laura Allen as Party guest
• Mark Pinkosh as Surfer boy

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called the film "fast and absorbing escapist fare." ^[6]

References

1. Roberts, Jerry (June 5, 2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 507. ISBN   978-0-8108-6378-1 . Retrieved September 13, 2025.
2. "Waikiki (1980)". The Betamax Rundown. February 24, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
3. Scheuer, Steven H.; Pardi, Robert J. (1987). Movies on TV, 1988–1989. Bantam Books. p. 860. ISBN   978-0-553-26851-5 . Retrieved September 13, 2025.
4. "Waikiki (1980)". Letterboxd . Retrieved September 13, 2025.
5. III, Harris M. Lentz (May 3, 2018). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2017. McFarland. p. 31. ISBN   978-1-4766-3318-3 . Retrieved September 13, 2025.
6. BRASH PRIVATE EYES IN 'WAIKIKI' Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 21 Apr 1980: g6.

External links

• Waikiki at IMDb