Why Was NCIS: Hawai’i Cancelled?????????

The fourth installment in the NCIS franchise, NCIS: Hawai’i, became the shortest-lived series in the crime procedural’s history, lasting only three seasons. The show was cancelled in 2024, surprising many fans with the sudden decision. Here’s a closer look at why NCIS: Hawai’i was ultimately cancelled.

Why Was NCIS: Hawai’i Cancelled?

In late April 2024, about a month before the season three finale, CBS announced that NCIS: Hawai’i would not be returning for a fourth season. CBS executives cited several factors for the cancellation, including high production costs, declining viewership numbers, and the network’s desire to maintain a diverse programming lineup.

One of the key challenges for NCIS: Hawai’i was its on-location filming in Hawaii, which came with significantly higher production costs compared to shows filmed on the U.S. mainland. Although the series garnered solid ratings, with over seven million viewers each season, the rising costs weighed heavily on the network’s decision. Additionally, CBS had just greenlit another NCIS spinoff, NCIS: Origins, a prequel series, signaling a shift in focus for the franchise.

Despite the fanbase’s support and the success of crossover episodes with sister shows NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles, CBS chose not to pursue alternative options for the show, such as moving it to a different platform—unlike other CBS series, like S.W.A.T., which had reversed its cancellation.

What Was NCIS: Hawai’i About?

NCIS: Hawai’i followed the Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s Pearl Harbor office, led by Special Agent-in-Charge Jane Tennant. The team investigated crimes involving U.S. Navy and Marine personnel, as well as threats to national security across the Hawaiian islands. Alongside her demanding career, Tennant juggled raising her two daughters and collaborating with agencies like the FBI, DIA, and other NCIS offices to protect both her state and her country.

Though NCIS: Hawai’i was well-received during its run, its cancellation marks a significant change in the NCIS universe. While the series is officially over, its legacy remains as part of the larger NCIS franchise.

And that’s why NCIS: Hawai’i was cancelled.