The Most Dangerous Thing McGarrett Did On Hawaii Five-0

CBS' action-packed series Hawaii Five-0 follows Steve McGarrett and his team as they take on Hawaii's toughest crimes with almost no limitations. While all members tackle danger, McGarrett's jaw-dropping stunts truly stand out — often taking "risky" to a whole new level. This guide highlights, in order, the wildest and most dangerous things McGarrett did on the show, from detonating grenades to surviving leaps onto moving trucks.

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1. McGarrett's Daredevil Spirit Takes Center Stage

Hawaii Five-0 may start with the sunny vibes of Hawaii, but it quickly proves it's not just a laid-back paradise. The show's main idea is simple but wild: an elite team, backed by the governor, handles the worst crimes in the state — with "few restrictions." 🔥 This means fans are treated to wild gunfights and huge explosions almost every episode. Among this crew, Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett, played by Alex O'Loughlin, easily grabs the spotlight.

Steve is generally the quiet, level-headed counterpart to his more talkative partner Danny Williams (Scott Caan). But don't let his calm fool you! As the story unfolds, we see that underneath his cool demeanor lurks a person willing to literally risk it all. The wild, dangerous things he does are legendary and sometimes even shocking for viewers — and, as it turns out, exhausting for the actor himself.

"Even though McGarrett is undoubtedly doing it all for the right reasons, some of his antics go past rising to the call of duty and cross over into being downright dangerous."

Eventually, the strain of these stunts led Alex O'Loughlin to step away from the show for a while, showing just how real the risks were — both on and off screen.

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2. Blowing Open a Pawn Shop Door—With a Grenade

The season 1 episode "Powa Maka Moana" features one of McGarrett's most memorable stunts. When he and Danny try to get into the back of a well-fortified pawn shop, the owner refuses to budge, insisting they need a warrant. Danny thinks McGarrett might crash his car through the building. Instead, Steve opts for something even riskier.

McGarrett casually grabs a grenade from his car and returns to the scene. The shopkeeper, thinking no reasonable cop would ever use a real explosive in such a situation, assumes it's fake. But Hawaii Five-0 doesn't play by real-world rules.

"The grenade is very real, and after McGarrett straps it onto the door, everyone barely makes it out of the blast radius before it explodes."

This was a double-whammy of recklessness: not only was there a huge risk of injury (or worse), but it also could've seriously jeopardized McGarrett's career. Setting off a grenade in a public place, in pursuit of a suspect, is about as over-the-top as law enforcement gets — and yet, somehow, McGarrett always seems to walk away unfazed.

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3. Crashing Through a House to Save the Day (Almost Running Over Danny!)

Remember how Danny joked about McGarrett ramming a car through the pawn shop? Well, fast-forward a few seasons, and that wild idea becomes reality.

In season 7's "Wehe 'ana," Danny is guarding a critical witness in a safe house when a cartel hit squad attacks. It's an incredibly dangerous moment, and the odds aren't looking good for Danny or the patient under his watch.

Suddenly, McGarrett calls to get directions to the house. Moments later, he literally drives his truck through the living room wall to save everyone inside, taking out several armed criminals in the process.

"He had no way of knowing where everybody was in the house, and when he crashed through the wall, he had just as likely of a chance of running over Danny as he did the cartel members."

This move perfectly sums up McGarrett's approach: bold, impulsive, and only "heroic" because luck is on his side. Without superhuman timing and good fortune, things easily could have gone very, very wrong.

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4. Leaping from a Bridge onto a Moving Semi-Truck

One of the most jaw-dropping stunts comes later in season 7, in the episode "Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono." McGarrett and his team are chasing a truck filled with kidnapped victims, but can't find a way to stop it safely.

So, what does Steve do? He sets himself up at the top of a tunnel, waits for the perfect moment, and jumps off the bridge onto the moving truck.

"Miraculously, he doesn't mess up the timing and splat on the pavement, or roll off, or break a leg in the fall. McGarrett even manages to use a portable welding tool…cut a hole in the top of the truck, fight off an armed bad guy, rescue half the women by loading them onto a police truck that drives up from behind, and then detach the trailer from the cab to save the rest — all without any injuries worse than a few scrapes."

This wasn't just Hollywood heroics; it's the kind of stunt that would almost certainly be fatal in real life. Yet McGarrett pulls it off, showing how the show blends the impossible with its action-packed storytelling.

"Like ramming a car into a house or setting off a grenade in a pawn shop, McGarrett's crazy stunt easily could have gotten nearly everyone involved in the truck chase killed. But thankfully for the citizens of Hawaii and fans of Hawaii Five-0, he's just too good at his job for that. Or extremely lucky. Probably the latter."

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Final Thoughts

Steve McGarrett's relentless, risk-taking nature is a huge part of what makes Hawaii Five-0 so thrilling. From blowing open doors with grenades to daring car crashes and impossible leaps, McGarrett embodies the spirit of the show: bold, action-first, and a little bit lucky. While his methods might make real-life police chiefs cringe, on TV, they're part of what made him an unforgettable hero. 🚓🌴