Snakkle Flashes Back to the Hawaii Five-0 Cast Before They Formed Their Team

THEN: Young Scott Caan followed in his father’s footsteps (yes, his dad is James) while appearing alongside him in the 1995 independent film A Boy Called Hate (he played the titular boy, and yes, thankfully, that was just a nickname). But before he had on-screen run-ins with the cops, he was also trying to make his mark in the music industry as one half of the rap duo the Whooliganz. Anyone else remember “Put Your Handz Up,” their one-and-only real single, or is it just us?

NOW: These days, Caan is on the side of the law in Hawaii Five-0, where he stars as Detective Danny “Danno” Williams, McGarrett’s right-hand man. After a couple of seasons, he’s still a bit too uptight to adopt the island lifestyle, sticking with his Jersey button-downs and tough-guy walks, but he is always good to crack a joke and cover his partner’s ass when the bullets fly.

THEN: Masi Oka is perhaps best known for his time-bending character Hiro on Heroes, but before he even got his SAG card, he was knee-deep in visual effects, working a completely different side of the industry but proving he’s a double threat nonetheless. His very first acting gig was a guest spot on Dharma & Greg, and he continued down the road of one-off roles in everything from Gilmore Girls to Still Standing before landing a recurring gig on Scrubs.

NOW: As Dr. Max Bergman on Hawaii Five-0, Oka looked like he'd be around simply to aid McGarrett with cases, as the prototypical lab tech who furthers the plot of procedurals. But as we’ve gotten to know him, we’re seeing a much more complex side and a willingness to take risks to dig into his own past as much as McGarrett is doing in his. You didn’t get that on your mother’s Hawaii Five-0!

THEN: Credited simply as “Asian Dancer,” Grace Park can still count Romeo Must Die not only as her first real role but also as her big Hollywood break. Though the Canadian-raised actress spent some time on a Great White North soap opera (Edgemont), as she matured, so did her roles, and she has gotten to ride the line between the ingénue and the tough chick. She is best known for her time as Boomer/Sharon on Battlestar Galactica.

NOW: As Kono Kalakaua, Park has a complicated past but a strong sense of loyalty and physical prowess, being a surfer as well. She always stands up for her team and what she believes is right, even when it lands her in tough (sometimes romantic) situations.

THEN: Let’s get this out of the way: For so many fans of Daniel Dae Kim, he will always be Jin Kwon, passenger of Oceanic 815 and castaway on the mysterious island of Lost. But he was a working actor for over a decade before landing that cushy character. His first notable role was in 1992’s martial arts flick American Shaolin as a young student who clashes with the central character as they train at a temple.

NOW: As Detective Chin Ho Kelly, we’ve seen Kim struggle with perception as he was pinned a dirty cop simply for covering for someone he cared about. We’ve seen him step up and lead the team in dangerous situations. We’ve seen him come face-to-face with the bad guys and never flinch. And we’ve seen him win back over a lost love. And he got to do it all on an island, wearing a badge that lets him rule it. What gig could be sweeter!?

THEN: The 2005 miniseries Mary Bryant may not have been the first project in which Alex O’Loughlin graced our screens, but it was certainly the most complicated and niche, perhaps even to date. He portrayed Will Bryant, the husband of the titular character who gets sent to a penal colony in the period piece set in the 1700s. Not the easiest thing for an audience to swallow, but it set up a series of dramatic roles (including The Shield and Moonlight) in which O’Loughlin could shine.

NOW: O’Loughlin stepped into the iconic role of Steve McGarrett, covering his Aussie accent but continuing his thread of authoritative figures. He successfully tracked and took down the man responsible for his father’s murder, only to learn there were deeper secrets about his family than he could have imagined about to surface. Unfortunately all of his police work and holding-his-family-together thing has meant he hasn’t had much time to play the romantic lead in this show.