Al Harrington (actor)
Encyclopedia
Al Harrington is an American television actor. He is best known as his role as "Det. Ben Kokua" on the CBS
television series Hawaii Five-O
, He had previously appeared in five episodes of the series as other characters ("The Box," "The Late John Louisiana," "The Double Wall," "No Bottles... No Cans... No People" and "For a Million... Why Not?" - in all but "The Double Wall" he was cast as a villain).
, Hawaii
, USA
. She later married Roy Milburn Harrington a native of Iron Mountain, Michigan
, who had come to Honolulu as a serviceman with the US Army. The elder Harrington later became a member of the Honolulu Police Department
. However, it was not until Al Harrington's sophomore year in high school did he take his stepfather's last name.
He excelled at theater and American football
at Punahou School
, where he was a member of the class of 1954. He participated in several productions at the school. At the same time Al Harrington was wowing people on the football field. He led his team to the league championships at Honolulu Stadium
and was the first high school football All-American to come out of Hawaii.
Al Harrington went on to play for Stanford University
, where he aspired to become a drama major. Unfortunately, there was some opposition to minority drama majors there. When he graduated in 1958 with a B.A. in History, the Baltimore Colts
was interested in him. However, it did not offer the kind of money American professional football teams now offer, so he returned to Honolulu.
Also, in order to pay for his tuition, he would work as a Polynesian dancer. It was this interesting occupation that led to an appearance on the classic game show To Tell the Truth
.
On his return to Hawaii, Harrington would eventually work as a history professor at the University of Hawaii
. He also performed for many years as an entertainer in Waikiki, earning the well-known moniker of "The South Pacific Man." His popularity in the 1970s and 1980s made him a household name in Hawaii. He had a long running dance revue show, including Tahitian fire dancing, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. And, along with other entertainers such as Don Ho, he helped define the entertainment industry in Hawaii, known to tourists and dignitaries alike from around the world.
Harrington is among a few of the supporting Hawaii Five-O (1968) cast still alive along with William Smith
, Sharon Farrell
, and Dennis Chun (also the son of Kam Fong, he had spot cameos). Harrington (Mamo Kahike) and Chun (Sgt. Duke Lukela) have recurring roles in the 2010 reboot.
in Light of the World, A Celebration of Life, that was put on by the LDS Church in Salt Lake City during the Olympics there in 2002.
Al's sons Alema and Tau Harrington both attended Punahou School
and later played football at Brigham Young University
.
8 p.m. April 1, 1978 originating from the House of Lono and telecast on KITV, Channel 4. Scores of entertainers participated in that event.
Al Harrington donated numerous hours of his time to spend with disabled children in the 1970s. Al Harrington took photos with dozens of Easter Seals Poster children.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television series Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
, He had previously appeared in five episodes of the series as other characters ("The Box," "The Late John Louisiana," "The Double Wall," "No Bottles... No Cans... No People" and "For a Million... Why Not?" - in all but "The Double Wall" he was cast as a villain).
Early years
Al Harrington was raised by his maternal grandmother in the village of Mapusaga in Pago Pago until he was three. His mother, Lela Suapaia, sent for him to join her while she was working as a nurse in HonoluluHonolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She later married Roy Milburn Harrington a native of Iron Mountain, Michigan
Iron Mountain, Michigan
Iron Mountain is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,154. It is the county seat of Dickinson County, in the state's Upper Peninsula....
, who had come to Honolulu as a serviceman with the US Army. The elder Harrington later became a member of the Honolulu Police Department
Honolulu Police Department
The Honolulu Police Department is the principal law enforcement agency of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawai'i, headquartered in the Alapa'i Police Headquarters in Honolulu CDP....
. However, it was not until Al Harrington's sophomore year in high school did he take his stepfather's last name.
He excelled at theater and American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
at Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
, where he was a member of the class of 1954. He participated in several productions at the school. At the same time Al Harrington was wowing people on the football field. He led his team to the league championships at Honolulu Stadium
Honolulu Stadium
Honolulu Stadium was a stadium located in the Moiliili district of Honolulu, Hawai'i, at the corner of King and Isenberg Streets. It was opened in 1926 and demolished in 1976. It was the primary sports venue in Hawai'i preceding Aloha Stadium. Famous athletes who competed in Honolulu Stadium...
and was the first high school football All-American to come out of Hawaii.
Al Harrington went on to play for Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where he aspired to become a drama major. Unfortunately, there was some opposition to minority drama majors there. When he graduated in 1958 with a B.A. in History, the Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
was interested in him. However, it did not offer the kind of money American professional football teams now offer, so he returned to Honolulu.
Also, in order to pay for his tuition, he would work as a Polynesian dancer. It was this interesting occupation that led to an appearance on the classic game show To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
.
On his return to Hawaii, Harrington would eventually work as a history professor at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
. He also performed for many years as an entertainer in Waikiki, earning the well-known moniker of "The South Pacific Man." His popularity in the 1970s and 1980s made him a household name in Hawaii. He had a long running dance revue show, including Tahitian fire dancing, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. And, along with other entertainers such as Don Ho, he helped define the entertainment industry in Hawaii, known to tourists and dignitaries alike from around the world.
Harrington is among a few of the supporting Hawaii Five-O (1968) cast still alive along with William Smith
William Smith (actor)
William Smith is an American actor who has appeared in almost 300 feature films and television productions.Smith began his acting career at the age of 8 in 1942...
, Sharon Farrell
Sharon Farrell
Sharon Farrell is an American television and film actress.-Career:Born as Sharon Forsmoe in Sioux City, Iowa, she made her acting debut in the 1959 film Kiss Her Goodbye...
, and Dennis Chun (also the son of Kam Fong, he had spot cameos). Harrington (Mamo Kahike) and Chun (Sgt. Duke Lukela) have recurring roles in the 2010 reboot.
Religion and family
Harrington is a Latter-day Saint. He had one of the lead parts in The Testaments. He also played the role of Thomas TruebloodThomas Trueblood
Thomas Clarkson Trueblood was an American professor of elocution and oratory and the first coach of the University of Michigan golf and debate teams. He was affiliated with the University of Michigan for 67 years from 1884-1951, and was a nationally known writer and speaker on oratory and debate...
in Light of the World, A Celebration of Life, that was put on by the LDS Church in Salt Lake City during the Olympics there in 2002.
Al's sons Alema and Tau Harrington both attended Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
and later played football at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.
Easter Seals Host
Al Harrington was the host of the Easter Seals TelethonEaster Seals (US)
Easter Seals is a nonprofit charitable organization that assists more than one million children and adults with autism and other disabilities and special needs annually through a network of more than 550 service sites in the United States, Canada, Australia and Puerto Rico...
8 p.m. April 1, 1978 originating from the House of Lono and telecast on KITV, Channel 4. Scores of entertainers participated in that event.
Al Harrington donated numerous hours of his time to spend with disabled children in the 1970s. Al Harrington took photos with dozens of Easter Seals Poster children.