The supporting cast includes Black actor Stephen Hill as TC (consistent with original), Asian actors Tim Kang and Amy Hill, reflecting an intentional DEI push evident in pre-premiere announcements seeking non-white leads. However, these elements remain incidental and do not permeate the storytelling, character arcs, or emotional core, which prioritize entertaining procedural detective cases like missing persons, murders, art thefts, kidnappings, and heists without any exploration of identity politics, systemic oppression, LGBTQ representation, or critiques of traditional norms.

No episodes feature lectures, overt social justice themes, or ideology as conflict drivers; plots stay true to escapist adventure. Creator and network intent leaned toward inclusive casting amid 2018 diversity mandates, but execution feels organic to Hawaii setting without preachiness.

Reception includes scattered complaints labeling the reboot 'PC' or modern TV excess, plus ironic critiques from diversity watchdogs for insufficient Asian/Pacific Islanders, but no significant audience backlash, 'go woke go broke' narrative, or cancellation tied to ideology—the season drew strong 6.67 million average viewers. This traditional entertainment focus without political intrusion makes it a refreshing procedural holdout.