Mauka To Makai – Episode 2 opens with a Nebraskan family of four setting out on the Makai Trail. Elsewhere, Captain Harlan ‘Sonny’ Jennings (Robbie Magasiva) and Ocean Jennings (Ka’enaaloha Watson) are trying to get their morning started when two lawyers serve Sonny with what is soon to be revealed as a lawsuit from the fumbled Kainalu Emerson (Alex Aiono) incident. By this time, Amber (Kylee Stanford) and her family have briefly stopped to enjoy what appears to be a calm stream. Seconds later, it will prove to be anything but.
While Amber is dragged out to sea by a violent surge of water, a frantic Lieutenant Emily ‘Em’ Wright (Arielle Kebbel) interrupts Will Ready (Adam Demos) and Laka Hanohano’s (Kekoa Kekumano) morning workout to out where Sonny is. Her hysteria will soon be revealed when she tells Sonny that she not only got served papers as well but she is being personally named in the suit. They don’t get too long to debate the issue thanks to the emergency call regarding Amber’s situation. After noting that they are Amber’s best likelihood of a safe rescue, Sonny goes against protocol to spur on his team. He will leave Laka behind to oversee Hina Alexander (Zoe Cipres) and Kainalu.
Kainalu doesn’t take being put on cleanup duty very well. Laka is equally upset when he and Hina arrive at their tower to find two kids with a Yoo-hoo and sandwich for lunch waiting his arrival. Laka will learn that their dad supposedly dropped them off and told them to find a lifeguard to spend the day with.
Sonny becomes hopeful after finding the top half of a broken surfboard but a quick radio update with Em and Will reveals that they haven’t been as successful. After making plans to refuel, he has a brief encounter with what appears to be a father/son commercial fishing team. The encounter is pleasant enough and Sonny will kindly refuse their assistance but once he’s gone, Kenny (Ati Ripley Scanlan) gives the impression of not taking no for an answer while cracking open another beer. As Will handles the refueling tells him about the lawsuit while also sharing her concerns about Sonny’s questionable decision-making as of late. This quickly turns into a debate that is just as quickly ended once Sonny ends his phone call and joins them.
Kenny and Junior (Matt Rivera) are in the process of returning to port when a line gets wrapped in their prop. The obstruction is revealed to a body. By the time the radio in the alert, Em and Sonny are in the middle of a heated argument about current tracking. Em apparently wants to take a GPS and put herself in the same current that dragged Amber away, hoping that it will unveil her ending location. Sonny doesn’t deny that the strategy wouldn’t work but claims it’s too dangerous. He’ll attempt to use his position as Captain to override her, but she’s already in the water when Kenny’s alert comes over the radio. Sonny and Will leave her with the GPS while they race to Kenny’s boat.
The diver turns out to be fine but Sonny decides to personally escort him to EMS back on shore. He’ll also let Kenny know that he is to be blamed and a breathalyzer will be awaiting his arrival. Leaving Em doesn’t sit well with Will and his fears will be proven worthwhile in the next several scenes as she loses the GPS and appears to grow disoriented. Things begin to look up when she starts encountering debris. She will eventually locate Amber several scenes later.
Just as Laka finds good use for the children, he not only receives word about Sonny’s arrival but he learns that he’s also being pulled to go back out with him and Will.
Kainau uses his apology to Hina to ask her out. She shows him little empathy and points out that while he might not have asked Clayton Emerson (Shawn Hatosy) to use his influence to get him the job; neither did he turn it down. She’s in the process of turning down his invite when they notice Chad (Hunt Coulahan) struggling in the water.
Laka, Sonny, and Will are taken by surprise when they return to the GPS coordinates to find Em nowhere in sight. Laka eventually convinces him to radio in a chopper but it’s cancelled seconds later when they spot driftwood in the distance. By this time, Hina and Laka have pulled Chad from the water.
Sonny and his team are there to personally witness Amber’s reunion but he only gets a few seconds to relish it thanks to Captain Eric Drummond’s (Julian Sensley) heated reaction over Sonny overriding protocol. Laka attempts to use the moment to reproach his earlier invitation to Jenn Lamonde (Sea Shimooka).
Once things settle down Will not only convinces Em to go in for a checkup but he offers to drive her there. She sarcastically asks how Julie (Hayley Malia Johnson) will feel about the situation, but he gives the impression of not being concerned.
Meanwhile, Sonny confronts Ocean about skipping school and appears completely surprised that she isn’t going because it reminds her too much of Zion Carvalho. The episode ends with him calling to schedule an appointment with a grief counselor, only to hang up seconds later.
Rescue: Hi-Surf Review
I can’t say this episode was good as the first but I do like the way things are headed. I’m still surprised at how decent the show is for a TV production. Most TV productions I’ve seen have been awful. It’s certainly a cheesy melodrama with a lot of childish egos clashing. I’m honestly surprised that there isn’t more character as well. I mean, the cast list is obviously extensive but the main focus revolves around the close-knit relationships of the 5 or 6 major players.
I did appreciate that this episode tried to show a different side of the job. After learning that there are supposed to be 19 episodes, it’ll be nice to know that the focus won’t solely be beach rescues. I’d give this episode a 5 out of 10.
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