Welcome to Late Night Retro Television Reviews, a feature where we review some of our favorite and least favorite shows of the past!  On Thursdays, I will be reviewing Highway to Heaven, which aired on NBC from 1984 to 1989.  The entire show is currently streaming on Tubi and several other services!

This week, Mark is a disappointed again.

Episode 4.20 “Aloha”

(Dir by Michael Landon, originally aired on March 2nd, 1988)

Jonathan gets Mark all excited by saying that their next assignment is a Hawaiian mission.  Mark says, “We’re going to Hawaii!”  He’s looking forward to it and who can blame him?  After a countless number of assignments that found him working in crummy jobs and depressing neighborhoods, Mark thinks that he’s going to be most beautiful place on Earth.

Nope, sorry, Mark.  You’re going to a rundown apartment complex called the Hawaiian Sands.  The complex is managed by Aulani (Mokihana), a singer who found fame in Hawaii but not in Los Angeles.  Instead, in L.A., she was hit by a truck and left in a wheelchair.  Now, she spends her days bitter, constantly yelling at her handyman and former partner, Alvin (Danny Ing).  Alvin loves Aulani and Aulani loves Alvin but she’s too angry and scared of opening up emotionally to admit it.  When Alvin learns that he doesn’t have much longer to live, he plans to return to Hawaii.  Aulani refuses to admit that she cares.  Luckily, her new tenant Jonathan is there to set her straight.

As I’ve often said, the main strength of this show was its nonstop earnestness.  Even at its most sentimental, it still worked because the show was just so dang sincere.  That’s ultimately the case here.  Danny Ing gives a very touching performance as Alvin.  Your heart breaks for him.  Mokihana overacts in the role Aulani, to the extent that she actually becomes pretty annoying.  But, despite that, the show itself was so sincere and well-intentioned that it was impossible not be touched by the end of this episode.

Add to that, Hawaii — there’s no place more beautiful to visit.  I wonder what Halloween is like in Hawaii.  Maybe I’ll find out next year!