Magnum P.I.'s Amy Hill Shares Her Take On Kumu As The 'Voice Of Reason' To Magnum And 'The Boys' (2025)

Magnum P.I.'s Amy Hill Shares Her Take On Kumu As The 'Voice Of Reason' To Magnum And 'The Boys' (1)

Magnum P.I. made its triumphant return to primetime in the 2023 TV premiere schedule thanks to NBC, less than a year after the show was cancelled at the end of Season 4 by CBS. After rescuing the hit show, NBC brought the full main cast back, and they picked up where they left off. That includes Kumu serving as what actress Amy Hill describes as “the voice of reason” to the characters… especially the men.

Amy Hill – who also opened up about feeling more connected to fans after the NBC renewal –has played Kumu going back to the first season. When she spoke with CinemaBlend for the fifth season, I noted that her character has been an anchor on the show, and she commented:

Oh, absolutely! I think, in many ways, I'm the solid one, the voice of reason. [laughs] I love them all, but especially the boys can go off on tangents. They get very distracted easily. So, even though they're really smart and talented, and if they focus, they can solve cases and they can do a lot of stuff, but at the heart of it, they're still like big boys. So there's a part of me that feels like I'm the house mother, as well. I take care of everyone.

I think it’s safe to say that sometimes the boys of Magnum P.I. definitely need a “house mother” of sorts! At least, I’d say that applies to Magnum (Jay Hernandez), Rick (Zachary Knighton), and T.C. (Stephen Hill) at certain points. Gordon (Tim Kang) doesn’t necessarily get distracted as easily as the other three! Even though Kumu isn’t the one most likely to find herself in a firefight or hostage situation or car chase, she’s pretty essential to those who do.

And that’s saying a lot for somebody whose job description is “cultural curator” in the opening narration! Amy Hill explained that Kumu runs tours of Robin Masters’ estate, including trying to “make sure that everything is accurate in terms of depiction.” That’s definitely not all that Kumu does on Magnum P.I., however, as the actress said:

She also, through the course of these seasons, has been sort of an extra help in solving cases. Like, I know a lot of people on the island. I also know a lot of information about flora and fauna that maybe they don't know. So if they find a twig in a certain location, I can say, 'Oh, well, that's not from that location, it comes from somewhere else.' That kind of stuff, those cultural little things that can help them solve a case. But I also know about laptops and I know how to make a cocktail and I know how to sing a Hawaiian lullaby to a baby, I know how to run heavy equipment. I know how to shoot an Uzi. It's a weird, weird, lovely character that surprises me when they write stuff in.

Even if Kumu is not exactly picking up an Uzi on a weekly basis, she has a lot of skills that have come in very handy over the years. When I noted to Amy Hill that her character is a woman of many talents, the actress agreed and then shared something else that she loves about Kumu:

I love it, at this age, too! I love that she's older, but she's not afraid to try new things or do new things or move ahead. She says yes to every challenge.

Magnum P.I. is rarely short on challenges for any of the main characters, and they can range from the deadly to the domestic. That has been a recipe for success for a lot of viewers, but the show was cancelled by CBS back in May 2022. It was reportedly a tough decision for the network and definitely rough news for fans. Luckily, after a couple of months, fans rallying for a rescue, and even a Times Square billboard, Magnum P.I. was saved and renewed for not one, but two seasons at NBC!

Four episodes of Season 5 have aired at the time of writing (and all so far are available streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription), with new Magnum P.I. episodes airing on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Even if the show can’t last forever (per Jay Hernandez’s funny take, anyway), there’s a lot to look forward to for the foreseeable future!

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Magnum P.I.'s Amy Hill Shares Her Take On Kumu As The 'Voice Of Reason' To Magnum And 'The Boys' (2)

Laura Hurley

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Laura turned a lifelong love of television into a valid reason to write and think about TV on a daily basis. She's not a doctor, lawyer, or detective, but watches a lot of them in primetime. CinemaBlend's resident expert and interviewer for One Chicago, the galaxy far, far away, and a variety of other primetime television. Will not time travel and can cite multiple TV shows to explain why. She does, however, want to believe that she can sneak references to The X-Files into daily conversation (and author bios).

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Magnum P.I.'s Amy Hill Shares Her Take On Kumu As The 'Voice Of Reason' To Magnum And 'The Boys' (2025)

FAQs

Is Kumu in magnum pi Hawaiian? ›

“They didn't have even a name for me but then they gave a name Kumu. It is Hawaiian and means a teacher, so I explained a lot of cultural things. Being immersed in the culture, I try to do things and learn every day.”

Are Stephen Hill and Amy Hill in Magnum PI related? ›

But earlier this week, Magnum P.I. actress Amy Hill, who plays Kumu, the Robin's Nest estate's own curator, said her character was less hopeful that Magnum and Higgins' relationship could thrive. “I don't know if it's gonna work,” said Amy Hill (no, she's not related to Stephen Hill!).

Who plays Kumu? ›

Amy Hill plays Teuila "Kumu" Tuileta on the NBC drama "Magnum P.I."Hill's TV roles include "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," "UnREAL," "Preacher" and "Mom." As a voice actor, she's been heard on numerous animated series and films, including "Kung Fu Panda" (series), "American Dad!" and the next season of "Praise Petey."On the big ...

Does Amy Hill have a daughter? ›

Is Magnum P.I. actually filmed in Hawaii? ›

Like its NBC reboot, the original Magnum, P.I. was primarily shot on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. From 1980 to 1988, the series filmed on location, with some indoor scenes filmed in California.

Did Magnum P.I. have a girlfriend? ›

Lia Kaleo is a character who is currently working in the Honolulu Police Department as Detective and Magnum's girlfriend on Magnum P.I..

Is Higgins actually Robin Masters? ›

The idea that Higgins could secretly be Masters became a long running gag in the series after Thomas told his friends T.C. and Rick about his idea. In the final episode of the series, Higgins tells Magnum that he really is Robin Masters. However, Higgins later recants at Rick's wedding.

Are Magnum and Higgins friends in real life? ›

How have you found out shooting the more intimate moments that Magnum and Higgins have behind closed doors, given how long you've intentionally played up the will-they-or-won't-they aspects of this relationship? Weeks: Yeah, it's always funny. Luckily, we're very good friends.

Who did Thomas Magnum marry? ›

While serving in South Vietnam, Magnum married a French-Eurasian nurse named Michelle Hue, the presumed widow of North Vietnamese General Nguyen Hue. Magnum left Vietnam believing Michelle was killed during the 1975 evacuation of Saigon.

Who is the Hawaiian lady on Magnum PI? ›

The modern take on the classic 1980s series centers on Thomas Magnum, a decorated former Navy SEAL who becomes a private investigator in Hawaii. Amy Hill plays the role of Kumu on Magnum, PI. Amy Hill is a series regular, playing the part of Teuila “Kumu” Tuileta.

Who plays Magnum PI now? ›

Jay Hernandez movies and TV shows:

Other notable roles of his include Friday Night Lights, Hostel, and Suicide Squad. He was introduced to the acting world in a very random way. “I ran into a guy literally in an elevator.

Was Amy Hill in Two and a Half Men? ›

"Two and a Half Men" Ixnay on the Oggie Day (TV Episode 2010) - Amy Hill as Mrs. Wiggins - IMDb.

Does Amy Hill live in Hawaii? ›

Actress Amy Hill has found her voice and her paradise right here in Hawaii, cast in the recurring role of cultural curator “Kumu” on the tv series “Magnum P.I.” Actress Amy Hill was born in Deadwood, South Dakota, raised in Seattle and lives in L.A. But Hawai'i has always felt like home.

What race is Amy Hill? ›

Hill was born on May 9, 1953, in Deadwood, South Dakota, to Japanese national Ayako Yoneoka Hill (1914–2008) and Archie Russell Hill, a Finnish American who died after an automobile accident in 1979. She became an acclaimed actress working with the famed Asian American Theater Company in San Francisco, California.

Who did Amy Childs have her son with? ›

Amy shares Ritchie, 5, with her former boyfriend, also called Ritchie. Amy is also mum to Polly, 6, from her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Bradley Wright. Amy and her fiancé, Billy, share nine-month-old twins Billy and Millie.

What accent does Perdita Weeks have? ›

Born in Cardiff and naturally speaks with a neutral/RP accent.

Does Larry Manetti live in Hawaii? ›

Manetti has been commuting from Honolulu to the San Fernando Valley once a month nine months a year to spend time with his wife and young son. Once Magnum has filmed its last scene he will settle permanently on the mainland. “I also have a horse ranch in Florida near Tampa,” Manetti said.

Where was Magnum P.I.'s house in Hawaii? ›

The home known as "Robin's Nest" on the CBS television series "Magnum, P.I." was actually located in Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. The property, which is a private residence and not open to the public, was built in the 1930s and is located in the town of Waimanalo.

Are Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five O connected? ›

Now in Season 5, the reboot of Magnum P.I. has already presented a crossover episode with the new version of Hawaii Five-0. That was a logical choice, since it follows the rule of location, location, location: Both shows take place in the Aloha State.

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