Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV (Tom Selleck) was a Vietnam War veteran. At the time, Vietnam and its aftermath were still controversial. Magnum, Theodore "T.C." Calvin (Roger E. Mosley), and Orville "Rick" Wright (Larry Manetti) have been cited as some of the first positive portrayals of Vietnam veterans on a network television series.

In many episodes, cars and uniform patches saying "state police" are shown. Hawaii is the only US State without a state police agency, but instead its law enforcement is performed by county governments.

Often the still photos in the closing credits are from outtakes...for example, characters can be seen laughing, or they are from a different angle than what was seen in the episode.

All episodes from the 1980-1981 season were altered for syndication. The original opening sequence and opening and closing themes were replaced by the more familar 1981-1988 opening sequence and opening and closing themes by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter.

Featured in The 34th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1982)