Photo: Karen Neal/CBS

NCIS: Hawaiihas officially begun production!
On Thursday, CBS revealed that work on their latestNCISspinoff is now underway, following a traditional Hawaiian blessing on Oahu. Occurring on Mokulē’Ia Beach, the blessing paid respect to Hawaiian culture and was held Wednesday in accordance with the series' safety protocols amid theCOVID-19 pandemic.
The ceremony included traditional royal maile leis, an Oli Aloha, a type of welcoming chant, as well as Pule Ho’oku’u, a closing prayer.
PEOPLEpreviously confirmedin February thatNCIS: Hawaiiwas in development at CBS. Later in April, the network shared that the spinoff wasofficially on the way, but did not provide a premiere date.
According toVariety, the new show will follow a team of Naval criminal investigators who operate on the Hawaiian Islands.
Karen Neal/CBS



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NCISwas first launched in 2003 afterMark Harmon’s Jethro Gibbs character was introduced in a two-episode arc onJAG.
The show, now in its 18th season, had its first spinoff in 2009 with the premiere of itsLos Angelescounterpart, with theNew Orleansoffshoot following in 2014.
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Back in April, Lachey, 40, announced that she will star in the upcoming spinoff, making her the first female lead in the long-running franchise, asDeadlinepreviously reported.
Lachey will play Jane Tennant, the first woman to be named the Special Agent in charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor.
“A woman in a male-dominated profession, she’s thrived in a system that’s pushed back every step of the way through equal parts confidence and strategy,” her character description reads, according to the outlet. “She’s also a mother raising her children mostly on her own and has to balance her duty to her kids and her country.”
Lachey reacted to the announcement on her Instagram page at the time,writing, “Honored is an understatement! To join the NCIS franchise as the first female lead and to do it on the Beautiful Islands of Hawai’i… I still can’t believe it! Thank You CBS for believing in me! Now let’s get to work! #NCISHawaii 👊🏽🌴.”
NCIS: Hawaiiwill premiere later this year in the fall, airing Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. on CBS.
source: people.com