If you're expecting some nice Honolulu scenery in this one, forget it: it's 95% a shipboard murder mystery. And it's a pretty good one, too, with one of the cleverest climactic reveals of the series, but somewhat spoiled by lame comic relief, primarily from a guy who looks and acts a lot like Lou Costello (before Lou Costello had made any movies, though), and some animal (lion, monkey, etc.) footage that looks like cutouts from the Tarzan series. Sidney Toler makes a terrific Charlie Chan in his debut in the role; George Zucco as a mad - what else? - scientist provides an obvious but still effective red herring. Favorite Chan line (to Number Two Son, after telling his father that he was unconscious): "Have suspected same since birth!". **1/2 out of 4.
Review of Charlie Chan in Honolulu
