Charlie Chan in Honolulu 1938 With Charlie Chan distracted by the imminent birth of his first grandchild, young Tommy Chan persuades his older brother Jimmy eager to be a detective to take Pops place when a call comes in directing Charlie to investigate a murder aboard a freighter Charlie eventually learns of this and boards the ship to straighten out its slew of suspects, a cargo hold full of wild animals, and two well meaning but ineffectual sons