Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii's Ending Explained (In Detail)

Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii marks the first time side character Goro Majima has ever starred in his very own game. However, the Mad Dog of Shimano may be different from how most players remember him: the game begins with Majima washing up ashore on a remote Polynesian island with a bad case of retrograde amnesia, unable to remember where he comes from or where he was going. In short order, he makes friends with the islanders and commandeers a pirate ship, and together they set sail to discover the lost treasure of the Esperanza.

[Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.]

Picking up where Infinite Wealth's ending left off, Pirate Yakuza also ropes in the Nele Island cleanup efforts, run by a group of ex-Yakuza attempting to reform. Perhaps more so than anyone else, though, the story belongs to Majima's first crewmates, the retired pirate-turned-overbearing father Jason, and his adventure-seeking son Noah. Amid the Esperanza stash, they hope to find an elixir of youth that will cure Noah's mysterious illness. Along the way, they run afoul of various pirate crews, New York financiers, and even ghosts of Majima's past as they race for the treasure.

What Happens To Majima At The End Of Pirate Yakuza

Majima Regains His Memories & Beats The Boss(es)

After discovering that the treasure is, in fact, on Nele Island, Majima recruits the help of the ex-Yakuza involved in the cleanup there, as well as the remaining Palekana devotees, to help him find it. As they approach the treasure's location, their ship, the Goromaru, is beset by a giant squid. After defeating it in naval combat, Majima realizes that the squid is the same one who sank his ship prior to the events of the game. His memories flooding back, he heads into the treasure room with the rest of his crew.

Having found the Esperanza treasure (for more on what's inside, see Jason and Noah's section below), their enemies aren't far behind. Naomi, Jason's estranged daughter and an ally of the powerful pirate Queen Michele, is watching from a distance, and the Queen soon arrives with her fleet to take the treasure for herself. In an extended naval battle, Majima is able to take down Queen Michele's flagship, and the rest of her fleet is soon to follow.

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However, Majima then receives a call from Raymond Law, who, along with Queen Michele, controls the pirate hangout Madlantis. He announces that he's kidnapped Jason's younger daughter, Moana, and wants to meet with Majima to negotiate for the Esperanza treasure. Raymond also reveals that Rodriguez, the local leader of the Palekana, was secretly feeding him information the entire time. Shigaki, one of the Nele Island Yakuza, panics, and declares that he doesn't intend to give up his share of the treasure for Moana's sake. Majima tries to calm him, but fails, and the crew turn on each other.

Majima manages to subdue Shigaki and his allies, but with his last bit of energy, Shigaki charges at Noah, intending to threaten him to sway Majima's sympathy. But Jason dives in front of his knife, collapsing to the ground. Having survived the destruction of Queen Michele's fleet, Naomi witnesses this and turns on her captain, agreeing to help Majima and the remnants of his crew go after Raymond.

Majima sails to Madlantis and promises to give Raymond the treasure as soon as Moana is safe and sound on the Goromaru. With Moana on board, the Goromaru sails away, while Majima remains aboard a small barge with the treasure. Raymond soon makes it clear he has no intention of negotiating further; his armed goons capture Majima and take him to the brig, while Raymond seizes the treasure.

But in short order, Majima breaks out with the help of Naomi and fellow former Yakuza Saejima. He seizes Madlantis and defeats Raymond, throwing him at length into a pool containing a white whale, who promptly swallows him. Majima resolves to quit piracy forever and heads back to Japan, leaving the entirety of the treasure to the rest of his crew.

Saejima Taiga debuted in Yakuza 4 as one of its playable protagonists, a role he later reprised in Yakuza 5.

The scene then cuts to February 2025, with Majima recounting the story to Ichiban Kasuga, protagonist of Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, who's recording his testimony as part of a plan to make a documentary film and drum up the funds to reopen Majima's construction business. Ichiban dismisses the story as too ridiculous to believe. To punctuate that, Majima and his entire crew break out in a dance sequence as the credits roll (yes, really).

What Happens To Jason & Noah At The End Of Pirate Yakuza

A Family Reunited

Moana and Noah pointing forwards on the deck of the Goromaru in a screenshot from Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

Although they find the Esperanza treasure, Jason and Noah almost immediately notice that the Heart of the Dragon healing elixir they sought after is missing. After Jason sacrifices himself to save Noah, he comments on that irony, but thanks Majima for forcing him and his son out of their shells. Jason is rushed into medical care with the help of Majima's former Yakuza brothers.

Noah and Moana have the run of the Goromaru while Majima goes after Raymond. Once Majima's captured the cannon posts on the walls of Madlantis, they command the ship to sail in, and begin laying waste to Raymond's fortress. Majima soon defeats Raymond, and shortly thereafter, Jason returns alive and well.

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With treasure in hand, Jason and his family return to their home on Rich Island. However, Jason and ship's cook Masaru remain obsessed with the Heart of the Dragon, and continue to conduct independent research into its whereabouts. Masaru comes to believe that the elixir was actually a piece of ambergris, an extremely valuable substance used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat respiratory illnesses like Noah's.

A flashback then reveals that much of the ambergris was used by Bryce, the antagonist of Infinite Wealth and former Palekana Sage, to attain eternal life. Rodriguez's father appears on his deathbed, and is implied to be an original crew member of the Esperanza, who also used some of the ambergris to stay alive for over 200 years. However, prior to his death, he dumped the remainder of it into the ocean, presumably to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands again.

Pirate Yakuza's Epilogue Explained

The Man Who Regained His Name

Saejima and Majima driving in the epilogue of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

In an epilogue, Majima returns to Japan with Saejima. As they drive down a suburban street at night, they speak of old times. They pull up to a hospital, and Saejima laments the absurdity of life. But Majima argues that's the best part - there's always something more to hope for. Saejima chides him for getting soft as they get out of the car and walk into the hospital, entering a patient's room, planning on recounting their pirate journey. The camera lingers on the name written on the door - Kiryu Kazuma.

Kiryu was the original protagonist of the Yakuza series - Majima served as his rival in the earlier games. After faking his own death and fading into obscurity in Like A Dragon Gaiden, Kiryu returned in Infinite Wealth, only to announce that he had developed cancer and had six months left to live. That game ends with Kiryu emerging from hiding, reclaiming his own name, and beginning treatment. Pirate Yakuza follows up by confirming Kiryu is still alive and well, and still in active treatment.

And with that, the story comes to a close. After completing the final cutscene, players are free to enter Premium Adventure mode, traveling between the game's various locations and altering the time of day at will to complete any side content they left unfinished in Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.