Page 4 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - Sep 22 2021

4 HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK SEPTEMBER 22, 2021
Like any sec- ond-grader in the mid-2000s, Matt Sato vividly remembers watching shows like The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and High School Musical on Disney Channel. From his home in Mililani, he sat in front of the TV reveling in the entertain- ment and enjoyment they provided, knowing it was one day something he wanted to be a part of in some way, shape or form.
Part-time angler and full-time actor Matt Sato casts in his line and lands a big role in the Disney+ series Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.
And now, that dream has come to fruition as Sato stars as series reg- ular Kai Kameāloha in the Disney+ reboot of Doogie Howser, M.D. — Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. — which aired its first episode Sept. 8 on the streaming service.
“When I auditioned for this role and found out that it was filming in Hawai‘i, it was too
good to be
true,” says the 20-year- old actor.
in real life is younger brother to Gavin Kaleialii Sato). The role-reversal allows him to take on the archetypal character arc, messing with his younger siblings Doogie and Bri- an Patrick Kameāloha, played by Wes Tian.
After his chemistry read with Peyton Eliza- beth Lee (who plays the title role of teen medical prodigy Lahela “Doogie” Kameāloha), Sato, and the rest of the TV execs, knew his appointment as big brother Kai was meant to be.
“Brian is carefree and ridiculously funny and tries to impress every- one,” Sato says. “It’s how I was when I was young- er. I remember wanting to be the center of attention all the time growing up.”
“Kai is super free-spir- ited and not into doing what’s popular, just what- ever makes him happy,” Sato says. “His little sis- ter, Doogie, is super in- telligent, book smart, and Kai is more street smart, and he can be very emo- tionally intelligent.”
The similarities contin- ue in the show’s family dynamics, too. The fic- tional Kameālohas fea- ture an Asian father (Lee) and haole mother (Dr. Clara Hannon played by Kathleen Rose Perkins) and three kids of mixed descent — similar to that of Sato’s own family.
Viewers, who tune in for Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.’s third episode to- night (Sept. 22) might also recognize another familiar face in patriarch Benny Kameāloha, por- trayed by Pearl City High
“We had a local dad (Gavin) and white mom (Lara), and mixed kids,” Sato says. “There’s some funny jokes in the show that all of us hapa mixes are going to understand.”
grad Jason Scott Lee. “He plays my dad, and he’s such a legend to me,” Sato says. “I’ve al- ways looked up to him, and being able to work
The fact that he grew up in Hawai‘i further solidifies that this is the perfect role for Sato, who
with him is unreal.” Getting to play the oldest of three is a fun role for Sato (who
SEE PAGE 5
The fictional Kameāloha family includes oldest brother Kai (played by Matt Sato), mom Dr. Clara Hannon (Kathleen Rose Perkins), teen medical prodigy Lahela (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), dad Benny (Jason Scott Lee) and youngest sibling Brian Patrick (Wes Tian). PHOTO COURTESY MATT SATO