Page 23 - MidWeek - Sep 15 2021

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 MIDWEEK 21
Mililani’s Matt Sato Lands Role In ‘Doogie’ Reboot
FROM PAGE 16
“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.”
on the Westside — some- times indulging in sessions twice a day — and hiking locales like Pali Puka when he comes back to visit. He also finds time to volunteer with local nonprofits like Hawaiian Humane Society — he loves animals and has a Maltese named Michi and a pug named Olive — and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawai‘i. Any-
The fact that he grew up in Hawai‘i further solidifies that this is the perfect role for Sato, who enjoys fishing
thing to give back to the place that’s given him so much throughout his child- hood.
Renaissance Academy in Kapolei, Sato participated in everything from soccer and baseball to cross-coun- try and swimming — but the proverbial acting bug just wouldn’t go away.
From Mililani Ike Ele- mentary to Mililani Mid- dle and then American
In fifth grade, he started dance classes at Waipi‘o’s Pas De Deux Hawai‘i and attended acting workshops led by Margaret Doversola. His abundance of natural talent came to the surface during this time, and thanks to casting director Rachel Sutton, Sato landed his first principal role on Hawai‘i Five-0 in 2014 at the age of 13.
“Once I did that, I knew I was hooked,” he says. “I knew it was what I wanted to do.”
(Above) The Sato family — (from left) dad Gavin, mom Lara, Matt and older brother Gavin Kaleialii — pose for a photo at Matt’s graduation at Brighton Hall in Burbank, California.
(Inset) Sato loves animals and even volunteers with organizations like Hawaiian Humane Society. Here, he’s pictured
With support from his family, Sato moved to L A at age 16 to pursue his pas-
sion full-time. In addition to national commercials for products like Hasbro Bey- blades to Clean & Clear and Zuru Toys, he also starred in teen web series Chicken Girls (his first experience with episodic work) and Nickelodeon’s Side Hus- tle (airing now), as well as James Hong’s Patsy Lee & The Keepers of the 5 King- doms.
cast, crew and viewers is an added bonus that Sato is more than grateful for.
pristine filming locations (look forward to views of Waimānalo, Waikīkī and The University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center), kama‘āina are the ones in for a real treat, to hear Sato tell it.
(Inset) Matt Sato, a Mililani native, landed a recurring role on Disney+’s Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.
(Above) Sato plays Kai Kameāloha, big brother to Peyton Elizabeth Lee’s Lahela “Doogie” Kameāloha.
(Right) Sato and fellow actor Emma Meisel, who plays Steph Denisco , take a break on the set of Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.
PHOTOS COURTESY MATT SATO
While nothing quite tops a mainstay role in a popu- lar TV show, being able to share his island home with Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.
“I’ m excited to be able to share the aloha spirit with the audience watching,” he says. “There’s so much to take away. It’s a comedy, drama, coming-of-age sto- ry, it’s a procedural hospital show — there’s something in it for everyone, whether you live here or not.”
“There’s a lot of funny Easter eggs that only locals are going to get,” he says. “The audience, no matter where they’ re from, is going to have a lot of fun.”
While audiences across the Pacific can live vicar- iously through Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. and its beautiful scenery shots and
There’s more in the works for Sato in the future, and fans can follow along on his journey on Instagram (@mattsato).