A Very Five-O Christmas
(from left) Kala Alexander, Teilor Grubbs and Dennis Chun will be home for the holidays - because they’re among the Hawaii residents who have scored recurring roles on Hawaii Five-0. To fill these stockings at The Modern Honolulu, Santa will have to find them by their Five-0 names
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the original series from 1968 to 1978. Daniel Dae Kim now has that role.
“Sometimes when I’m on the set I have a lot of memories of the old gang and I can almost see them there Jimmy, Jack, Dad and Zulu,” says Chun. “To have a chance to do this show, a show that means so much to Hawaii, well, it’s a privilege and an honor.”
After graduating from Kamehameha Schools in 1967, Chun went on to attend the University of Hawaii and worked as a security officer at the Hawaii Five-O sound stage in Diamond Head. He eventually landed various parts on the show, including a hijacker, an HPD officer who got shot, a gas station attendant and a medical orderly.
“I remember Dad working very hard, long hours and then studying a lot when he’d come home,” recalls Chun. “And when I would work on the show, he’d pull me on the side and say make sure you know your lines, your character, know your marks, keep your mouth shut, listen to the director and give them what they want.”
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Chun, who is with ADR Agency and takes acting classes with Scott Rogers, has been acting for the past four decades. He appeared in Magnum P.I., The Brady Bunch and countless commercials, the most recent for Hawaiian Electric. When he’s not filming, he enjoys swimming, shooting baskets, playing guitar and writing stories, including, of course, stories about his father.
“I started an autobiography with Dad and then he got sick,” says Chun. “I would like to finish parts of the story which I think really need to be told.”
Among those is one about how his father lost his first family (wife Esther and their two young children) when two B-24 bombers crashed in Kalihi in 1944.
“One of the great gifts he gave me is the ability to understand that life is ups and downs, and you have to stay centered and focused on where you want to go,” notes Chun.
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Along with the acting genes, Chun also has inherited a collection of priceless memorabilia, such as a letter dated April 24, 1972, from then California Gov. Ronald Reagan addressed to Kam Fong, noting that he and Mrs. Reagan are great fans of the show and of him. “One of my favorites is a signed picture of the old softball team,” adds Chun. “Al Harrington, James MacArthur and other cast and crew were on the team and they played all over the island on Sundays.”
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When it comes to the holidays, Chun holds many special memories of being with his dad, such as playing with all the toys on the set of KGMB’s Letters to Santa Claus, on which his dad played Santa.
“I also remember the old days when they would have the Christmas parade in Downtown, and he’d arrive at Aloha Tower (with the Five-O cast) and come up the street, turning on Hotel and Fort streets and stopping at the old Liberty House,” says Chun. “For me, Christmas is about being with ohana and just enjoying life.”
If you saw last week’s episode of Hawaii Five-O, you might recognize Kala Alexander, who plays Kawika, member of the Kapu System. Alexander, a father of five who also is a professional surfer, regional account executive for Ambry Genetics and vice president of Mauli Ola Foundation, somehow manages to also squeeze acting into his schedule.
He appeared in two episodes of Hawaii Five-O in the first season and is in one so far for season two. His film credits include Blue Crush, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Into the Blue 2: The Reef, John from Cincinnati and North Shore, and he was on the cover of Italian Vogue last year.
“I think Hawaii Five-O is a great show and I hope it runs for a long time,” says Alexander, who is with Niche Models & Talent.
“It’s a good thing for our economy, and I hope people realize that there are a lot of local people working on this show. Not only the extras, but the crew, transportation, Teamsters, the grips, production assistants, lighting, a lot of them are behind the scenes.”
This 42-year-old North Shore resident often spends his winters surfing big waves, although ironically, he says he’s afraid of heights. This Christmas, he has just two things on his wish list: to win the Quiksilver contest in memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay, to which he is an invitee, and for his kids to be healthy. In addition to spending time with family, he also devotes his holidays to charity work.
Through Mauli Ola Foundation, he introduces surfing as a natural treatment for people with genetic disorders, concentrating on the amazing results surfing gives people with cystic fibrosis.
“We spread the joy of surfing and the healing powers of the saltwater,” he explains. “We also do hospital visits, and we did a Christmas camp for the American Cancer Society, where we taught about 100 cancer patients how to paddle canoe and Boogie board. My favorite part of Christmas is probably helping these kids who are less fortunate.”
As for his new friends from Hawaii Five-O, Alexander says he enjoys working with them and has even gone surfing with Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan. “Scott is a very talented guy and a good surfer,” he says. “And Alex and I have sons the same age, and I told him his son can stay at my house and surf. They’re all super professional and down to earth.”
If your Christmas wish is to be on Hawaii Five-O, Santa (or casting director Rachel Sutton) may be able to deliver. Log on to rachelsuttoncasting.com for details. Non-union extras make $75 to $100 per day.
Good luck and Merry Christmas!
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