Ones to Watch: 14 Local Rising Stars
These actors, singers and performers are making names for themselves on the big stage—and making Hawai‘i proud.
Editor’s Note: This article, first published on Sept. 25, has been updated with seven more rising stars from Hawai‘i.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, everyone knows who Jason Momoa is. Whether it was from his first heartthrob role on Baywatch, the Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo on HBO’s Game of Thrones or maybe from the Hawaiian Airlines commercial where he’s handing out Mananalu water bottles, it’s no question that the Honolulu-born actor is a major success.
But are you up to date on all the other local talents who have been putting Hawai‘i on the map lately? We rounded up 14 of the latest stars from Hawai‘i on the rise who could very well one day reach Momoa levels of fame—or maybe even surpass it.
Auli‘i Cravalho
@auliicravalho
Photo: Paul Romo
Since Auli‘i Cravalho was cast as the lead voice in Disney’s Moana eight years ago, she’s starred in shows on NBC, Netflix and Hulu and even played Ariel in Disney’s musical The Little Mermaid Live! on ABC. A long-awaited live-action Moana is in the works, and although Cravalho won’t be in it herself, she’s taken on the role of an executive producer. Now, you can watch her in Amazon Prime Video’s drama series The Power or hear her familiar voice in Disney’s animated comedy series Hailey’s On It!, which premiered June 8.
SEE ALSO: Auli‘i Cravalho on New Animated Disney Series Hailey’s On It!
Iam Tongi
@wtongi
Photo: Credit Spidey Smith
Iam Tongi brought the judges to tears in his American Idol audition, then became the first Pacific Islander to win the competition. Tongi returned home for his first performance in July since his big victory, and he has another concert at the Blaisdell tonight. Follow him to watch this talented 19-year-old settle into the spotlight.
SEE ALSO: Your Ultimate Guide to Concerts and Live Music in Honolulu
Kanoa Goo
@kanoagooz
Photo: ABC/Raymond Liu, Courtesy of Kanoa Goo
You may recognize him from CBS’ drama series Fire Country, ABC’s The Rookie, or as Manu from the Hallmark Channel’s recent movie, Aloha Heart, but Goo captured the hearts of many when he starred in director Christopher Makoto Yogi’s feature, I Was a Simple Man, which won top awards at multiple film festivals. By the way, if you missed it, you can watch it for free through the state’s library app Kanopy.
SEE ALSO: Getting to Know Kanoa Goo
Maia Kealoha
@maiakealoha
Born on Hawai‘i Island in 2016, Maia Kealoha is the youngest one to watch on our list. She landed her breakthrough role as Lilo Pelekai in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch, which is expected in theaters next year.
Matthew Keoni Sato
@mattsato
Matthew Keoni Sato got his first TV acting role on Hawai‘i Five-0 when he was just 13. Now, you probably know him as Kai Kamealoha on Disney’s Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., where he plays Doogie’s brother. He also portrays Mack, a sitcom actor, in the fourth and final season of Disney’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
SEE ALSO: Disney’s “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.” Spotlights Hawai‘i on Screen and Behind the Scenes
Sydney Agudong
@whoisjaynedoe
Photo: Courtesy of Sydney Agudong
Born and raised on Kaua‘i, Sydney Agudong, a singer, songwriter and an actress, starred in several TV shows, such as CBS’s NCIS, and On My Block, a comedy-drama on Netflix, before landing the role of Nani Pelekai, Lilo’s older sister, in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch.
Milo Maharlika
@milomaharlika
At just 10 years old, Milo Maharlika has already been on Hawai‘i Five-0, Magnum P.I. and Sesame Street. Earlier this year, Maharlika was cast as the young revolutionary Gavroche in the musical phenomenon Les Misérables. Follow to see what it’s like to be a kid on tour as Les Mis makes its way across North America.
Allison Chu
@alliechuuu
Photo: Courtesy of Allison Chu
The former Miss Hawai‘i and Miss Hawai‘i USA traded her ball gown for a tracksuit in Netflix’s reality series Squid Game: The Challenge, which premiered on Nov. 22. Spoiler alert: she gets eliminated, but you can also spot her in episodes of Disney’s Doogie Kamealoha, Hawai‘i Five-0 and Pose on FX.
Kamaha‘o Haumea-Thronas
@kamahao.music
He blew the audience away at this year’s Kamehameha Schools Song Contest, and the performance went viral on social media. The 13-year-old student singer-songwriter packs a powerhouse voice in his pint-sized frame and gives chicken skin every time. If you’re island-hopping, catch his Christmas concert on Dec. 23 at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort.
Ezekiel Kekuna
@ezekiel.kekuna
Photo: Courtesy of Ezekiel Kekuna
This sixth grader from Kāne‘ohe is roaring onto the Broadway scene in New York as Young Simba in Disney’s musical The Lion King starting Dec. 5. Although only 11 years old, Ezekiel is no stranger to the stage with past credits including Diamond Head Theatre’s The Bodyguard and I’m A Bright Kid Foundation’s This is Me at Palikū Theatre.
Tau Samuels
@tausamuels
This actor and model has graced the New York Fashion Week runway for Manaola and was featured in Hawaiian Airline’s documentary by NMG Network called Ka Huaka‘i: A Journey to Merrie Monarch. He was recently cast in Hallmark Channel’s Aloha Heart as Kainalu. The romance flick originally premiered in July, but you can catch the next airing on Jan. 29.
Pashyn Santos
@pashyn
Photo: Courtesy of Pashyn Santos
If you need a laugh, look no further than this writer/actress/comedian who got her start making videos on YouTube. Her hilarious one-woman vignettes have made her a global media sensation. Most recently, she appeared on Netflix’s reality series Squid Game: The Challenge as player number 368.
Kaylee Shimizu
@kayleeshimizu_
Photo: Courtesy of NBC The Voice
From graduating high school in the spring to shinning like a star on NBC’s The Voice Season 24 this fall, it’s been a big year for this 18-year-old from ‘Ewa Beach. Honing her skills since she was young, Kaylee is known for her diva ballad covers from the likes of Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.
“It wasn’t the outcome I was hoping for, and I was a little bummed, but regardless, I’m feeling blessed,” Shimizu told us. “So happy I got the opportunity to show the world my talent and who I am. Performing and competing on a national stage was so exciting and a dream, hoping this isn’t the last time I will be on a stage like that. This is just the beginning of something very great.”
Samantha Neyland Trumbo
@samanthaneylandtrumbo
Photo: Courtesy of Jsquared Photography
Originally from Hawai‘i and now based in Los Angeles, this former Miss Hawai‘i USA is the leading lady in BET’s holiday rom-com Christmas Rescue, premiering Dec. 14. With several other feature films under her belt by Lionsgate, Sony and Lifetime, stay tuned to find out what’s next for the talented actress.
