Kimee Balmilero is an American actress with a very strong connection to Hawaii. As a result, it is fitting that one of her most famous roles is Dr. Noelani Cunha on CBS’s Hawaii Five-0. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about Kimee Balmilero:
1. Born in Hawaii
Balmilero was born in Hawaii. As a result, she went to a high school on Oahu, which is the third biggest of the eight major Hawaiian Islands. It is interesting to note that Oahu is called the Gathering Place because it is the most populated of the Hawaiian Islands, having become so in modern rather than pre-modern times. In fact, the state capital Honolulu can be found on Oahu’s southeast coast.
2. Of Filipino Descent
Speaking of which, Balmilero is of Filipino descent. In this, she isn’t particularly unusual, seeing as how close to 23 percent of Hawaii’s population were either of Filipino or of part-Filipino descent according to the 2000 U.S. Census. Curiously, at least 85 percent of these people can trace their roots to the Ilokano people living on Luzon’s northwestern seaboard. This is presumably because of the population pressure in the Ilokano homeland throughout much of the 19th and 20th centuries that caused migrations to not just Hawaii but also a wide range of other places in the United States and beyond.
3. First Paid Role Was Woody Woodpecker
Balmilero’s first paid role was Woody Woodpecker at an Earth Day Fair in 1994. For those who are unfamiliar, Woody Woodpecker is one of the numerous anthropomorphic animal characters that came into existence in the Golden Age of American animation. The character isn’t as prominent as his Disney and Warner Bros. counterparts, but he is popular enough to have starred in not one, not two, but three separate shows since the 1990s.
4. Worked For a Dinner Cruise In High School
When people think of performers, chances are good that they will think of the people who frequent their screens before other possibilities. However, it is important to remember that there is a wide range of other performers out there who provide the manpower needed for a wide range of other performances. For instance, when Balmilero was still in high school, she worked for a dinner cruise as a singer as well as a dancer.
5. Was In Miss Saigon
As soon as Balmilero had graduated from high school, she went out on tour with the second national touring company for Miss Saigon. In short, Miss Saigon took a lot of inspiration from Madame Butterfly, as shown by how both are centered on the doomed romance between an American man and an Asian woman. However, while Madame Butterfly featured an American lieutenant and a Japanese geisha, Miss Saigon features an American marine and a Vietnamese bargirl.
6. Was In Mamma Mia
Later, Balmilero was a member of the original Broadway cast for Mamma Mia! For context, Mamma Mia! started up in the West End in April of 1999, which makes sense because it was written by a British playwright. With that said, the musical didn’t get its U.S. debut on Broadway. Instead, that happened in San Francisco in November of 2000. Still, the Broadway production is notable for having been one of the longest-running Broadway productions ever, so much so that it can be expected to hold on to said position for the foreseeable future.
7. Was On The Price Is Right
Amusingly, Balmilero was on The Price Is Right. By that point in time, she was already a paid actress, though not a particularly prominent one by any standard of measurement. Having said that, Balmilero didn’t make it very far on The Price Is Right. To be exact, she was one of the first four contestants, but she never managed to make it on to the stage.
8. Has Played More Than One Character on Hawaii Five-0
Balmilero has played more than one character on Hawaii Five-0. Initially, she played a one-episode character named Allison in the episode “Kupale.” However, Balmilero was later chosen to play the part of Dr. Noelani Cunha in 2016, which is notable because said character is a member of the main cast. So far, she has been more than 40 episodes of Hawaii Five-0, but that number will continue to increase as the show continues to be made.
9. Has Been On Magnum P.I.
Besides Hawaii Five-0, Balmilero has been on Magnum P.I. as well. Moreover, Balmilero played the same character on both of the shows, which was made possible by the choice to have crossovers between them. Balmilero’s Dr. Neolani Cunha isn’t the sole character to have shown up on both Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I. However, she is one of the most prominent examples, which makes sense because she has become one of the most prominent characters on her originating show. As for the other crossover characters, interested individuals might want to check out the relevant cast pages to look through the recurring characters as well as the guest characters.
10. Has a Supplier For Both Hawaiian and Filipino Food
It has been said that Balmilero has her own personal supplier for both Hawaiian and Filipino food. To be exact, what happens is that her father sends her frozen packages of both Hawaiian and Filipino food on a regular basis. For what it is worth, both Hawaiian and Filipino cuisine are very distinctive. In the case of Hawaiian cuisine, the succession of settlers in the Hawaiian Islands brought their cuisines with them, with the result that it is a fusion of those various influences. Meanwhile, there isn’t a single Filipino cuisine any more than there is a single American cuisine, which should come as no surprise when the Philippines is home to more than a hundred distinct ethnolinguistic groups.
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