For nearly 15 years, Mapuana Makia has been working hard to establish herself in the entertainment industry. She’s had to face quite a few obstacles during that time, but she’s never let anything stand in her way. Now she’s gotten the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come along very often. She is playing Noelani Nakayama in the new Disney series Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. As you may have been able to guess from the title, the show is inspired by the popular 1990s show, Doogie Howser, M.D. Although reboots/remakes can be tricky, this one might just be able to pull it off. Keep reading to learn 10 things you didn’t know about Mapuana Makia.
1. She Is From Hawaii
Although there are some differences between Mapuana and her character in Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., one thing they have in common is that they are both from Hawaii. Mapuana is very proud of her roots and she has nothing but love for the place she will always consider home.
2. She’s Done Work Behind The Scenes
Mapuana has devoted most of her career to acting, but she has also spent some time on the other side of the camera. She made her debut as a writer and producer in 2015 with a TV series called Preface to Being Jaded. She made her directorial debut in 2018 with a show called Babbs and Maria Go to Therapy. It seems pretty likely that we’ll see Mapuana do more behind-the-scenes work in the future.
3. She Was in How To Get Away With Murder
A lot of Mapuana’s roles have been on the minor side, but she’s still gotten the chance to be a part of some very impressive projects. In 2015, she appeared in an episode of the popular TV series How to Get Away with Murder. She was also in an episode of Hawaii Five-0. Even though both appearances were just a one-time thing, they were still a great opportunity for her to gain some experience.
4. She Is A Formally Trained Actor
There are some actors who choose to jump right into the world of auditions, but there are others who like to get as much knowledge as they can before taking that leap. Mapuana is part of the second group. She attended Hawaii Pacific University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in theater in 2006. I think it’s safe to say that Mapuana’s decision to study acting has worked out pretty well for her so far.
5. She Is In A Relationship
Mapuana is in a happy relationship. Although she has shared pictures of her partner on social media, she hasn’t shared any information about him. However, he doesn’t appear to work in the entertainment industry. From what we can tell, they don’t have any children together although we do know that Mapuana is a proud aunt.
6. She Is A Dog Person
If you’ve ever had a dog then you know that the bond between a fur baby and their human is truly priceless. Mapuana is a very proud pet parent and her pup, Bandit, is the start of her Instagram profile. Any time a picture of him pops up, her followers seem to really enjoy it.
7. She Likes Spending Time Outside
Mapuana has lots of love and respect for nature, and she loves being able to spend time outdoors. She enjoys doing things like gardening and hanging out at the beach. As her schedule starts to get more hectic, being outside continues to be a way for Mapuana to relax and recharge.
8. She’s Done Voice Work
Being well-rounded is one of the major keys to success in the entertainment industry, and that’s exactly what Mapuana Makia is. She is the kind of person who can really do a little bit of everything. According to her LinkedIn profile, Mapuana is also a voice-over narrator. That said, she doesn’t have any voice credits on her IMDB page.
9. She Is Passionate About Human Rights
There are lots of people out there who are afraid to stand up for the things they believe in. However, Mapuana isn’t one of those people. Mapuana has used her platform to speak out against racism. She has also shared resources so that other people can educate themselves.
10. She Loves Taking Pictures
Mapuana may not think of herself as a photographer, but she might want to start. She definitely has an eye for taking stunning pictures and she loves to step behind the camera and capture moments. She often shares her photos on social media and she’s received lots of praise from her followers.Doogie Howser, M.D
Follow Us
