Page 4 - MIdWeek Windward - Feb 24, 2021

4 FEBRUARY 24, 2021
Kāne’ohe’s Moya Stars As Blue Ranger On Nickelodeon Show
FROM PAGE 1
on Earth threatening life as we know it. The new team, fueled by the prehistoric power of the dinosaurs, is recruited to deal with the threat.
es. “Growing up in Hawaiʻi is very unique from growing up from elsewhere in the United States. That is not something you realize until you leave the islands.”
shares. “However, I started to put more focus toward athletics once I hit the third grade. Performing arts did not reenter my life until college.”
“The thing I like the most is just being able to represent Hawaiʻi. I am very proud to represent Hawai’i kids on TV. I hope I can inspire them to pursue their dreams,” Moya says.
According to Moya, someone who had a pro- found influence on him growing up was close friend Marcus “Bubba” Kaneshiro. He reveals that when he was young, he was very shy.
His passion for acting came after his first theater class, when he had to take an arts course in college to fill graduation requirements.
“I decided to take intro to theater and slowly learned that acting is extremely chal- lenging. However, I started to really like it! Next thing you know, I was taking the- ater classes every semes- ter!,” Moya shares.
He explains that he’s still in the midst of filming Pow- er Rangers Dino Fury in Auckland, New Zealand.
“Bubba was fearless and taught me how to conquer my fears. He taught me how to not care about what other people think of you; to do what makes you hap- py,” Moya recalls fondly. “Bubba was with me the first time I ever went to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios, etc., and I wouldn’t have ridden the rides if it wasn’t for him. He taught me to be bold, and that’s exactly what you need to be in this industry.”
Before becoming the Blue Ranger, Moya had a one-ep- isode role on Hawaiʻi Five-0 and the Saved by the Bell re- boot. The first Power Rang- ers audition was sent to him in March 2020.
“It is going amazing. We are extremely lucky to be filming in New Zealand be- cause the country is pretty much COVID-free. We are very fortunate,” Moya says.
“I had a total of four audi- tions throughout the summer before I was informed about landing the role in Power Rangers Dino Fury in Au- gust,” he remembers.
“It is very exhausting and a lot of work,” he adds.
Adapted from a Japanese series, the 28th season of Power Rangers provides lots of morphin battle footage with a new cast of heroes, villains and monsters.
“Despite people nev- er knowing where or what that is, I say it proudly. My ultimate goal in life is to become a director/producer. There’s a handful of differ- ent films that were filmed in Hawaiʻi that I would love to remake,” he declares.
In the show — from Has- bro Inc. and Nickelodeon — an army of powerful alien beings is unleashed
“Growing up on the Wind- ward side of Oʻahu was the best. I might be a little bi- ased though,” he emphasiz-
For more information, visit nick.com.
He says the cast members work six days a week and usually are on the clock for about 10-12 hours.
Kai Moya, (left), raised in Kāne’ohe, plays Blue Ranger in Power Rangers Dino Fury. PHOTO COURTESY SCG POWER RANGERS AND HASBRO
“It’s hard. But we need to stand strong so we can all come back together.”
NICOLE R. Fitness Coach
Do your part.
Fight COVID. HawaiiCOVID19.com
Although he’s current- ly working and living far from home, Moya says he misses Kāneʻohe, and can’t wait to come back and eat at Kāneʻohe Pancake House, Megumi Restaurant, and Waiāhole Poi Factory, and visit the Windward Mall Farmers Market.
Moya is proud to say that he’s from Kāneʻohe.
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