Biography
Danny Kamekona was an actor of mixed Asian descent best known for his role as Sato, the rival of Pat Morita's Miyagi character in the popular martial arts drama "The Karate Kid, Part II." A native of Hawaii, Kamekona fittingly got his screen-acting start on a 1968 episode of "Hawaii Five-O" and frequently appeared on the hit series, often in different parts, though he portrayed two recurring characters over the course of the show's decades-spanning run. During the 1970s, Kamekona was featured on other various hit shows, notably turning up two-part Hawaii-set specials of the sitcom "Sanford and Son" and the crime series "Barnaby Jones," starring Buddy Ebsen. Continuing to work the local island angle, Kamekona appeared on various episodes of the 1980s adventure show "Magnum, P.I.," yet another series set in Hawaii. For "The Karate Kid, Part II," he played a Japanese businessman with a contentious history that involves the film's heroic mentor, Miyagi. Though the movie was set in Japan, it was largely shot in Hawaii, meaning Kamekona could once again work on his home island. Other productions to feature the actor include the expansive miniseries "War and Remembrance," the post-apocalyptic sci-fi/action film "Robot Jox," and the comedy "Honeymoon in Vegas."
