Mr. Wily starred as Kamekona in more than 170 episodes of “Hawaii Five-0,” a reimagining, from 2010-2020, of the 1970s crime drama that followed the escapades of state police officers in Hawaii. His character became a fan favorite, morphing into the show’s resident entrepreneur, running a shaved-ice and a helicopter tour company alongside his shrimp venture.
“‘Hawaii Five-0’ could become ‘Kamekona Five-0,’” Masi Oka, who played Dr. Max Bergman on the later series, said in a 2012 interview with CBS.
The series followed a fictional state police unit that seemed to routinely crave shrimp. Mr. Wily’s character was a warm and comedic presence that resonated with viewers as well as with residents in Hawaii.
Peter Lenkov, a producer of the series, said on social media that he had been drawn to Mr. Wily from his first audition, and that he had been impressed enough to make his character a recurring one.
