Why NCIS: Hawaii Alex Tarrant Felt Disengaged From His Kiwi Culture During His Childhood – Looper

While speaking in a recent interview with the New Zealand news publication called Stuff, Alex Tarrant explained that landing the role of Kai Holman on “NCIS: Hawai’i” brought reservations along with excitement. “It’s bittersweet because it should’ve gone to a Hawai’ian actor, and the moment I got there, I felt an overwhelming sense of, ‘I shouldn’t be here,” Tarrant explained. The actor grew up in New Zealand but has Maori lineage from his father and Samoan/Niuean on his mother’s side. Tarrant told the publication that he knows how important representation can be. He was even inspired to pursue his career by seeing Samoan/Tuvalese-Kiwi actor Beulah Koale on “Hawaii Five-0.” Either way, Tarrant struggled to understand what culture he should represent at a young age.

“It made me sit on the fence about what to represent. And my parents were taught to conform [to Kiwi culture], so I didn’t learn either language. But as I grow older, I can fill those gaps,” Tarrant said. Overall, Tarrant is humble and open in the position he’s in as far as playing Kai on “NCIS: Hawai’i,” and would quickly give up a spot to any Hawai’ian actor ready for it. “What I’ve since realized is that Hawai’i’s still growing their industry, so if I’m a place-filler, I’ll gladly take that spot. But the moment someone comes along who’s ready to take a role, I’ll step aside,” he noted.