Keiko Sugihara, an alumna of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School for Cinematic Arts (SCA), is making waves in the entertainment industry. Her latest achievement: co-writing an episode for the new hit TV show Rescue: HI Surf, which airs on FOX and streams on Hulu.
Sugihara and fellow writer Ryan Martinez penned the surf drama series’ episode 12, “Surge,” which aired on February 3. The episode follows North Shore lifeguards responding to a tsunami advisory while their captain searches for his missing daughter. It’s a high-stakes story that showcases Sugihara’s talent for crafting suspense and emotion.
“I feel very grateful for this opportunity, and I hope viewers enjoy the episode! It was a labor of love,” Sugihara shared.
Her success adds to the growing list of UH Mānoa alumni making an impact in the film and television industry. Earlier this year, fellow SCA alumna Erin Lau also directed an episode of the Hawaiʻi-based series.
- Related UH News story: Mānoa alumni films shine on streaming service, February 20, 2024
From UH Mānoa to Hawaii Five-0
Sugihara, a Chicago native, discovered her passion for filmmaking at UH Mānoa, where she pursued a degree in film production in SCA. That decision led to real-world industry experience, including an internship on Hawaii Five-0 during her final semester, where she worked as a production assistant.
“SCA emphasizes creativity and professionalism, the fact that Keiko Sugihara is credited as a co-writer on this episode speaks to her talent and dedication as an artist,” said Christine Acham, a professor and chair at SCA.
SCA Professor Lisette Flanary mentored Sugihara while she was at UH Mānoa.
“[She’s] a very talented writer who always produced awesome screenplays and was willing to push the boundaries in her storytelling,” Flanary said.
From Hawaii Five-0, Sugihara moved to Los Angeles to work in a writers’ room. She later joined Marvel’s Helstrom as a writers’ assistant and won first place in the 2020 Branches Interactive Script Contest for her original pilot, Nikkei Curse of Yokai. She also wrote, directed and starred in her short film, Vampire American.
