Hubbry Logo
Kimee BalmileroKimee BalmileroMain
Open search
Kimee Balmilero
Community hub
Kimee Balmilero
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Kimee Balmilero
Kimee Balmilero
Kimee Balmilero
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Kimee Balmilero is an American actress and singer.

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Of Filipino descent,[1] she is the daughter of Roy Balmilero who appears in Hawaii Five-0 portrayed as Noelani's father Joseph Cunha.[2] Balmilero graduated from James B. Castle High School, home of the Castle Performing Arts Center on Oahu.[3]

Career

[edit]
Balmilero performs at a Hi-5 concert.

Balmilero left Hawaii at 17 and joined the second national touring company of Miss Saigon. After touring for almost three years she moved to San Francisco to study at Studio A.C.T. for six months. Balmilero then moved to New York City and was part of the Original Broadway Cast of Mamma Mia![4]

In 2003, Balmilero joined the three-time Emmy-nominated TV series Hi-5, the American counterpart to the Australian kid's show of the same name.[5]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Amazing Journey Herself Documentary
2004 Hi-5, Vol 2: Music Magic Video
Hi-5, Vol. 3: Game Time
2006 Hi-5: Move Your Body
Hi-5: Action Heroes
2007 Hi-5: Making Music
Hi-5: Wonderful Wishes
2008 Hi-5: Animal Adventures, Vol. 5
Hi-5: Summer Rainbows
Hi-5 Hits
Brown Soup Thing Maria Mansalud
2010 Hi-5: Best of Jenn Herself Video
2011 Let's Talk About It N/A Short; also producer
Diagnosis Total Eclipse Doctor Short; also producer and editor
2013 Slow Night Marie Short
Hung N/A Video short; also producer, editor, director and writer
2016 Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Weird Girl No. 1 (Uncredited)
2018 Stoke Maggie Paras
2022 Two Tickets to Paradise Kailani Television film

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2002 The 54th Annual Tony Awards Herself Television special
2003–2006 Hi-5 70 episodes
2005–2006 Today Episodes: June 12, 2006 and June 28, 2005
2007 Live! With Kelly July 19, 2007
2009 The Battery's Down Door Girl Episode: "I Think I'm Gonna Like it Here"
2010 Pretty Little Liars Beth Episode: "The Jenna Thing"
General Hospital Tina Episodes #1.12125 and #1.12126
2012 Hawaii Five-0 Allison Episode: "Kupale"
2016–2020 Dr. Noelani Cunha Series Regular: 66 Episodes
2018–2021 Magnum P.I. Recurring role: 16 episodes
2021; 2023 Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. Jenny 2 episodes

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Source
2024 Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Additional voices [6]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kimee Balmilero

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Kimee Balmilero (born December 13, 1979) is an American actress and singer of Filipino descent, born in Kaneohe, Hawaii. She is best known for her recurring role as Medical Examiner Dr. Noelani Cunha on the CBS reboot series Hawaii Five-0 (2010–2020) and the subsequent Magnum P.I. (2018–2024). Balmilero began her performing career at age nine through school theater in Kaneohe and left Hawaii at 17 to join the national touring company of the musical Miss Saigon. She made her Broadway debut in 2001 as a u/s Rosie in Mamma Mia!, followed by various stage roles across the United States. Transitioning to television, she gained early recognition as a cast member on the Daytime Emmy-nominated children's series Hi-5 (2003–2006), where she performed as an energetic host and singer. Her film and TV credits also include roles in Disney+'s Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. (2021–2023) as Nurse Jenny, Hallmark's Two Tickets to Paradise (2022), and the ABC pilot Josep (2022), in which she portrayed Geraldine, a key character in the first major network TV project centered on a Filipino-American family. In addition to acting, Balmilero is a prominent figure in Hawaii's theater and scenes, having founded the Hawai‘i Festival in 2015, Improv Hawai‘i, and the Stage Fish theater company in 2018. In 2020, she and her husband, actor John LeBlanc—whom she married on August 19, 2017—opened Tiny Stage Hawai‘i, a nonprofit venue dedicated to intimate live performances and community arts education. Her work emphasizes Filipino-American representation and local Hawaiian talent development. As of 2025, she continues to lead the Hawai‘i Festival, which celebrated its 11th year in September, and co-hosts events like the Mana Up Showcase.

Early life and education

Family and childhood

Kimee Balmilero was born on December 13, 1979, in Kaneohe, Hawaii, to Filipino-American parents. She is the daughter of Roy Balmilero, an actor who appeared in the CBS series Hawaii Five-0. Balmilero grew up in Kaneohe on the island of Oahu in a family environment that encouraged the , with her father serving as one of her biggest supporters and the first to urge her to perform publicly. This upbringing provided her with early exposure to local theater and cultural events in Oahu, fostering her interest in performance from a young age. Of Filipino descent, Balmilero embraces her heritage through the playful term "Sillypino," a Hawaii-specific blend of "silly" and "Filipino" that highlights the lighthearted of Filipino communities in the islands.

Schooling and training

Kimee Balmilero attended James B. Castle High School in Kaneohe, Oahu, , where she graduated in 1997. The school, home to the Castle Performing Arts Center, provided a nurturing environment for her emerging talents in the . During her high school years, Balmilero's interest in and was sparked through involvement in theater productions and performances under the guidance of instructor Ron Bright. These experiences included local stage work that honed her skills and built her confidence, setting the stage for broader opportunities beyond . After high school graduation in 1997 and nearly three years touring nationally with , Balmilero pursued further training in , enrolling in a six-month acting program at Studio A.C.T., the professional training conservatory of the . This intensive study focused on foundational techniques in , complementing her high school foundation and preparing her for professional demands in the industry.

Career

Theater and early roles

Balmilero began her professional theater career in , performing in local stage productions at Castle High School under the direction of Ronald E. Bright starting at the age of nine. Her early experiences in these community and school-based shows laid the foundation for her transition from -based local theater to mainland U.S. opportunities around 1999. At age 17, immediately following her high school graduation in 1997, Balmilero left to join the second national touring company of as an ensemble member and understudy for the role of Kim. She toured with the production for nearly three years, gaining extensive experience in musical theater on a national scale. Following the tour, around 1999, she relocated to for six months of training at Studio A.C.T., honing her skills in preparation for higher-profile stage work. In 2001, she made her Broadway debut as part of the original cast of Mamma Mia!, performing as an ensemble r and understudy. From 2003 to 2006, Balmilero appeared in the American version of Hi-5, a three-time Daytime Emmy-nominated that incorporated musical numbers, routines, and live performance elements, bridging her theater background with emerging on-screen opportunities.

Television and film roles

Balmilero gained prominence through her recurring role as Dr. Noelani Cunha, the chief medical examiner for the , on the series Hawaii Five-0 from 2016 to 2020, appearing in 66 episodes. This role marked her transition to a steady presence in network television, where she portrayed a professional forensic expert contributing key insights to the team's investigations. Her performance as Cunha, which began in season 7, filled the vacancy left by the departure of Dr. Max Bergman and became integral to the procedural elements of the show. She reprised the character of Dr. Noelani Cunha in a recurring capacity on the Magnum P.I. reboot from 2018 to 2021, appearing in 16 episodes and facilitating crossovers between the two Hawaii-based series. This role extended her visibility within the of CBS's Hawaiian procedurals, allowing Cunha to assist the private investigators with reports and medical analysis. Earlier in her career, Balmilero made a guest appearance on in 2010, playing Beth, a nurse, in the episode "The Jenna Thing." This one-off role showcased her versatility in supporting ensemble casts on prime-time dramas. She also portrayed Nurse Jenny in the Disney+ series Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. from 2021 to 2023 and Geraldine in the 2022 ABC pilot Josep, the first major network TV project centered on a Filipino-American family. In film, Balmilero had an uncredited appearance as Weird Girl No. 1 in the 2016 comedy Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, directed by Jake Szymanski. She later took on a supporting role as Kailani in the 2022 Hallmark television movie Two Tickets to Paradise, a romantic comedy about two jilted wedding parties who end up honeymooning together in Hawaii. Balmilero expanded her acting portfolio into voice work with additional voices in the 2024 video game Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, contributing to the English dubbing of its expansive narrative set in Honolulu.

Improvisation and production work

Kimee Balmilero founded Improv Hawaii in 2012 upon returning to Oahu, establishing it as a platform dedicated to sketch and improv through classes, workshops, and live performances in . As the company's "Head Sillypino," she has led offerings that cater to beginners and advanced participants, fostering a local comedy scene inspired by her training at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. The initiative promotes collaborative creativity, with monthly shows and educational programs that emphasize spontaneous performance skills. In 2018, she founded the Stage Fish theater company in , focusing on original productions. In March 2020, Balmilero co-founded Tiny Stage Hawai'i with her husband, John LeBlanc, creating a 500-square-foot creative hub in Kakaʻako designed for intimate performances, classes, and events with low overhead costs. The space supports local artists by hosting in-person shows, voiceover sessions, live streams, and workshops, accommodating up to 25 people and serving as a versatile venue for original works. As of 2025, it has been operating for over five years, continuing to provide accessible opportunities for Honolulu's community. Balmilero has directed and produced numerous local theater and improv events, notably launching the inaugural Festival in March 2015 at the Museum of Art's Theatre. This event, which evolved into the annual Hawai'i Comedy Festival, features sketch performances, musical comedies, and workshops led by industry professionals, expanding in 2020 to include a junior festival for younger audiences. Her production efforts have included original variety shows like Two Scoops Funny and Polynesian AF, alongside her directorial debut with the premiere of Mamma Mia at Diamond Head Theatre in 2016. Additionally, Balmilero created StoryU Arts as an initiative focused on workshops that integrate performance techniques to develop personal narratives. Operating as a division of the non-profit The BizGym Foundation, it offers sessions such as for business professionals, aimed at enhancing public speaking, creative thinking, and workplace skills through narrative-driven exercises.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Kimee Balmilero married producer and musician John LeBlanc on August 19, 2017. The couple, who met through shared interests in the arts, frequently collaborate on creative endeavors, including the co-founding of Tiny Stage Hawaii, a performance space in Kakaako, Honolulu, which opened in March 2020. Balmilero continues to nurture family ties to Hawaii, her birthplace, where her father Roy Balmilero made a guest appearance as her on-screen parent in Hawaii Five-0.

Residence and community involvement

Kimee Balmilero is a long-time resident of , primarily on the island of Oahu, where she was born and raised in Kaneohe before pursuing opportunities on the mainland and returning permanently in 2012 after a decade in . She has since maintained her home base in , balancing her professional commitments with deep ties to the local community. Balmilero is actively involved in Oahu's arts scene, particularly through her co-founding of Tiny Stage Hawai'i in 2020, a 500-square-foot creative hub in the Kakaʻako neighborhood of that hosts intimate events, workshops, and performances to support emerging local artists. The space, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in March 2025, serves as a platform for improv classes, small-scale shows, and community gatherings, fostering collaboration among Hawaiian performers. As a Filipino American born and raised in , Balmilero contributes to the preservation of Hawaiian culture by producing and participating in performances and workshops that highlight the blend of Filipino and Native Hawaiian heritage, such as AAPI AF and Polynesian AF shows that celebrate stories through comedy and music. These efforts emphasize cultural fusion, drawing on her personal background to uplift underrepresented voices in the islands. Following 2020, Balmilero has increased her participation in community theater and festivals, including virtual variety shows like Mee Time to support local talent during the pandemic and ongoing events at Tiny Stage Hawai'i. In 2025, she co-hosted the Mana Up Showcase, featuring performances that promote Hawaiian and Filipino cultural elements, and contributed to the 11th annual Hawaii Comedy Festival with improv and sketch showcases at the Honolulu Museum of Art.

Filmography

Film

Balmilero made her feature film debut in an uncredited role as a wedding guest (Weird Girl #1) in the 2016 comedy Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, directed by Jake Szymanski. In 2022, she portrayed the supporting character Kailani in the romantic comedy Two Tickets to Paradise, a Hallmark Channel production.

Television

Kimee Balmilero began her television career with a series regular role as Kimee in the American adaptation of the children's musical program Hi-5 from 2003 to 2006, where she contributed to educational segments on topics like health, environment, and social skills through songs and interactive activities. The Emmy-nominated series featured Balmilero alongside a cast of performers delivering high-energy performances aimed at preschool audiences. In 2010, Balmilero appeared in a guest role as Beth in the pilot episode "The Jenna Thing" of , portraying a minor character in the mystery drama series. This one-episode stint marked an early foray into scripted television narratives beyond children's programming. Balmilero gained prominence with her recurring role as Dr. Noelani Cunha, the chief for the , on Hawaii Five-0 from 2016 to 2020, appearing in 70 episodes across seasons 7 through 10. As Dr. Cunha, she provided forensic analysis and reports crucial to the task force's investigations, often delivering calm expertise amid high-stakes action. Her portrayal extended the character's presence into crossovers, enhancing the procedural's procedural elements with detailed medical insights. From 2018 to 2021, Balmilero reprised Dr. Noelani Cunha in a recurring capacity on the Magnum P.I. reboot, appearing in 16 episodes total. The role maintained continuity from Hawaii Five-0, positioning Cunha as a reliable ally in solving crimes on Oahu. In 2021 and 2023, Balmilero appeared as Nurse Jenny in 2 episodes of Disney+'s Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. In 2022, she portrayed Geraldine in the ABC pilot Josep.

Video games

Kimee Balmilero entered the voice acting space with her role in the 2024 action RPG Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, developed by and published by . In the English version of the game, she voiced the character Julie, contributing to the ensemble of additional voices that bring the game's diverse cast to life. This turn-based RPG follows protagonists Ichiban Kasuga and Kiryu Kazuma across expansive urban environments, blending narrative-driven storytelling with strategic combat and side activities. The game's prominent Hawaiian setting in a detailed recreation of resonates with Balmilero's own roots as a Hawaii-born actress.

References

  1. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/kimee_balmilero
  2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1349706/
  3. https://kimeeb.com/
  4. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/09/14/hawaii-comedy-festival-returns-11th-year-featuring-local-talent/
  5. https://houseofmanaup.com/blogs/lets-mana-up-blog-hawaii-shopping-tips/showcase-2025-cohosts-meli-james-kimee-balmilero
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11398993/
  7. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/02/29/local-hawaii-five-star-shares-special-scene-with-her-real-life-dad/
  8. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1349706/bio/
  9. https://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/02/25/features/index.html
  10. https://www.honolulumagazine.com/qa-hawaii-sketch-comedy-festivals-kimee-balmilero/
  11. https://hi5tv.fandom.com/wiki/Kimee_Balmilero
  12. https://www.staradvertiser.com/2016/11/26/features/five-0-redux/balmilero-ready-turn-five-0/
  13. https://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/06/11/features/on-the-scene/on-the-scene-with-kimee-balmilero/
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360266/awards/
  15. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/kimee-balmilero/credits/3030404657/
  16. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2823054/fullcredits/
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19733952/
  18. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15599988/fullcredits/
  19. https://improvhi.com/about/
  20. https://improvhi.com/team/
  21. https://www.kitv.com/improv-hawaii-has-classes-and-shows-for-everyone/article_bed69e70-40f4-11ed-9630-0b35332c4d52.html
  22. https://creativelab.hawaii.gov/creative-lab-programs/ideation-workshops/2020-acting-ideation-and-public-panel-lineup/
  23. https://hicomedyfest.com/about/
  24. https://hawaiibookandmusicfestival.com/kimee-balmilero-improvhi
  25. https://kimeeb.com/event/twerk-your-brain-improv-for-business-folks-2/
  26. https://www.honolulumagazine.com/quote-unquote-improv-your-life-with-hawaii-five-0-actress-kimee-balmilero/
  27. https://www.instagram.com/tinystagehi/?hl=en
  28. https://improvhi.com/
  29. https://www.facebook.com/kimeebalmilero/posts/happy-five-years-tiny-stage-hawaii-five-years-ago-we-got-the-keys-to-a-former-re/1152972393506255/
  30. https://www.instagram.com/p/DGrhLeMvH8n/?hl=en
  31. https://hicomedyfest.com/event/2024-05-18-aapiaf-7pm/
  32. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/05/18/10th-annual-hawaii-comedy-festival-celebrates-aapi-stories/
  33. https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2024-05-15/local-comedy-festival-celebrates-all-things-asian-american-and-pacific-islander
  34. https://www.instagram.com/p/C7oxOL-R95P/
  35. https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/03/29/features/kimee-balmilero-hosts-virtual-hawaii-variety-show-mee-time-to-support-local-performers/
  36. https://www.khon2.com/local-news/hawaii-comedy-festival-returns-for-11th-year-with-laughs-improv-and-family-fun/
  37. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19733952/fullcredits/
  38. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360266/
  39. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1600194/
  40. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7942796/
  41. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12225230/fullcredits
  42. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14745288/fullcredits
  43. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2072450/Like_a_Dragon_Infinite_Wealth/
  44. https://www.mobygames.com/game/216560/like-a-dragon-infinite-wealth/
  45. https://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/eight/asia_en/adventure/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.