Five Things about Kaleo Manolo

I’ve got incredibly fond of Kaleo over the two books in which he’s making his appearance–Tainted Fortune–where he first arrives in California with his twin sister Leilani, and this one, where his own story comes to the fore.

Right from the start, I saw him as a highly principled character with a sparkle of fun about him and a tremendous sense of loyalty to those close to him. Because he carries the Hawaiian spirit of ohana–a wider family, not just blood relations. And it quickly came clear that rising star Jason Momoa–who appropriately got his start in Baywatch Hawaii – was a perfect model for Kaleo. I especially loved the rugged look from the scarred eyebrow, which prevents Kaleo being too much of a pretty boy or “goody goody.”

Jason reportedly got his scar from an incident in a Los Angeles bar–possibly a gang initiation–when a stranger smashed him in the face with a pint glass. S flying surfboard caused Kaleo’s damage–and if you read Ancient Deception, you’ll discover that the ocean has played an important part in Kaleo’s induction into adulthood.

Five Things You May Not Know About Kaleo

1. He’s got a charismatic charm that was pretty well immune to female admiration until he meets Sarah. Perhaps the fact that she is definitely not looking for a man makes her irresistible.
2. He has always been happy to let his more outgoing twin sister Leilani take the lead, but he comes into his own when she is away in Honolulu, being pursued by Aristide.
3. Just like Jason, he can wear pastel colors and look as rugged as Aquaman.
4. Like his ‘godfather’ Bully, Kaleo has a shark tattoo on his right forearm to honor the man he was incorrectly told was his father–Matthew Manolo. Jason Momoa has described the arrow pattern tattoo on his right forearm as his family’s aumakua (part of Hawaiian mythology) representing a shark (mano.)
5. He handles the trauma Sarah has experienced from the brutish Clifford Jensen with gentle tact which would melt any girls’s heart. Read to the end to find out just how well he handles it!