Hawaii Five-0 Star Taylor Wily aka Kamekona Tupuola, dies at 56

By StephanieLee Elliott

Taylor Wily September 2011 in Honolulu. By Michele Meyer from Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, CC BY 2.0, https commons.wikimedia.org

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS

Taylor Wily (born Teila Tuli; June 14, 1968 – June 20, 2024) is an American actor, sumo wrestler and mixed martial artist. He was from Laie, Hawaii and was of American Samoan descent. He was known for his recurring role as Kamekona Tupuola on Hawaii Five-0, which was also a recurring character on Magnum P.I..

Wily died on June 20, 2024.

SUMO CAREER

In March 1987, Wily was recruited by former sekiwake Takamiyama Daigorō, another Hawaiian, and joined Azumazeki stable, which Takamiyama had founded the previous year. He was given the shikona (sumo name) of Takamishū. He was unbeaten in his first 14 official bouts, winning two consecutive yūshō or tournament championships. Weighing nearly 440 lb (200 kg), he was one of the largest wrestlers in sumo.

He retired from sumo in July 1989 due to knee problems.