Kimo: ‘I hope I did my communities proud’

Posted By: John Powell

October 4, 2024

Kimo: ‘I hope I did my communities proud’

Kimo Apaka and Leah Peters. Photo: CBS.

By John Powell – GlobalTV.com

He went from an island of approximately 47,000 people to being watched three times a week by millions of people in North America and around the world.

Kimo Apaka entertained fans with his good natured attitude, his infectious spirit and his wonderful singing. Okay, there was maybe a little TOO much of the singing but Kimo was certainly a bright light in what can be a very cutthroat game this season.

John Powell: Who do you want to follow you into the jury house and why?

Kimo Apaka: It’s less about who I hope follows me into the jury house and more about who I hope remains in this game because for me as a fan of this game I have certain criteria that I am definitely considering when deciding who I would vote for to win everything.

I think that the remaining four have all done wonderfully in their own ways, in paving their paths to the end but I love what Chelsie is doing right now with her game and also Makensy and Rubina is someone that I hope makes it all the way to the end because she’s my girl.

I love all of them equally! I just want to remind people of that. So for me, I guess that would leave Cam coming to the jury house which I wouldn’t mind because Cam and I love to make music together and it’s such a fun time!

Kimo Apaka and Julie Chen Moonves. Photo: CBS.

John Powell: You tied the record for consecutive nominations on Big Brother USA. How did you keep your spirits up?

Kimo Apaka: Oh, my goodness! I’m so proud that I actually got to keep my spirits up in that house considering the journey that I’ve gone on and how many times I’ve hit the block and the friendships that were, I think, taken too soon from me in this house.

I’m very proud of the fact that I was able to persevere and be optimistic and be positive. I mean, that is also partially in credit to the people in the house who became my people and helped to pick me up when I needed to be and nudged me in the forward direction when I needed it, which was a lot! I am very proud of of that!

John Powell: You mentioned to Rubina that you could have played a dirty game if you really wanted to. What are examples of the things you could have done and why didn’t you?

Kimo Apaka: In talking to Rubina about how I could have navigated this game in a messier, dirtier way, definitely came from frustration…I mean I could have probably throw people under the bus or maybe even make up things but you know ultimately it didn’t feel good when I sat with those feelings or even when I attempted to do things because that’s just not the kind of person I am deep down inside and this house will bring up all of those things in you. So for me, I have a lot of bark and no bite…I just calmed down and I stayed very chill about things because I feel like that’s the best way to navigate in such a pressure cooker of a scenario.

Kimo Apaka. Photo: CBS.

John Powell: Why did the Six Avenue Alliance fail? It seems so promising at the time.

Kimo Apaka: The Sixth Avenue Alliance I think was was forged too quickly and without as much consideration as forming what could be a solid alliance required. It went from the Tanks with Angela, Tucker and myself to the Sixth Avenue Alliance including Joseph because Joseph was walking by and we thought, well, we’re all kind of working with Joseph. Let’s just bring him in.

So, the origin story of that was a little bit messy so some of us already kind of knew from the beginning that that there would be cracks in that and sure enough there were. As history of this summer has shown alliances don’t do well, so why do them at all? (laughs)

John Powell: You came from a very humble background. What does it mean to you to have been on Big Brother and what do you hope viewers take away from your particular experience?

Kimo Apaka: Oh, my goodness! This has been such an incredible opportunity and amazing journey! What a wild ride of a summer! I’m so thankful to have been able to experience this.

This has been a dream come true for me. It was a dream I wanted to come true for my brother, who passed years ago as well, who got me into loving Big Brother in the first place.

There’s several things that are included in how honored I’ve been to play this game this summer and how happy it’s all made me. Checking off of my bucket list that I was able to do this for me and for my brother, being the first Native Hawaiian to ever play this game, coming from an island and ending up in the Big Brother house are all wins all across the board!

I just love this game so much I would do it again in a heartbeat. I am so thankful to have played this and I hope that just like for me as a kid growing up wishing there was more representation and visibility and people that I felt like I could do it because I see you on the screen, I hope I provided that to at least someone and I hope I did my communities proud.

Programming Note: Big Brother airs at Sunday at 10 PM ET and there is no show next Wednesday. Next Thursday’s live eviction show will be at its usual time of 8:00 PM ET and feature last year’s winner, Jag.