Kim Kahana Sr. (October 16, 1929 – August 12, 2024) was an American actor, stunt performer,[1] and action choreographer of Hawaiian and Japanese descent.

[4] His performing career began as a knife and fire dancer in a stage show called Samoan Warriors.

"[4] Kahana entered film after the Korean War, working as an extra, playing a motorcycle rider in 1953's The Wild One.

(1969), Patton (1970), The Omega Man (1971), Joe Kidd (1972), Soylent Green (1973), Burt Reynolds' Smokey and the Bandit franchise, and the disaster films of Irwin Allen.

Because of his size (5 ft 7 in (170 cm)) Kahana frequently acted as stunt double for female actors, including Stefanie Powers of The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

His character, Chongo, was a mute castaway from a shipwrecked merchant marine vessel who communicated only using hand signs and bird calls.

[2][7] Kahana studied martial arts in Japan where he earned six black belts in karate, aikido and jujutsu.

All of them teach at Kahana's school, hold black belts in karate and have also performed in numerous blockbuster films.