Love Is a Mystery

**Love Is a Mystery** is the second episode of the first season of *Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.*, and the second episode overall. It aired September 15, 2021.

## Synopsis

Lahela is determined to solve professional and personal mysteries. An athletic young man named Caleb, who is visiting Hawaii to hike the famed Stairway to Heaven, has lost all feeling in his legs for no apparent reason, and tests results are inconclusive. While Lahela is over the moon after sharing a first kiss with Walter, she’s unsure of his true feelings. Lahela applies the scientific method to solve both enigmas and ultimately discovers that matters of the heart can't be explained by logic.

## Plot

Lahela talks with Steph Denisco on the beach. She tells Steph about kissing Walter the previous night, and the two are excited about what this may mean for the relationship between the two. They're interrupted, however, when Walter walks by on the beach and says hi, but doesn't interact further. Steph tells Lahela that she must post a TikTok to gauge if Walter is interested; if he is, he would comment.

Lahela and the other doctors are surprised and confused when a new patient enters the ER, Caleb. Caleb has arrived at the ER having lost all sensation below the waist. Lahela becomes increasingly confused when he tells her that he didn't fall, and doesn't have any medical condition, it simply just happened. Lahela vows to get to the bottom of the incident and diagnose Caleb.

Later that night, Lahela is working on the diagnosis when Steph arrives to hang. The two are confused further when Walter finally comments on the TikTok video with a caterpillar emoji. Neither Steph nor Lahela can decipher whether the emoji is a good thing or a bad thing. Downstairs, the Kameāloha family eat dinner and Benny reminisces about past times spent dancing with Clara.

The following day, Lahela asks Caleb more questions, including questions about his family history and the possibility that he could have inherited a genetic condition that has paralyzed him. Caleb tells her that no such history exists and he was healthy, but will now more than likely leave hospital in the wheelchair. Lahela promises to do what she can to get to the bottom of the condition. As she sits at the nurses station, she questions what could be going on, but gets lost in thought and drifts to thinking about the caterpillar emoji Walter sent her. As her mother passes, she is given advice about applying the scientific approach to everything, and this gives her an idea to get to the bottom of both cases.

Lahela asks Dr. Takushi to take a look at Caleb's file from a neurological standpoint. Lahela tells her that she believes he has a neurological condition, but cannot be sure due to this being outside of her field. Dr. Takushi agrees with her and tells her that she will take a look at the file.

Following this, Lahela provides a presentation to Steph about the scientific breakdown of Walter's behavior towards her, including his body language around her and at the dance. As Lahela makes a joke about checking their DNA, Steph leaves the presentation to steal a piece of Walter's hair for analysis. After examining the hair, Lahela discovers that the two have dissimilar DNA and are therefore compatible with one another.

Benny tries to prepare a romantic meal at home for Clara, but finds that she is too distracted by work to enjoy a meal with him. Benny tries to reason with Clara, but she tells him that she works a demanding job and has three children, therefore her time is stretched thin.

Meanwhile, Lahela brings Walter to the beach, where she and Steph have prepared a cute date night with live music. Walter is confused by the whole situation and quickly becomes anxious around Lahela. After a moment, Walter tells her that he has to go, leaving her standing on the beach alone. Lahela is even more shocked given Walter didn't kiss her goodbye.

Talking with Kai afterwards — who is cleaning his surfboard — Lahela has a breakthrough with Caleb's case. She goes to the archive to read over past patient files and studies, and eventually brings a diagnosis to Caleb: surfer's myelopathy. Lahela explains that this is a spinal cord injury which has cut off the oxygen supply to his lower extremities. She presents the diagnosis and cure to Caleb and is excited to see him walking the following day.

Lahela talks with her mother about Walter and how she misread the signs between them. Clara resonates with the situation and tells her that Benny is the most romantic man she has ever met, a sentiment that creeps Lahela out. Later that night, Benny and Clara dance, presumably like they did when they were younger.

Sitting at the beach with Steph, Lahela decides to tell Walter how she feels when she notices him on the beach. She tells him he likes her, and he tells her that he feels the same too. He was simply nervous and bombarded by the date night she planned. Walter apologizes for the handshake he left her with instead of the kiss.

## Cast

### Starring

* Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Lahela Kameāloha
* Emma Meisel as Steph Denisco
* Matthew Sato as Kai Kameāloha
* Wes Tian as Brian Kameāloha
* Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman as Charles Zeller
* Mapuana Makia as Noelani Nakayama
* Kathleen Rose Perkins as Clara Hannon
* Jason Scott Lee as Benny Kameāloha

### Guest Starring

* Ronny Chieng as Dr. Lee
* Alex Aiono as Walter Taumata
* Amy Hill as Dr. Takushi
* Toby Meuli as Caleb

### Co-Starring

* Michael Hardy as Customer
* Shawn Mokauahi Garnett as Musician
* Regan Downie as EMT