Mom-Mentum

**Mom-Mentum** is the seventh episode of the first season of *Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.*, and the seventh episode overall. It aired October 20, 2021.

## Synopsis

Lahela is touched by the love between an elderly patient and his new bride, and can envision a future with Walter. But Noelani forces Lahela to question the long-term viability of a teen doctor and a surfer/skater, encouraging her to accept an invitation to a poetry reading from a young college-bound hospital volunteer. When all-business Clara learns she has to schmooze with colleagues to win the Chief of Staff job, Benny encourages her to show them her fun side by teaching her to “talk story.”

## Plot

Lahela and Clara grow closer and closer together as the two continue to hang out more. This includes when in the ER, but also at home where they experiment with making face serum. Eventually, the two begin talking and Clara tells Lahela that she would make a good candidate for Chief Resident, a position that she at one point held. Lahela is interested and remarks that it would be the perfect role for her if her mother becomes Chief of Staff. Clara explains that she will be handing out her favourite book to the ER staff in her campaign for Chief of Staff, but everyone is more excited about the arrival of a cardiovascular surgeon from Seattle brought over by Dr. Lee.

Benny explains that Kai and Brian will be taking control of the Ice Shave truck for a while whilst he competes in a surfing competition down at the beach. He is discouraged, however, when he is placed in the Sundown Division due to his age. He tries to argue against this but finds his efforts futile.

Clara is nervous and believes that her chances of becoming the next Chief of Staff are decreasing by the day when everyone at the hospital begins obsessing over Dr. Goldstein, especially when he offers all of the doctors a starter pack and reveals that one lucky doctor will get an fellowship with him back in Seattle.

Back home, Clara tells Benny that she has found her ID badge from when she was Chief Resident and hopes to show it to Lahela in hopes of inspiring her to apply for the residency. Clara's plans are foiled, however, when she interrupts and announces that she has abandoned her race for Chief Resident in hopes of winning Goldstein's fellowship.

Benny is frustrated when he arrives at the surf competition to find that the competition will not go ahead due to the weather conditions. Whilst angry, he agrees to accompany Walter and the others out into the water, leaving Brian in charge of the shave ice truck. Efforts fail, however, when Benny's back spasms before he is able to reach the water. Kai returns to the shave ice truck to find that Brian has drank the majority of the syrup from the truck. Kai is eventually able to convince Benny to join the older guys out on the waves.

Meanwhile, Clara becomes increasingly jealous of Lahela's relationship with Goldstein and takes Charles under her wing for a procedure. Things go wrong when she becomes distracted, however, and stabs him in the arm with a scalpel. Whilst suturing the wound, she talks about Lahela and comes to the decision to tell her she cannot accept the fellowship. When she goes to, however, she finds that Goldstein has already dismissed her due to her age.

Clara goes to tell Goldstein that his behaviour is unacceptable but is interrupted when a coach-full of patients enter the ER during a code blue. Clara takes control of the situation and Goldstein is finally able to see what Lahela is capable of. Afterwards, he offers her the fellowship but she turns it down in order to apply to be chief resident.

## Cast

* 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 Cast