Growing up in Hawaii, Cole Horibe studied martial arts, acting and dance. He hit nationally as second runner-up in the ninth season of Fox TV’s “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2012.

Next came the starring role in David Henry Hwang’s off-Broadway production of “Kung Fu,” a biography of martial arts superstar Bruce Lee, in 2014.

Horibe, 31, returned to Hawaii recently for location work on “Go for Broke, a 442 Origins Story,” a new telling of the story of Japanese-American soldiers in World War II. Horibe will be seen as Yoshiaki “Sharkey” Fujitani, a character based on a real-life veteran, when “Go for Broke” premieres later this year.

JOHN BERGER: What have you been working on since you wrapped “Go for Broke”?

COLE HORIBE: My agency is currently in negotiations with the Broadway revival of “M Butterfly” for the positions of associate choreographer, Song Liling’s understudy, dance captain and ensemble.

JB: I saw you in Diamond Head Theatre’s production of Henry David Hwang’s version of “Flower Drum Song” in 2008, and since then you starred in his original stage biography of Bruce Lee. Have you met Hwang?

CH: He was heavily involved in the production of “Kung Fu,” and we worked together almost daily. Most of our discussions centered around the ever-evolving vision of “Kung Fu,” which as a premiere was constantly changing fundamentally, even through previews.

JB: Do you watch “So You Think You Can Dance”?

CH: I’ve honestly never been a fan of that show, so I have not watched it. Ironically, I don’t enjoy watching televised dance.

JB: What would you like to be doing in 10 years?

CH: I would love to be starring in movies as a leading-type American male — not specifically Asian. It would be amazing if enough progress happens in 10 years to where such a thing would be possible. Although, honestly, the Asian martial artist stereotype is one I’ve personally never had a problem with, as I find it an empowering, rather than emasculating, stereotype.

I think the martial arts stereotype only becomes problematic if Asians are only portrayed as martial artists or if the “Asian martial arts role” is a stoic, one-dimensional caricature. Rather than being averse to stereotypes that aren’t intrinsically negative, we should ask for more types of roles.

“On the Scene” appears weekly in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Sunday Magazine. Reach John Berger at jberger@staradvertiser.com.