"Actors from 'Lilo & Stitch' discuss the movie's impact on cultural influence"
Tia Carrere and other cast members of the live-action Lilo & Stitch film underscore the importance of genuine Hawaiian representation, both on and off screen. In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, Carrere, who was born on Oahu and voiced Nani in the original animated film, stressed the significance of authenticity. She explained, "The essence you feel when you're there is crucial. If it's absent, it would seem incongruous."
Director Dean DeBlois prioritized authentic representation to stay true to the film's theme, and Carrere became a passionate advocate for Lilo & Stitch as a result. During their meeting, she recall wanting to use pidgin English in her performance to ensure her characters maintained a local dialect.
The film's commitment to cultural authenticity is demonstrated in its casting choices. Maia Kealoha, who plays Lilo, is from the Big Island of Hawaii, while Sydney Agudong portraying Nani hails from Kauai, and Kaipo Dudoit, who plays David, is an Oahu native. Jason Scott Lee, originally the voice of David, now plays a luau manager, further cementing the cast's Hawaiian heritage and local experience.
Lilo & Stitch premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on May 17, 2025, before its release in the United States on May 23. Despite mixed reviews, the film grossed $341.7 million, becoming the sixth-highest-grossing film of the year. The filmmakers' dedication to presenting an authentic portrayal of Hawaiian culture is evident in their choice to cast locally and film on location in Hawaii.
In her passionate advocacy for Lilo & Stitch, Tia Carrere hoped to incorporate pidgin English in her performance, maintaining the authentic local dialect for her character. The filmmakers' dedication to presenting an authentic portrayal of Hawaiian culture was not limited to the stars; they also ensured the world of movies-and-tv watched the us, as the cast members were all natives of different Hawaiian islands.
