Get ready to say “Aloha!” to your new favourite duo-because Disney’s out-of-this-world classic, Lilo & Stitch, is back and bolder than ever in a live-action adventure. This time, the galaxy’s most mischievous alien crash-lands in Hawaii, disguises himself as a dog, and turns one little girl’s world upside down-in the best way possible. We caught up with the dynamic stars, Maia Kealoha and Sydney Agudong (aka Lilo and Nani), to get the scoop on surfing, sisterhood, and bringing this beloved story to life.
When Lilo & Stitch first hit screens in 2002, audiences fell in love with its quirky blend of sci-fi chaos, Hawaiian culture, and the heartwarming story of two sisters finding ‘ohana’-family-in the most unexpected of places. Now, as the tale gets a live-action makeover, Sydney Agudong, who steps into the role of Nani, promises fans both nostalgia and something new, telling us the film is an ode to the original Lilo and Stitch but with deeper levels.
“It has all the beautiful elements from the original, and with the live action, we are able to go deeper into the human connection. We’re able to see the dynamic between families in a situation that is completely real. It isn’t exactly all rainbows and unicorns, but at the same time, you still get that chaos from the Hawaiian roller coaster ride that is Lilo and Stitch.”
Kealoha, who plays Lilo, has just turned eight. This is her first acting role, and she says that the chemistry she shares with her onscreen sister is magic, “that just happened.” Agudong agrees that there was an instant connection. “The first time that we did the chemistry reads, we instantly connected. We spent a lot of time training with water, and then we spent a lot of time on set and got to know each other. It was wonderful. She’s my little baby.”
Although Stitch is brought to life through cutting-edge CGI, Maia Kealoha says it wasn’t hard to believe her mischievous alien co-star was right there on set. The filmmakers used advanced visual effects to animate Stitch’s every move, but for Kealoha, a little imagination went a long way. “I always have an imagination with my toys, so it is easy to imagine that Stitch was there, but sometimes I wouldn’t have to use my imagination. Sometimes [they used] tape, a ball, a rock, a puppet, and sometimes just a hand.”
Lilo has to deal with many emotions, but Kealoha says she found it easy to express her feelings in the film. “How I got into emotional scenes is that I think about a lot of sad stuff. Since Stitch is my best friend in the movie, it was easy to cry when I was [sad]. How I got into those moments was [with] big help from my acting coach Sarah, she taught me everything.”
Agudong says watching Kealoha work was remarkable. “She was extremely present, and she learned so quickly. I think with the imagination that she had from the start, she only got better and better and better.”
Kealoha is only eight, but she loves to challenge herself and says one of her hardest scenes – a water fight with Stitch, was also the most fun. “The most challenging scene is also one of my favourite scenes. It’s the water gun scene. Even though it’s challenging, I love to challenge myself. The challenging part was that you had to reset if I got wet and I made a face. I would have to do it all over again, and then I would have to change my wardrobe, hair, and makeup again. I did it in one shot, and I was very impressed with myself.”
The film doesn’t just tell a story-it’s a vibrant love letter to Hawaiian culture, and both stars express their amazement at seeing their heritage shine on the big screen. Kealoha beams with pride, saying, they worked so hard on it, and it means everything to finally share our island’s culture with the world. Agudong is just as thrilled, adding that, “Seeing Hawaii on screen was surreal. It’s beautiful in pictures and photos and all those different types of things, and what the [Director of Photography] and [our director] Dean [Fleischer Camp] created was gorgeous. It feels like they personified Hawaii in such a beautifully clear and humble way that I think everybody will enjoy.”
Kealoha believes she is similar to the character of Lilo, but she worked hard to portray aspects of Lilo’s life that she has not experienced. “We’re a lot alike, but we also have some differences. I didn’t go through the things that she was going through, so I really had to get in the moment to bring this character to life.”
Agudong was able to relate to Nani in many ways. “I grew up with a lot of noise around me, and so I was able to take a lot of that in when I went into the role. I’m an older sister myself, so I understood a lot of what she was going through, but not to that severity in those circumstances. I could relate to Nani’s strong will, hard head, and drive, especially when trying to pursue a career like this.”
Any Lilo and Stitch fan will know the meaning of Ohana, the Hawaiian word for family. Kealoha reminds us that family means “nobody is left behind or forgotten.” Agudong says this message is key to the film.
“I think that’s why Lilo and Stitch was based in Hawaii to begin with. That whole log line of Ohana means family, and family means nobody is left behind or forgotten, which is such a huge thing because it’s true. And I think what better place to represent that and share that with the world than a place that is based on aloha and Ohana? The value that is Hawaii is that you’re loyal. You take everybody in like family, you respect the culture, you respect the ʻāina [Hawaiian word for land], and its unconditional love; whether or not it’s tough on the outside, everybody will be there for you in an instant.”‘
Kealoha decided she wanted to be an actress when she was just five years old. Now that she is starring in one of the most eagerly awaited films of the year, does the reality match her dream? The answer is a big yes.
“Yes, it was all that I hoped it would be, and I hope that I can be an actor when I grow up, as well as a singer and artist.”
We have no doubt Kealoha will get her wish.
Words – Cara O’Doherty
LILO & STITCH is at Irish cinemas from May 21st