#lilo and stitch (2025)

[darklinespectra]

Are you 🫵 pissed off about the Lilo and Stitch monstrosity remake? Do you want to know how you can actually make a difference in supporting the people and ecosystems of Hawaii?

Tourism is a big issue in Hawaii (which the remake got rid of the original's commentary on because it makes foreigners look bad). I'm not gonna promote it, BUT I know that realistically, thousands of people arrive here every single day by the airplane-ful. And the majority of them aren't educated on the socio-cultural and economic impacts of tourism. SO, I'm making this post in an effort to educate visitors. If you or someone you know is visiting or moving to Hawaii (whether by circumstances in or out of your control), here are some suggestions on how you can give back!

You can donate to the Hawaii Community Foundation, which has been instrumental in giving aid to the displaced community of Lahaina after the Maui wildfires in 2023. They also provide scholarships to students of under-represented communities.

If you're interested in visiting Kualoa Ranch, you can do their Mālama Experience where you get your hands dirty giving back to the ‘āina (land)!

There are other organizations you can join to volunteer with, too, like Kupu and Mālama Maunalua. Check them out; maybe you can help with a beach cleanup or plant native trees! These are both non-profit organizations that accept monetary donations.

Visit the Bishop Museum to learn about Hawaiian history and culture! They also have events focused on sustainability and conservation.

If you're visiting Hilo on the Big Island, go visit the Laulima Nature Center! They're a non-profit aimed at protecting Hawaii's native species, and they even have an online store that ships to the US mainland and internationally! (After I post this, I'm gonna head on over and get myself a manu o Kū pin ♡)

A few other tips I have:

DO: Respect the locals' homes. Several beaches and hiking trails have access points in residential areas. Please be mindful to keep your voices down when passing by, and park ONLY in designated parking areas.

DO: Wear reef-safe sunscreen! Sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate are banned in Hawaii because they are known to damage coral reefs.

DON'T: Approach wildlife, particularly honu (sea turtles) and 'īlio holo i ka uaua (Hawaiian monk seals). Stay at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from turtles and at least 50 feet (15 meters) away from monk seals. If you see someone harassing animals, report them to the statewide NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline: (888) 256-9840. You can also contact the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources.

DON'T: Collect sand, rocks, or other natural items to bring home with you. This is to protect the ecosystems and also out of respect for Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians), who have cultural beliefs regarding lava rocks in particular. Taking lava rocks is extremely disrespectful.

DON'T: Litter! Please throw away your waste in proper trash cans. If you see a bin that says "ʻōpala," that's a trash can!

Many Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) are moving to the US mainland because the cost of living in Hawaii has been driven up so high (because of people moving here), they can't afford to live in their ancestral home. So, if you are going to visit or move to Hawaii, please:

- Make the effort to support local businesses, especially those owned by Native Hawaiians!

- Educate yourself and your loved ones about actual Hawaiian culture!

- Try Hawaiian food, like poi!

- Learn some Hawaiian words and don't be afraid to ask how to pronounce words correctly!

- Donate to a food bank!

- Watch films and read books written by Native Hawaiians!

My hope is that whoever sees this post will use it to educate themselves, their friends, and their families who are considering visiting.

My background is in sustainability and the environment, so that's what I know to suggest off the top of my head. If any Kānaka Maoli read this post and have suggestions to add, please do!

[bigfrozensix]

One thing that bothers me about the ending of the Lilo and Stitch remake (among the other things people have already rightfully complained about) is how it acts like Nani has to go to college NOW or she's lost her chance forever.

As someone who was raised by a young mother that didn't get to go to college, because she got 2 kids at 18-20, but then went to college in her early/mid 30s when me and my sister were old enough to be left home alone, it just feels really insulting.

It really adds to the harmful mindset that someone's life, especially that of women, is over if they haven't "got their life together" yet before the age of 25.

There would've been no harm in Nani delaying college for like 5-10 years, instead of abandoning her sister during the most vital years of her development only 2-3 months after already having lost her parents. Animated Nani would never.

[icedsodapop]

What if I tell you that the ending of the original Lilo and Stitch was important because Nani fighting tooth and nail for custody over Lilo takes place against a history of the separation of Indigenous families? What if I tell you that the ending of the original Lilo and Stitch was important because it shows that Nani was not inherently a bad guardian, just a young overwhelmed woman who needed a support system and not punishment (just like many families esp Black and Brown single mothers do)?

And then Disney spat upon that ending for the live action remake?

[quix5gg]

disney kicked him out of ohana :(

[unawakened-dragon]

Detective Pikachu was better than the Lilo and Stitch remake anyway.

I am spoiling the live action Lilo & Stitch. And I am doing it up front and plainly.

Do not fucking see this movie. Do not waste your money on this. Period.

They made Nani give Lilo up to the American government. They made Nani LEAVE Hawaii and pursue being a marine biologist. They made a native Hawaiian character give up her sibling to pursue a dream that she originally did not have. This is imperialist propaganda at its FINEST.

The original fucking movie is about family staying together. It's about indigenous people being able to stay with each other and stay in their home and be together! That's the whole fucking point! Nani is Lilo's last living relative on her homeland—it is jarring, it is disgusting and disturbing that Nani would not only leave her last blood relative alone, give her up to the very government that is harming native Hawaiians TODAY, but also travel to the "mainland" for her dream!

Not to mention, Nani's actress isn't fucking Hawaiian. She's much paler in photos and real life. They fucking darkened her for this movie.

Don't even get me started on the transgender subtext of Pleakley's "human" disguise from the original movie being completely erased in favor of him being played by a regular ass white man. Jumba doesn't have his accent, they made him more villainous, and his "human" disguise is a non-fat white man—which part of his original joke, I know, is that he was bigger and was more clumsy in the movie because of his size, but to have the main shape of his character completely removed is also fucking weird.

This live action movie is a desecration to the original. I encourage you to not see it, please. Don't give Disney any of your money on this one. Just watch the original. Please just watch the original.

The new message in the live action movie is disturbing and gross.

This is one of the most disrespectful live actions I've seen and heard of. I implore you to not watch it.

[crabussy]

handy checklist of why you shouldn't watch the new lilo and stitch movie (even hatewatching it. don't do that. do something fun instead)

completely destroys the entire moral of the movie by making nani leave lilo alone at the end. holy shit.

most if not all allusions to colonisation being harmful to hawai'i is gone or changed to be more "palatable"

beloved character got turned into a shallow villain who doesn't even get redeemed all because they COULDN'T AFFORD TO ANIMATE THE ORIGINAL VILLAIN???????

the gay-coded couple get completely destroyed (one of them turns out to be evil and irredeemable. and we don't get the drag scene anymore. they killed their queerness entirely)

lilo's autistic traits are extremely toned down to make her more "likeable"

the pacing is abysmal and they've removed a lot of important plot points (stitch's ugly duckling scenes for example)

a lot of characters have been completely rewritten. agent bubbles is no longer a deep and interesting multifaceted character. he's now just kind of mean and unfunny for no reason???

stitch's model isn't even faithful to the original movie. THEY PUGGED HIM!!!!!!!!

all the beautiful lighting and compositions from the original movie got put in a WOODCHIPPER. boy I sure do love bright white lighting instead of gorgeous pink dusky hues for the surfing scene

the actor for nani isn't native hawaiian. she's white and filipino and also WAY paler than nani in the original movie. she seems lovely but I think maybe for the movie about native hawaiian oppression they could have cast a hawaiian actor

stitch's character is flanderised and toned down too. he STARTS OFF loveable and less violent and antagonistic. instead of how he was in the original movie- an aggressive creature that BECOMES loving and caring as the movie progresses. his entire arc gets squashed flat so that he can be cute and cuddly for marketing

lilo's whole thing about photographing tourists as a coping mechanism for feeling like a novelty attraction to tourists is just Gone. they make the guy she takes a photo of hawaiian for no reason when he was originally a white tourist

disney made it

disney has a resort on hawai'i that spans 21 acres of hawaiian land with close to 400 rooms that costs over 600USD a night for the cheapest room. this movie is a one hour and forty eight minute advertisement for a resort that contributes to hawai'i's struggles with over-tourism.

[artist-issues]

why did you. YOU. Have to PAY FOR. a ticket to see a movie where Nani goes to college and leaves Lilo to the state.

in order to realize that this movie was going to be a terrible remake?

why is that the price you had to pay to figure it out?!

Why did it take them ruining the simplest, leanest, no-fat-on-it, most original, most tight, clear, funny, quirky, charming, heartfelt, soulful, passion-project of a Disney movie, for you to see that they’re going to do this every single time? As long as you buy a ticket?

[king-carnivore]

i wish we could anti-Goncharov Disney live action remakes. i want us to deny the existence of them so fucking hard we gaslight the whole internet into also believing they don't exist. and with any luck, we can kill them like Tinkerbell

[arrolyn1114]

She was SO perfect as Lilo. This movie was really good. The original is still my favorite but I was very pleased with this remake.

Maia Kealoha starring as Lilo in the official trailer for Disney's live-action of Lilo & Stitch (2025)!

[ismellpestilence]

Let's talk about Nani leaving Lilo, shall we?

What makes Nani and Lilo's relationship compelling is how Nani has been forced to grow up under tragic circumstances. The deaths of their parents and colonialism have clearly taken a toll on both of them. Despite that, Nani is doing her best to protect Lilo from the trauma and to keep their family together. No young adult should be in Nani's position. Nani deserved better.

I've been seeing a certain attitude around characters that deserved better in fandom, and I think the new ending for Nani is an example of this attitude making it into canon. What I mean is, certain parts of fandom is unable to handle tragedy. If a character dies or makes a sacrifice, then it must be bad writing. If the character has a tragic backstory before this, then their tragic ending is disparaged as the writers denying them a happy ending. I've seen this said a few too many times about stories where the lack of happy ending is the whole point.

I think, to an extent, that's what happened with Nani. Someone at Disney recognized that is was unfortunate that Nani was giving up so much to take care of Lilo, and since media literacy is dying, they decided that it would be so much better if Nani didn't have to give anything up. By creating a compromise in which Nani leaves Lilo but is able to visit, this new film is choosing to prioritize Nani. It is saying "Doesn't Nani's future matter, too?"

Which it does. Of course it does. That's what makes the story of Nani and Lilo so compelling. Without all the alien wackiness, it's a story about two Indigenous sisters who try their hardest to keep their little, broken family together. They were up against impossible odds, and that means making sacrifices.

And what the movie basically said was "But what if they didn't have to? Isn't that a happier ending?" It removed Nani's responsibility. It took all the warmth from Nani and Lilo's relationship so leaving wouldn't hurt, and invented portals so Nani can visit whenever she likes. It removed all the bite from the story. It decided that ohana isn't worth making sacrifices, actually. You can leave people behind if they're inconvenient to you.

[powerin]

i’m glad that lilo & stitch 2025 is successful

because that viral post on tumblr is wrong about “nani leaving lilo behind to go to college”. it’s so bad-faith. both lilo and nani have portal guns allowing them to see each other as often as they want, and lilo is living with a neighbor’s family so nani can finally get an education.

also, the original writers said that they liked this ending better too?

lilo&stitch haters can piss up a tree. i hate bandwagoners.

[scientistservant]

[alaskan-wallflower]

This has everything to do with the post i just reblogged but i know in the live action Lilo and Stitch, Nani gives up custody of Lilo to the American government to go to college, I guess to persue marine biology which…I’m pretty sure Hawaii has some of the best and most unique marine life out there but I’ve never been so I don’t know, but like…wasn’t the whole message of the movie that “Ohana means family and no one gets left behind?” wasn’t that like the WHOLE plot of the original? I dunno what changes they made to the live action one plot wise since I didn’t watch it nor do I want to but wasn’t that like the whole plot line, because at the end when Stitch himself decided to stay with Lilo because “She’s my Ohana and that means no one’s gonna get left behind even me”? Also like his Ugly Duckling arc! That was stripped from the movie from what I heard, like that was a main plot point like what?

I miss when Disney used to be good ngl. Disney had better movies back when they put genuine thought into the plot lines and the cultures they were representing rather than remaking them in live action for the sole purpose of luring parents and Disney adults into seeing their new movies. It’s not like Disney needs the money anyway, they’re arguably one of if not the biggest company in the world, it’s not like they absolutely need the money. I miss when Disney had original plot lines. I hate all these live actions and shitty sequels no one asked for. You’d think they’d learn after the performance rates of Snow White, Mufasa and all those other shitty movies. It feels forced.

[quix5gg]

do you think they've explored each others bodies for scientific purposes

[kacievvbbbb]

Also the fact that like Nani is pressured into giving up custody for Lilo because she doesn’t have insurance and can’t afford the hospital bill and she’s coerced into signing because then the state will cover it. I’m supposed to find that a heart warming moment when the social worker is showing that she cares about Nani and Lilo? Really? How is that not just financial coercion? How is that just not a criticism of the health care industry in America (that I’m sure they didn’t mean to do on purpose)

Also it’s so blatantly obvious how the writers of this movie have no idea why Nani sings Aloha 'Oe to Lilo the night she finds out she is going to be taken away. A YouTuber named Sideways, who analyzes music in film(and has done a whole video about how Disney’s live action remakes don’t work musically years before this) explained that scene so beautifully.

How the sond Aloha 'Oe was originally written by the Queen of Hawaii for the people of Hawaii after American Colonizers forced her to surrender the Islands. How she performed it as a last goodbye for the country that was being taken away from her. And that mirrors how Lilo is now being taken away from Nani by colonial forces (even tho Cobra Bubbles does mean well and sympathizes lilo is still being given into the care of the US government) and this is her subtle goodbye to her. And it’s fucking brilliant and you can tell that that scene was written by people that fucking care and know what the fuck kind of movie they are writing. The scene is solemn and is treated as such. Nani sings it as tho it were a lullaby and a final goodbye. It’s the first time the song is sang in the movie because the writers actually understand the gravity of it.

Instead what we get in the live action is lilo first singing it to Stitch randomly while doing (I think maybe the accompanying?) Hula because why the fuck not. And then a lifeless dark scene where Nani plays the ukulele and sings to her like the fact that she had just been coerced into giving up her sister wasn’t just treated like a good and final decision. Because, why the fuck not.

[happy-xy]

Kaipo Dudoit behind the scenes of Lilo & Stitch (2025) | iHollywoodTV