'Lilo & Stitch' actress reflects on most important part of film

The live-action version of Lilo & Stitch had to be filmed on location in Hawaii to authentically represent the culture.

Similarly, the cast had to be Hawaiian, which is best reflected in Maia Kealoha, who plays Lilo and hails from the Big Island of Hawaii. Similarly, Sydney Agudong, who stars as Lilo's sister Nani, is from Kauai; Kaipo Dudoit, who plays their neighbor David, is from Oahu and Hawaii-raised Jason Scott Lee (who voiced David in the animated original) returns as a luau manager.

Reflecting on the film’s vow to authentically represent Hawaii, Tia Carrere, who voiced Nani in the original and returns as new character Mrs. Kekoa, said, “It's important because it's the stuff that you feel when you're there. And if it's missing, you would have been like, ‘That doesn't sound [or look] right.’ ”

When Carrere met Dean Fleischer Camp and Chris Sanders, she was glad to know how they insisted on authenticity in the movie.

“That's why I was so excited when I first met with these guys. We had dinner and I got to talk about, ‘Hey, can I do the part with pidgin English?’”

Lilo, Nani, and each of their neighbor must “sound like a local,” Carrere says.

Lilo & Stitch was filmed on the island of Oahu (although set on Kauai), is in cinemas now.