Home > Getaways > This Hawaiian island where Lilo & Stitch was filmed offers breathtaking scenery—from crystal-clear lagoons and dramatic cliffs to soft sandy beaches
After delighting audiences in its animated version, Lilo & Stitch returns in a live-action remake. The story is still set in Kauaʻi, but it was the island of Oʻahu that hosted the filming. A strategic choice, without betraying the soul of the film. Here, beaches, roads and villages faithfully reinterpret the iconic settings of the original island.
Lilo & Stitch is making a big comeback! This time, the beloved animated classic comes to life in a live-action film. Released in cinemas on May 21 2025, Lilo & Stitch brings a fresh and emotional take on the 2002 original created by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. This new adaptation is directed by Dean Fleischer Camp and stars rising talents Maia Kealoha and Sydney Agudong.
While the story retains the tenderness of the sisterly bond and the chaotic arrival of a rebellious little alien, it is the natural setting that truly takes centre stage. The tale unfolds in Hawaii, a US state, and more specifically on Kauai—a wild fem of the Hawaiian archipelago, famed for its lush landscapes and idyllic beaches. However, filming took place on O’ahu, primarily for logistical reasons, including infrastructure and technical accessibility. The film beautifully captures the archipelago’s natural splendour, offering an authentic backdrop of green-draped mountains and foam-fringed beaches.
On the west coast of O’ahu, Makaha Beach stretches out as a long ribbon of golden sand, framed by the azure Pacific and dry, rugged mountains. It is here that the new Lilo & Stitch set up its cameras for the surfing scenes—a central part of life for Lilo and her sister Nani.
It is a filming location that is as symbolic as it is strategic: Makaha evokes the beaches of southern Kauai—especially Poʻipū and Salt Pond Beach—where the waves are gentle, the sunsets blazing, and family bonds are woven in the sand. More importantly, it captures the local spirit—both free and family oriented—that the film seeks to preserve.
To recreate the full spirit of Kauai, the film had to draw on other treasures from across O’ahu. Every location was carefully chosen to extend the visual world of the original animated film. Each shot in this adaptation feels steeped in the authentic atmosphere of the Hawaiian archipelago—a cinematic invitation to travel that is impossible to resist.
Another key filming spot is located on the east coast of O’ahu, in the heart of the spectacular Kualoa Ranch. Nestled between mountains and tropical forest, this legendary film location now hosts a modest little house—the home of Lilo and Nani. Built especially for the shoot, it recreates the intimate, family-centred world of the Pelakai household: remote yet warm, and a clear tribute to the vernacular wooden homes of Kauai.
But behind this location in O’ahu lies a deeper nod: Hanapepe, a small town of Kauai, inspired the setting of the house in the original animated film.
Unable to film on Kauai, the production found in Kualoa a visually similar location that pays tribute—through its architecture and atmosphere—to the warm authenticity of Hanapepe.
Located on the north coast, this small, peaceful town was used to portray Lilo’s urban life. Its retro vibe, colourful shops, and quiet streets directly evoke Hanapepe—the authentic Kauai village that inspired the original film’s setting. Hale’iwa serves here as a faithful and charming stand-in, where you will find fishermen, laughing children, and hand-painted wooden signs.
This coastal road runs along the south-eastern shore of O’ahu, winding between black lava cliffs and turquoise sea. Perfect for driving or chase scenes, it echoes Nani’s rides in her red car and Stitch’s wild escapades. The shots filmed here capture a key dynamic of the film: adventure, danger, and the raw beauty of Hawaiian roads.
It is a visually convincing alternative to Kauai’s famous coastal roads. Here, every shot becomes a moving postcard, capturing the spirit of escape and adventure that runs throughout the film.
The dramatic Halona Blowhole Lookout offers a striking panorama of cliffs, crashing waves, and coral reefs. This rocky promontory, where the sea bursts through in plumes of spray, powerfully evokes the steep Nā Pali Coast cliffs of Kauai. A place of inner turmoil as much as open horizons, this setting reveals a wild, raw, almost mystical side of Hawaii. It is here that the film leans into its most cinematic dimension—where the force of nature meets the vulnerability of its characters.
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