When I was a kid, "Lilo & Stitch" wasn’t just a Disney movie, but it was a lifeline.
It was a quirky and colorful tale set in Hawaii that mixed aliens with Elvis songs and hula dancing, yes. But at its heart, it was a story that taught me what love looks like when life doesn’t go as planned.
The idea of ohana, that family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten, hit me in a way that few stories ever have. It wasn’t just about blood. It was about those who show up for you when you need it most. In the film, Lilo’s sister, Nani, became her everything after their parents died. Overnight, she had to figure out how to be a sister, a parent, and a provider, all while trying to hold their fragile world together. That responsibility was heavy. And yet, her love never wavered.
Then came Stitch, chaotic, wild, and unlike anything they expected. But in the way that only true found family can, this alien misfit wiggled his way into their home and hearts. He was unpredictable, loud, and sometimes destructive, but aren’t we all, sometimes? And like so many pets do in real life, Stitch didn’t ruin the family. He completed it.
Yes, I know the ending changed. The 2025 live-action remake stirred controversy by altering the original's conclusion. In this version, Nani chooses to relinquish custody of Lilo to pursue her dream of studying marine biology in California.
This decision, while controversial, offers a modern perspective on pursuing personal dreams without negating familial bonds. Director Dean Fleischer Camp even publicly explained that the change aimed to reflect a more realistic take on Nani's struggles and aspirations, broadening the concept of "Ohana" beyond the traditional definitions that others expect it to mean.
To this day, "Lilo & Stitch" reminds me that dreams can be shared, families can be chosen, and sometimes, the messiest additions to our lives are the ones who make it whole.
And this is what Ohana means. A different type of always.
One that means that you just might find your own little family on your own, like Stitch says in the movie. It might be broken, it might be different, and that’s ok.
It’s yours.
