Who Was David Hekili Kenui Bell? Hawaiian Actor From Lilo & Stitch Passes Away Days After Sharing BTS From Set

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David Hekili Kenui Bell, the actor who captivated audiences in Disney’s latest live-action movie Lilo & Stitch, has sadly passed away. This tragic news was announced by his sister, Jalene Kanani Bell, in a touching Facebook post. At this time, no cause of death has been disclosed.

Bell, a Hawaiian native, was proud to showcase his heritage through his endeavors in the local entertainment scene and his work at Kona Airport. He recently made an appearance in Disney’s reboot of the 2002 animated film Lilo & Stitch, where he played a character similar to the popular “ice cream tourist.” In this revamped version, Bell’s character drops his shaved ice upon encountering the alien characters Jumba and Pleakley.

Jalene recalled her brother as kind-hearted, amusing, intelligent, and good-looking. In her tribute, she mentioned, “With a sorrowful heart, I announce that my dear, compassionate, gifted, humorous, intelligent, and attractive little brother David H. K. Bell will be spending today in the presence of our Heavenly Father.

Additionally, she reminded herself of their last family outing, which had taken place merely two weeks back. That evening, Bell had treated them to the premiere of Lilo & Stitch in Kapolei. “We enjoyed the spectacle of fans dressed as Stitch, shared popcorn, and daydreamed about shave ice following the movie,” she penned down.

Lashauna Downie, his representative, expressed her dismay as well: “Just like everyone else, I’m finding out via social media. It’s truly heart-wrenching and sad. He was one of my top talents and truly embodied the essence of aloha – a peaceful, towering figure.

Who was David Hekili Kenui Bell?

Born and nurtured in the beautiful Hawaii, Bell is renowned for his fervor towards acting, voiceovers, and community activities. He has graced television shows such as Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-0, and is a respected member of SAG-AFTRA. As per IMDb and Deadline, he’s also set to be part of an upcoming Amazon MGM action-comedy titled The Wrecking Crew, joining the star-studded cast that includes Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa.

At Kona Airport, where he was the Assistant Airport Superintendent, his voice was broadcast through the public address system. According to his sister, he took great pride in his work, aiming to provide a fantastic and secure experience for the customers.

Bell graduated from Kalani High School, Hawaii Community College, and Kapiolani Community College. He was quite active on social media, sharing candid shots and even posting his audition video for the part of Big Hawaiian Dude in Lilo & Stitch.

Previously, he expressed his gratitude by saying, “Thank you to everyone involved in making this movie! It was truly unique to watch it at the cast and crew premiere, and it certainly lived up to my expectations!

For Bell, it was an immense privilege to embody the rich Hawaiian local culture within a significant Disney movie. He commended the Hawaii-based crew and cast for their integral role in breathing life into the world of Lilo & Stitch. “They are equally entitled to, if not more than, recognition!” he penned down.

Jalene mentioned that the arts were very important to David. She explained that he adored acting, voiceovers, and touring with his dog Brutus, representing Kona Brew. Additionally, she noted that he had attended both Punahou and Kalani schools. Given that their father spoke Hawaiian, David possessed a rare talent for delivering lines with a profound grasp of English, indigenous wisdom, and local dialect, which Jalene referred to as making him a ‘rough diamond’ with exceptional qualities.

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2025-06-17 07:07