Hawai'i style center stage in Disney's new animated film

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Disney's "Lilo and Stitch" tells the story of a lonely Hawai'i girl who befriends an alien dog, who teaches her how to care for others. Disney

The movie, set on Kaua'i, boasts two Hawai'i-bred stars doing character voices: Tia Carrere portrays Nani, and Jason Scott Lee voices David Kawena, both surfer types.

Another notable aspect of "Lilo & Stitch" is its watercolor palette, characteristic of Disney's animated films from the 1930s and 1940s, including "Snow White," when hues were warm as paintings and characters cartoonish and round.

The tale is about Lilo (voiced by Daveigh Chase), a lonely Hawai'i girl who adopts an unwanted alien dog she names Stitch (Chris Sanders). The story line, Disney says, explores love, faith and an unwavering belief in 'ohana, with Stitch enabling Lilo to discover the ability to care for someone else. Sanders co-directed the project, which also features Ving Rhames, David Ogden Stiers, Laurie Metcalf-Mell and Kevin McDonald.

The movie's one original song is called "Aloha Spirit," and island music, both new and vintage, will be part of the score. Also, the soundtrack has six Elvis Presley classics.