Hawai‘i County mayor proclaims June 3, 2025, Maia Keahola Day for 8-year-old star in ‘Lilo & Stitch’

Wearing a red floral print dress and adorned with lei, a bubbly 8-year-old Maia Kealoha confidently walked to the front of a room filled with a couple dozen grownups and their kids, took off her white slippers and started dancing.

Afterall, it was literally her day. Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda declared June 3, 2025, as Maia Kealoha Day on the Big Island.

Any time a local girl does good, it makes the whole island and the whole state proud, said Bill Brilhante, managing director for the county.

Maia stars as Lilo, a lonely Hawaiian girl who befriends a runaway alien, in the live-action Disney movie “Lilo & Stitch.” The movie, a reimagining of the 2002 animated classic, opened in theaters on May 23 at No. 1 around the world. Already it has earned more than $600 million globally, according to the Associated Press.

The 8-year-old from Kona was all smiles on Tuesday as she celebrated with her family and county leaders and their kids on Tuesday at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center.

“One kuleana that we have is proclaiming: proclaiming different things, different days, different weeks, different months,” Alameda explained to Maia.

The mayor added it was one way to honor and recognize her achievements, while also encouraging “little boys and girls to never stop dreaming.”

Maia has always loved the spotlight. Her mother, Brittney Kealoha, said her daughter started dancing Tahitian at 2 years old. In 2022, Maia won the title of Mini Miss Kona Coffee.

Not long after Maia’s success in the Kona Coffee pageant, Kealoha learned about the casting call for “Lilo & Stitch.”

Five years old at the time, Kealoha said her daughter was under the age requirement requested for the audition. But she ended up submitting Maia for the part because friends and family kept sharing the casting call with them.

“I thought she was really young, but she’s always been this energetic, dancing, singing performer,” Kealoha said.

Several months later, after several rounds of auditions, Maia landed the role of Lilo at the age of 6.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity because our local kids, you know, they just don’t have these types of opportunities compared to others on the mainland,” Kealoha said.

After the proclamation, Maia took to the mic and told the gathering how happy she was to be in a movie that represents her culture.

“My mom really helped me out too because she’s always there for me,” Maia said. “I would practice my lines with her, memorize them too with her. I just remember all those happy memories.”

Maia recreated one of her favorite scenes from the cartoon version of the film, where Lilo, depressed and on the floor after getting in trouble during hula practice, is listening to the Elvis Presley song “Heartbreak Hotel,” and quotes a lyric to her sister Nani, “Leave me alone to die.”

The other scene Maia loves in the film is also one that is beloved in the animated feature, where the characters Lilo and her older sister sit together in a hammock.

“It’s a very touching and loving scene,” Maia said.

After her experience making “Lilo & Stitch,” Maia wants to broaden her horizons.

“I want to be in a movie that’s like a zombie movie,” she said. “I would like to be in a scary movie, or maybe like an action movie, or maybe a spy movie.”

Kealoha said her daughter has already filmed another movie, “The Wrecking Crew,” along with stars Jason Mamoa and Morena Baccarin.

“We’ll keep doing this till she no longer wants to,” Kealoha said.

Kim Quirit Macomber, Maia’s grandma, also spoke at Tuesday’s gathering, saying “Lilo & Stitch” is about the community.

“I’m very proud, not because I’m grandma, but I’m proud because of who we are as a people and a community,” Macomber said. “When we can get behind someone special, like Maia, we can support them, and great things can happen.”

Alameda agreed, stating in the proclamation that the little girl from Kona is an inspiring role model for children across Hawai‘i and beyond, reminding them to hold on to their dreams and embrace their unique identities with pride.

He said: “Maia has not only brought the enchanting story of ‘Lilo and Stitch’ to life, but has also showcased the rich culture and spirit of our islands to the whole world.”