Few casting announcements have sparked as much excitement as the news that Maia Kealoha, a young Native Hawaiian girl born in December 2016, would step into the role of Lilo in Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, bringing authentic cultural representation to the beloved character. This article covers what is publicly known about her age, background, family, and the film that made her a breakout star.
Date of Birth: December 15, 2016 · Age (as of 2025): 8 years old · Nationality: American · Ethnicity: Native Hawaiian · Breakout Role: Lilo Pelekai in Lilo & Stitch (2025)
Quick snapshot
- Born December 15, 2016, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
- American and Native Hawaiian (ABC7 New York (local news affiliate))
- Plays Lilo Pelekai in the 2025 live-action film (Screen Dollars (entertainment finance site))
- Instagram handle: @maiakealoha (Instagram (social platform))
- Exact identity and background of her parents (Tuko (Kenyan news site))
- Net worth — not publicly disclosed (IMDb (film database))
- Future acting roles beyond the 2026 project (Kauai Now (local news outlet))
- 2022: Crowned Mini Miss Kona Coffee (Kauai Now (local news outlet))
- May 2025: Lilo & Stitch live-action released (Infobae (Latin American news outlet))
- 2026: Lands another starring role (Kauai Now (local news outlet))
- Upcoming film project announced for 2026 (Kauai Now (local news outlet))
- Continued cultural impact as a young Native Hawaiian actress (AlloCiné (French film database))
- Coming Films 2026: Biggest Upcoming Movie Releases
Ten key facts, one pattern: the publicly available details about Maia Kealoha come from a mix of official film databases, news reports, and social media, with some discrepancies in birth date and birthplace.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Maia Kealoha |
| Date of Birth | December 15, 2016 |
| Age (2025) | 8 |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Native Hawaiian |
| Birthplace | Hawaii, USA |
| Profession | Child actress |
| Known For | Lilo Pelekai in Lilo & Stitch (2025) |
| @maiakealoha | |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
How old is Maia from Lilo and Stitch?
Maia Kealoha was born on December 15, 2016, according to Wikipedia (open encyclopedia). That makes her 8 years old as of 2025. The Screen Dollars (entertainment finance site) profile and ABC7 New York (local news affiliate) both refer to her as an eight-year-old breakout star in May 2025.
How old is Lilo in 2026?
- In the 2025 film, Lilo is portrayed as a 6-year-old girl (Infobae (Latin American news outlet)).
- By 2026, the character Lilo would be 7 years old.
The implication: Maia Kealoha’s real age closely matches the character’s age, adding authenticity to the casting.
What is Maia Kealoha’s nationality and ethnicity?
Maia Kealoha is American by nationality and Native Hawaiian by ethnicity. ABC7 New York (local news affiliate) describes her as a Native Hawaiian child. Multiple sources, including AlloCiné (French film database), note she was born in Hawaii and began practicing hula at a young age, reinforcing her cultural roots.
Why this matters: Maia Kealoha is the youngest Native Hawaiian actress to portray Lilo, bringing authentic representation to a role that has deep cultural significance in Hawaii.
Are Sydney and Maia sisters in real life?
Sydney Agudong, who plays Nani in the live-action film, and Maia Kealoha are not siblings off-screen. IMDb (film database) lists them as cast members portraying sisters. In interviews, they have discussed the importance of ʻOhana — the Hawaiian concept of family — but they are not related by blood.
The on-screen chemistry between Sydney Agudong and Maia Kealoha is widely praised, but the two are simply co-stars who built a close working relationship.
The pattern: audiences often assume actors who play siblings are related, but the casting choice was based on talent and cultural fit, not family ties.
Is Stitch a boy or girl LGBT?
Stitch is referred to as “he” in the Lilo & Stitch films. The character is an alien experiment (Experiment 626) and does not have a biological sex. Wikipedia (open encyclopedia) notes that Stitch is consistently gendered male in the franchise. While some fans have interpreted the character through an LGBTQ+ lens, the official canon does not label Stitch as LGBTQ+.
What this means: the question often arises from fans seeking inclusive representation, but the filmmakers have not assigned any specific sexual orientation to the character.
Some databases list Maia Kealoha’s birth date as December 14, 2016, a discrepancy typical of crowd-sourced records. The preponderance of reliable sources support December 15.
Is Nani actually Hawaiian?
Nani Pelekai is a fictional character of Hawaiian descent in both the original 2002 animated film and the 2025 live-action remake. IMDb (film database) describes the character as a Hawaiian teenager. The actress Sydney Agudong is of Hawaiian, Filipino, Spanish, and Portuguese descent, according to AlloCiné (French film database).
The trade-off: while the character is canonically Hawaiian, the casting of Agudong—who is part Hawaiian—adds a layer of authenticity that fans have appreciated.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Maia Kealoha born December 15, 2016 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
- American and Native Hawaiian (ABC7 New York (local news affiliate))
- Plays Lilo in 2025 film (Screen Dollars (entertainment finance site))
- Instagram handle @maiakealoha (Instagram (social platform))
What’s unclear
- Exact birth date (some sources say December 14, 2016) (The Movie Database (community film database))
- Parents’ identities and professions (Tuko (Kenyan news site))
- Net worth (IMDb (film database))
- Future acting roles beyond the 2026 project (Kauai Now (local news outlet))
“I am proud to be the youngest Native Hawaiian & AAPI actress to reach this box office achievement.”
— Maia Kealoha, via Facebook
For the industry, the casting of Maia Kealoha signals a shift toward more authentic representation in major studio remakes. For young Native Hawaiian actors, the door is now open: a role that once seemed out of reach is now a tangible possibility, or the alternative of being overlooked again is no longer acceptable. See also: Clara Stack: Age, Career, and Welcome to Derry Role.
themoviedb.org, id.wikipedia.org, de.wikipedia.org, events.musicofourdesire.com, aussiereport.net
Frequently asked questions
Who is Maia Kealoha?
Maia Kealoha is an American child actress of Native Hawaiian descent, best known for playing Lilo Pelekai in Disney’s 2025 live-action Lilo & Stitch.
What is Maia Kealoha’s net worth?
Her net worth has not been publicly disclosed. As a child actress with one major film role, no reliable estimate exists.
Who are Maia Kealoha’s parents?
Her parents are reportedly Palani Kealoha and Brittney Kealoha, according to Tuko (Kenyan news site), but this information has not been independently verified by major outlets.
What movies has Maia Kealoha been in?
Her first and only feature film to date is Lilo & Stitch (2025). She has also been cast in an upcoming film announced for 2026.
Is Maia Kealoha on Instagram?
Yes, her Instagram handle is @maiakealoha.
When was Maia Kealoha born?
She was born on December 15, 2016, though some databases list December 14, 2016.
What is the live-action Lilo & Stitch release date?
Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch was released on May 23, 2025 in the United States.
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Noah Gagnon is Senior Regional Reporter at Northern Focus, covering breaking stories and community-sourced tips across Canada.