Just weeks after he made his movie debut in the Lilo and Stitch live-action remake, actor David Hekili Kenui Bell has died aged 57.
Lilo and Stitch is the latest Disney animated classic to get the live-action treatment, landing in cinemas on May 23, 2025, where it’s since earned more than $850 million at the global box office.
While the cast is led by Maia Kealoha as Lilo and Chris Sanders as the voice of Stitch, one character who had viewers in stitches was Bell’s Big Hawaiian Dude, a reference to the original animated movie’s Ice Cream Man.
However, just weeks after the film’s debut, Bell’s sister, Jalene Kanani Bell, confirmed that the actor has died, with tributes continuing to pour in for the late star.
Tributes shared for Lilo and Stitch star David Hekili Kenui Bell
In a Facebook post, she wrote, “It is with a heavy heart I share that my sweet, generous, talented, funny, brilliant and handsome little brother David H. K. Bell will spend today in the company of our Heavenly Father.”
“He was and will remain a bright and shining star. He recently made it on to the big screen with an iconic Lilo & Stitch moment,” she added. “He planned ahead and purchased the best seats in the house for us all to go together to opening night in Kapolei just two short weeks ago.”
No cause of death has been confirmed at the time of writing. Jalene promised to reshare some of her favorite posts made by her brother to “keep our memories alive.”
The news is devastating for fans, with one writing on Reddit, “Loved his scenes in the remake, got some genuinely big laughs from my audience. May he rest in peace.”
“Glad he got to see the movie release,” said another, while a third added, “My prayers and condolences go out to his family and friends.”
The chat is much the same on X/Twitter, where a Lilo and Stitch news account wrote, “I’m very sad to inform that Mr David Hekili Kenui Bell (Snow Cone Guy) has passed away… We will miss you.”
Reel News Hawaii added, “I’m saddened by the news that David Hekili Kenui Bell has passed away. I never had the privilege of meeting him in person but we talked in DM’s.
“He was so excited for his breakout role as the ‘Shave Ice Guy’ in Lilo and Stitch. You will be missed greatly. Rest in Heaven.”
The account went on to reshare a 2023 clip showing Bell on set of the Disney movie. “The day we caught David Hekili Kenui Bell filming one of his scenes in Waikiki for Lilo and Stitch,” the post reads.
“We had a good laugh about our speculation of what was going on in the scene, we weren’t even close. Gonna miss chatting with ‘Big Hawaiian Guy’.”
