The Lilo & Stitch filmmaking team worked hard to make sure Hawaii was shown as accurately as possible. Todd Cherniawsky was the film’s production designer. His job was to make sure every visual detail was just right.
Before filming began, he traveled to Hawaii to learn more about the state. He attended a luau (LOO-ow), a Hawaiian celebration with traditional food, music, and dancing. There, he says, he truly understood the meaning of ‘ohana, a Hawaiian term for family.
“Family isn’t just about blood—it’s about respect, love, and being welcomed into each other’s communities,” Cherniawsky explains. “I wanted the movie to make viewers feel that same sense of belonging.”
He and his team created more than 70 sets for the film. They found locations that both showed the beauty of Hawaii and stayed true to the original movie.