The Lilo & Sтιтch live-action remake hopes to reintroduce audiences to everything that they loved about the original movie, but it has not been without some major changes. It features new characters, a longer runtime, and a lovable and realistic portrayal of Sтιтch. Lilo & Sтιтch has surpᴀssed expectations at the box office. At over $600 million globally, it is poised to cross the $1 billion milestone within the coming weeks.
Some of the Lilo & Sтιтch changes have been controversial, of course. There have been complaints about the CGI, about changing Dr. Jumba into a villain, and about failing to recognize the themes of Hawaii’s invasive tourists. One of the most divisive elements, however, relates to Lilo and Nani’s relationship. After all, the movie ends with Lilo being sent to another guardian, while Nani pursues a Marine Biology degree. Arguments about Ohana have been pervasive ever since the movie’s release, but Ohana is still present in this movie.
What Ohana Meant In The Original Lilo & Sтιтch & Why It Was So Important
Ohana Is All About What Family Means
In the original Lilo & Sтιтch movie, Ohana was an essential concept that underlined the entire film. The central theme focused on Nani’s relationship with Lilo, especially after both of them had lost their parents in a devastating car crash. As much as Lilo caused her sister grief, Nani always capitulated to the idea of Ohana. After all, as they repeatedly described, “Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten“. Even Sтιтch adapts to the idea, as the idea of a family that would never leave him behind was what made him connect with Lilo.
Ohana was important to the entire family, because it underlined the theme of what a family is.
Lilo was, undoubtedly, a chaotic little girl, who caused Nani to lose her job and to even lose her home late in the movie. Yet, despite it all, Nani stood by her. The same was true for Sтιтch’s relationship with Lilo. No matter how much chaos he caused, or how many people he hurt, she always accepted him, even if it was painful to do so. Ohana was important to the entire family, because it underlined the theme of what a family is. No matter how many problems a family faces, they should always stick together through it all.
In the 2002 movie, Ohana meant that Nani could never let Lilo enter the foster care system, because that would mean leaving her behind. As a consequence, she was forced to put her life on hold, while she helped to raise Lilo into a responsible young woman. The same was true for Lilo, who could never leave Sтιтch behind, nor could she let the aliens capture him. That was the element that tied Sтιтch’s complicated history to Lilo, as the aliens were a metaphor for the outside forces that were attempting to shatter Ohana by splitting their family apart.
Lilo & Sтιтch’s Remake Puts A New Spin On Ohana & Family
Family Does Not Have To Be Physically Together
Image via Disney
While the 2002 film repeatedly emphasized the literal interpretation of Ohana, the 2025 movie elected to consider an alternate meaning. The wording is exactly the same, as the movie reiterates that Ohana means “no one gets left behind,” but the meaning itself is different. Instead of implying that the family must always remain together, it allows individuals to walk away from the family home without walking away from the family. Nani is able to go to college to pursue her dreams of studying Marine Biology, but she still keeps Lilo and the concept of Ohana close to her heart.
Nani did not necessarily need to move to California, given that Hawaii has prominent Marine Biology programs.
This message specifically ties into the idea of individuals accounting for their own lives within a family group. Nani does not have to sacrifice her hopes and dreams to maintain guardianship over Lilo, because she can also rely on those around her. If it takes a village to raise a child, after all, Nani could not be expected to be the sole force looking after Lilo. She could be a better support by pursuing her dreams, which could help remove some of the tension that has plagued Lilo and Nani’s relationship since Nani became her primary guardian.
Why Lilo & Sтιтch’s Remake Updated Its Use Of Ohana
It Needed To Let Nani Live Her Life
The Lilo & Sтιтch remake did not necessarily need to update its use of Ohana, given how popular the original movie was. Yet a popular criticism of the live-action Disney remakes is that they fail to appropriately adapt their stories for the modern era. Snow White (2025), for instance, alienated people with dwarfism by featuring caricatures and stereotypes of dwarfism. Other movies, including The Little Mermaid (2023), attempted to adapt to new expectations and earned some praise for that decision. This new Lilo & Sтιтch movie was attempting to do the same.
After all, in the modern world, it is somewhat surprising to see a movie demanding that Nani throw her dreams away to look after her little sister. Similarly, there is not necessarily a need for Nani to do so. In 2002, when the internet was still developing into the juggernaut it is today, it would have been more surprising to see families connecting through the online landscape. Today, families can be together even with great distance between them. Technology (even alien technology in this case) can help bridge the gap through video calls and other key resources.
Family is important, but family should be supportive of everyone, not solely the youngest member.
Despite the technological changes, the decision to update Ohana was made mostly for Nani’s story. By allowing her to have and pursue her own dreams, it helped to make her a more fully fleshed-out character. Instead of simply being a parental figure with some problems of her own, it gave her a full-fledged subplot that was not simply about her relationships. She was always a three-dimensional character, but this gave Nani even more depth and allowed the movie to have a better message. Family is important, but family should be supportive of everyone, not solely the youngest member.
Lilo & Sтιтch’s Remake Is Still About Family, Even If It Treats Ohana Differently
No One Was Left Behind Or Forgotten
The specifics about the new Lilo & Sтιтch‘s family dynamics may be different, but the movie is still all about family. Even separated, Nani and Lilo will forever be connected as siblings. Similarly, Ohana will always be a concept that hangs over their head. Nani did not leave Lilo behind, and she certainly has not forgotten her. Instead, she will always think about her sister, while she also pursues her dreams. The two are deeply connected, but Lilo is being looked after and Nani is also pursuing her dreams.
Like the original Lilo & Sтιтch animated classic, the remake is also about the importance of found family. Even though Cobra Bubbles’ story was changed, he becomes an important part of their family, just as Sтιтch does. This movie focuses on family, whether that means blood-related or found family. It simply adds some qualifiers that focus on the importance of self-care, self-love, and pursuing dreams in spite of complicated life circumstances. Ohana means family, and family means that Lilo was still not left behind or forgotten.
