You probably recognize him even if you don't think you do. He’s the guy on the beach, the one with the shaved ice. The "Big Hawaiian Dude" who loses his cool—and his dessert—when a portal opens up and things get weird. That was David Hekili Kenui Bell.
When the live-action Lilo & Stitch hit the big screen in early 2025, people immediately gravitated toward that specific moment. It was a nod to the original animation, sure, but David brought something else to it. A presence. He was a 6'5", 475-pound "gentle giant" who felt like the literal embodiment of the islands. Then, just weeks after the movie premiered, the news broke. David passed away on June 12, 2025, at just 46 years old.
It’s one of those Hollywood stories that just feels unfair. He was finally getting his flowers on a global stage, and then, he was gone. But if you talk to anyone in Hawaiʻi, or anyone who worked with him at the Kona International Airport, they’ll tell you he was a legend long before Disney called.
The Real Story of David Hekili Kenui Bell
David wasn't just some guy they found on a beach for a cameo. He was a deeply rooted Hawaiian man who understood the nuances of his culture. Born in Honolulu in 1979, he grew up with a father who spoke Hawaiian fluently. That’s a big deal. It meant David could navigate the world with a mix of perfect English, indigenous knowledge, and "Pidgin to da Max," as his sister Jalene Kanani Bell put it.
Honestly, that’s what made him a "diamond in the rough" in the industry. He wasn't just playing a character; he was bringing authentic Hawaiian life to the screen.
Before the Lilo & Stitch remake turned him into a recognizable face for millions, he was a steady presence in the local film scene. You might have spotted him as Isaac in Hawaii Five-0 (Season 5, Episode 4) or playing Manu Salani in Magnum P.I. He wasn't just an actor, though. David was a hustler in the best sense. He did voiceovers. He was an assistant airport superintendent at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport.
Can you imagine? You land in Kona, the sun is hitting your face, and the voice telling you where to go over the PA system belongs to the guy from Lilo & Stitch. That was just his Tuesday.
More Than Just a Cameo
A lot of people think David's career was just starting, but he’d been putting in the work for years. He was the face of Kona Brewing Co.’s "One Life, Right?" campaign. Those commercials weren't just about beer; they were about the lifestyle David actually lived. In 2025, that campaign even won a Pele Award.
He had this way of making everything feel easy. Even his audition for Lilo & Stitch, which he shared on Instagram before he died, showed a guy who was just happy to be there.
There’s another project people are starting to talk about more now: The Wrecking Crew. It’s an upcoming Amazon MGM Studios flick starring Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista. David is in that too. He finished his work on it before he passed, so we’re going to get one more chance to see him on screen. It's an action-comedy, which fits his vibe perfectly.
What Really Happened: The Autopsy and the Aftermath
When a public figure dies suddenly at 46, the rumor mill starts spinning. It’s human nature. People want answers. For David, the news was sudden—his sister announced it on Facebook just a few days after he died.
The Hawaiʻi Police Department eventually released an autopsy report because, as is standard practice, they had to do a coroner’s inquest. It turns out David had been struggling with some serious health issues behind the scenes. The report listed things like acute respiratory failure, sepsis, and heart disease.
"He was one of my best talent & embodied the true meaning of aloha… a gentle giant." — Lashauna Downie, Agent
He had complained of having trouble breathing before he died at Kona Community Hospital. There were no drugs, no alcohol—just a body that had reached its limit. It’s a sobering reminder that even the people who look the strongest are often carrying the heaviest burdens.
Why the Community Felt the Loss So Deeply
In Hawaiʻi, "ohana" isn't just a marketing slogan from a Disney movie. It's real. David was a constant companion to his mom, Geraldine Kenui Bell. He was a guy who would fly to Maui just to visit family and enjoy some kanikapila (an impromptu jam session).
When he passed, the grief wasn't just in Hollywood. It was in the breakrooms at Kona Airport. It was in the surfing communities where he spent his time.
What’s kind of beautiful, though, is how he spent his final weeks. He didn't just go to a fancy premiere in L.A. and call it a day. He bought tickets for his whole family to go see Lilo & Stitch on opening night at a theater in Kapolei. He wanted to share that moment with the people who knew him when he was just David, not "Big Hawaiian Dude."
Impact on the Industry and Next Steps
David Hekili Kenui Bell leaves behind a legacy that is actually pretty significant for indigenous actors. He proved that you don't have to change who you are—or how you speak—to make it in a billion-dollar franchise. He brought "Indigenous knowledge" to a Disney set, and the world loved it.
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If you’re looking to honor his memory or learn more about the work he did, here are a few things you can actually do:
- Watch for The Wrecking Crew: When it drops on Amazon, look for him. It’ll be his final performance.
- Support Local Hawaiian Arts: David was a massive advocate for the local crew and talent in Hawaiʻi. Supporting projects filmed on the islands helps keep that industry alive.
- Listen at the Airport: If you ever find yourself at Kona Airport (KOA), pay attention to the announcements. His voice was a staple there for a reason.
He wasn't just a guy who dropped his shave ice. He was a brother, a son, a public servant, and an actor who finally got to see himself on the big screen before he left us. That’s a life well-lived, even if it was way too short.
Keep an eye out for his upcoming posthumous role in The Wrecking Crew to see the final chapter of his career.