'Lilo & Stitch 'and 'Hawaii Five-O' actor David Hekili Kenui Bell dies at 57
Actor David Hekili Kenui Bell, best known for his appearances in the live-action version of Lilo & Stitch and Hawaii Five-O has died, his sister announced on Facebook. He was 57.
"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," Jalene Kanani Bell posted Sunday. "I've been waiting for the words and mindset to properly express the joy of a human, and Prince of a Man he was, but fate pushed my hand this morning by a pre-scheduled Father's Day newsletter honoring the men in our lives."
David H.K. Bell had accumulated a handful of credits, including having played an unnamed character in last month's hit Lilo & Stitch, as well as Issac on a 2014 episode of the Hawaii Five-O reboot, and Manu Saluni on two episodes of the Magnum P.I. reboot in 2018 and 2019. He was set to appear in the upcoming project The Wrecking Crew, alongside Jason Momoa and Morena Baccarin, according to IMDb.
The sister noted that his voice is the one used at Kona International Airport, where he "loved working to create an awesome and safe customer experience." She added, "He was and will remain a bright and shining star."
She recalled having celebrated his Disney debut with him just last month.
"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," she wrote. "That's one trait we didn't share, planning ahead:) We talked about and were so energized by the fans dressed in L&S gear head to toe, t-shirts, onezees, hats, mask, and the merch galore flying off the shelf as we stood in line for pop-corn."
Disney's live-action take on its 2002 film Lilo & Stitch was a big hit at the box office, where it took first place for three weeks in a row. It came in at No. 2 over the weekend, having earned an incredible $858.3 million at the global box office so far.
Jalene Kanani Bell did not explain her brother's cause of death, but she did delve into their strong connection.
"I met my little brother at the age of 18, on my high school graduation day," she wrote, "it was the most amazing surprise which I had been asking for for years, that our mom's made happen for us, and that gift has lasted a lifetime. While I didn't grow up with a Father, David gave me all the unconditional love I could possibly ask for and I believe that all his family and friends received the same from him."
Bell noted that her brother "loved being an actor, doing voiceovers, spending time with Brutus traveling as an ambassador for Kona Brew. The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him and I loved that he enjoyed the arts. He went to Punahou and Kalani while our dad spoke Hawaiian so his ability to deliver lines with English understanding, Indigenous knowledge and Pidgen to da Max…made him a diamond in the rough."
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to the late actor's rep.
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