Lilo & Stitch Star Sydney Agudong Shares Her Favorite Kauaʻi Beaches and Must-Visit Spots

The live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch, which released this May, has surpassed the $1 billion dollar mark at the global box office, making it the first movie of 2025 to reach that mark, according to the Walt Disney Company. The original animated Lilo & Stitch (2002) was inspired by Kauaʻi, with its fictional Kokaua Town based on Hanapēpē, a once-bustling community where military personnel trained from World War I through the early 1950s. Other island landmarks like Hanalei Bay, the Napali Coast, Waimea Canyon, and the Kilauea Lighthouse also inspired scenes in Lilo & Stitch.

While the live-action remake was filmed on Oʻahu, it still honors its Kauaʻi roots through actress Sydney Agudong, who plays Nani. Born and raised on the Garden Island, Agudong often returns home—and was even honored with “Sydney Elizabeth Agudong Day” by Kauaʻi’s mayor on July 2.

During this visit, I sat down with Sydney to talk about the new film and her favorite parts of Kauaʻi. “To me, Kauaʻi means safety and salvation and aloha,” Agudong says. “It gives me peace of mind. When you come here, you feel grounded.” Here, Sydney shares some of her favorite spots in Kauaʻi:

On Kauaʻi’s North Shore, just beyond the resort hub of Princeville, Hanalei keeps its small-town charm while welcoming visitors with shops and dining. Driving in, you’ll pass emerald mountains and wide taro fields—a picture-perfect reminder of why Kauaʻi is called the Garden Island. Rainbows are frequent as well, adding to the picture-perfect, cinematic scenery.

“You can learn to surf here in Hanalei Bay,” says Sydney, “and there are lots of cool coffee shops and restaurants.” Sydney loves Wishing Well, the coffee shop behind the Slow Yourself Down store in Hanalei. Find hot and iced coffees, plus acai bowls, smoothies, chia seed pudding, and grab-and-go options. “I love their branding,” she says. “It’s all about taking a moment, taking a beat.”

She’s also a fan of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, a lush property teeming with greenery everywhere you turn. The hotel boasts six Surfrider Kauaʻi-certified ocean-friendly restaurants, direct access to Honoiki Beach for swimming and kayaking, plus two pools, a golf course, and guided outdoor adventures.

On the opposite side of the island on the south shore is Hanapēpē Town, the original inspiration for Lilo & Stitch. Once Kauaʻi’s largest community in the 1940s, Hanapēpē still showcases its iconic plantation-style buildings—now home to art galleries and shops. Here, Sydney recommends seeing the Lilo and Stitch mural while hopping around the galleries. And while the town is still small and sleepy, it’s definitely worthy of a visit. “There’s so much local art here,” she says. “The most popular spots aren’t always the most special, so it’s worth a stop here, especially if you’re on your way to Waimea Canyon.”

Visit the shops, where you’ll find handmade Hawaiian jewelry, ceramics, clothing, and trinkets. Then walk across the Hanapēpē Swinging Bridge, a pedestrian swinging bridge over the Hanapēpē River that gently sways while you walk. About 15 miles northwest of Hanapēpē Town is Waimea Canyon State Park, where you’ll find Waimea Canyon, often called the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Stop at the Waimea Canyon Lookout, where you’ll see the canyon sprawling for 14 miles, full of deep gorges and beautiful vistas.

Our recommendation: If your trip centers on the South Shore, Royal Sonesta Kauaʻi Resort is a newly renovated stay right on Kalapaki Beach. Rooms overlook the bay, the sprawling pool begs for a good book, and dining options range from sushi and Hawaiian fare to Italian classics. Best of all, the resort’s bayfront perch makes sunset cocktails unforgettable.

Arguably one of the most famous spots in Hawaii, the Nāpali Coast stretches for 17 miles along the north shore, with dramatic cliffside views that tower over cerulean waters. Local beaches are tucked beneath the cliffs, which are often hard to access and sacred to Hawaiians. These cliffs often appear in blockbuster movies, including Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and Outbreak. Tours are available by boat or helicopter, allowing you a special view of this pristine landscape. “I just did a helicopter tour of the Nāpali Coast for the first time, and I felt so connected to Kauaʻi again,” says Sydney.

With a few locations in Kauaʻi, Java Kai has been a coffee hotspot on the island since the ‘90s, and it’s Sydney’s favorite. Breakfast and lunch are served, and the coffee menu is extensive, from matcha and chai lattes to smoothies and seasonal offerings. In Kapa’a, Sydney loves Kintaro Japanese Restaurant. “It’s a go to when I come home,” she says. “I always get the same thing: the Hanalei Roll [a salmon and ahi roll tipped in tempura batter and flash fried] and the Bali Hi Bomb Roll [salmon over a California roll with tobiko and spicy aioli].” She also notes that they have complimentary wontons, and recommends the green tea mud pie for dessert. “The caramel is insane.”

For a sweet treat after a day in the sun, stop into Wailua Shave Ice, a popular Hawaiian shave ice establishment. “I love their fresh fruit and the coconut topper,” Sydney notes.

Learn to make your own lei poʻo (flower crown) with Heavenly Hakus. Elvrine Chow, an award-winning lei maker on Kauaʻi, showcases her craft at the Kauaʻi Community Market on Saturdays and teaches group classes at venues across the island. All flowers used are grown on Kauaʻi. Send her a message to set up a class at your accommodations. Trust me, everyone will be asking “where did you get your lei poʻo?”