Now here’s something I’ve never done. A direct response to someone else’s post.
First, we’re going to tackle “Lilo isn’t a good role model” and then we’re going to deal with, “White people aren’t a problem in Hawaii.” And before I address that second part, full disclaimer: I am not a Pacific Islander, I’m Black and Filipino (and there’s a debate to be had about whether or not Filipinos count as Pacific Islanders but it’s not going to happen today.)
So, @squigglydigg thinks that Lilo isn’t a good role model. No shit. The first sign that maybe Lilo isn’t coping well with the loss of her parents should’ve come from the fact that she gives a fish sandwiches every day because he controls the weather and her parents died when it was raining.
When Lilo hits Murtle, it’s because Murtle says this is weird. If I’m a six or seven year old kid, my parents have died and someone calls the thing that gives me peace of mind weird, I’m probably going to lash out because to a young child, that makes sense.
Also I love that this person says the setup is that Lilo thinks the world is against her when the premise of Lilo’s story is that Lilo is an outsider, both literally (having no friends) and metaphorically (as a POC,) and that her parents have died. She’s an angry, lonely kid who’s world has been turned upside down. That’s not her thinking the world is against her, that’s her being an angry, lonely kid because her world has turned upside down.
Another also, what kid sees the sacrifices that their guardian makes? It’s heavily implied that Nani had to give up surfing to take care of Lilo but Nani herself is what, 18? 19? At most early 20s? And she and Lilo are both adjusting to her going from “older sister” to “parental figure.” Why would that be an easy transition for EITHER of them? Lilo is seven, I can say from experience, seven year olds don’t care what you do for them because they exist in their own world. And that’s not being a bad person, that’s being seven.
This person is calling a seven year old abusive. Even though it’s clear why Lilo is lashing out and it’s also made clear that Lilo is trying to figure out her place in this new family. Because it is a new family, she and Nani have to redefine what their family is. After their fight - which they are both responsible for - they apologize to each other and Lilo specifically asks Nani whether or not she still likes her and has a place in their family. The entire movie, is Lilo trying to reconceptualize her own family. To the point where at the end of the movie, Stitch says, “this is my family, it’s little and broken, but still good.“
The point isn’t you should love and take care of your abusers because no one is abusive here. The point, as stated by Stitch, is that the people who are your family will always be apart of it whether or not they’re gone. Or better yet, that you can find your own family.
And since that’s out of the way, I’m going to address the, “there is no ‘us vs them’ in Hawaii.” First off, Hawaii isn’t apart of the United States by choice, which gives you the first clue that maybe - just maybe - native Hawaiians wouldn’t be too happy about the influx of white folks on their homeland that they can no longer claim.
In the particular scene @kaleidraws says is “disgusting” and “perpetuates the hatred of violence [against tourists]” these white tourists ask Lilo, “Do you speak English.” They talk about her as though she is an object not a person. And they provide articles about tourists who have been attacked and can’t seem to connect that: maybe - and this is just speculation - native Hawaiians aren’t happy about being forced into the United States and having to deal with their tourists.
There is a great breakdown of the Aloha Oe’ scene by Lindsay Ellis where she touches upon the song’s origins (being written as Hawaii was being taken from its Native people) and how that sentiment is mirrored in the movie by the fact that Lilo is about to be taken from Nani by that very same government, but I want to add that as a woman of color, who’s history begins with my ancestors being brought here against their will: anyone who cannot see that there is and will always be an “us vs them” mindset in the hearts of minorities who suffered at the hands of colonialism is ignorant. @kaleidraws is ignorant.
Trying to argue that it was wrong of the creatives of Lilo and Stitch to show how colonialism affected real Hawaiians is so goddamn ignorant. Especially considering Disney was too coward to leave the scene in for fear of offending those white people and went on to learn nothing from this and tried to make the South look like a friendly place for Black women in The Princess and the Frog.
TLDR: little girls of color shouldn’t have to be punished for their trauma or be perfect role models in spite of it and colonialism is an ugly parasite that makes white folks mad when its ugliness is rightfully called out.
