Maia Kealoha
American child actress (born 2016)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maia Kealoha (born December 15, 2016)[1] is an American child actress from Hawaii. She is known for playing Lilo Pelekai in the 2025 live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch, for which she earned a Saturn Award nomination for Best Younger Performer in a Film in 2026.
Maia Kealoha | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 15, 2016 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2023–present |
| Notable work | Lilo & Stitch |
Early life
Career
Kealoha's first onscreen role was in the 2025 film Lilo & Stitch, a live-action remake of the 2002 animated film of the same name. She auditioned for the role of Lilo at the age of five,[5] and was cast for the role in 2023.[6] She was later cast as Lani in The Wrecking Crew (2026).[7] She appeared in Disney's musical series, Electric Bloom (2025) as Kaia.[8][9]
On February 12, 2026 it was announced that she would star in Nutmeg & Mistletoe as Alma.[10]
Recognition
In June 2025, Mayor of Hawaiʻi County, Kimo Alameda, proclaimed June 3, 2025 as Maia Kealoha Day on Hawaii County during a ceremony at the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center.[4] Mayor Alameda said during the ceremony that proclaiming June 3 as Maia Kealoha Day is a tribute to her inspiring journey and serves as a beacon of hope for local girls and kids to pursue their dreams, no matter how big.[11]
She features on Gold House's most impactful Asian Pacific Gold100 list of 2026.[12][13]
Filmography
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lilo & Stitch | Lilo Pelekai | Main role |
| Electric Bloom | Kaia | Episode: "How We Handled an Unexpected Visitor"[14] | |
| 2026 | The Wrecking Crew | Lani | |
| TBA | Nutmeg & Mistletoe † | Alma | Post-production |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards | Best Female Youth Performance (Under 21) | Lilo & Stitch | Nominated | [15] |
| 2026 | Saturn Award | Best Younger Performer in a Film | Nominated | [16] |
