Set off Warning: This text accommodates references to a person’s loss of life.
David Hekili Kenui Bell, an actor recognized for his look in Disney’s latest live-action movie Lilo & Sew, has handed away. The information was confirmed by his sister, Jalene Kanani Bell, in a heartfelt Fb submit. A explanation for loss of life has not but been shared.
Bell was a proud Hawaiian who embraced his roots by way of his work within the native leisure business and his service at Kona Airport. He just lately appeared in Disney’s remake of the 2002 animated movie Lilo & Sew, portraying an area model of the ‘ice cream vacationer’ character, a fan-favorite second from the unique. Within the up to date model, Bell drops his shave ice after recognizing aliens Jumba and Pleakley.
Jalene remembered her brother as beneficiant, humorous, sensible, and good-looking. In her submit, she wrote, “It’s with a heavy coronary heart I share that my candy, beneficiant, gifted, humorous, sensible and good-looking little brother David H. Ok. Bell will spend immediately within the firm of our Heavenly Father.”
She additionally recalled their closing household outing collectively, simply two weeks in the past, when Bell handled them to the Lilo & Sew opening night time in Kapolei. “We watched followers in full Sew gear, shared popcorn, and dreamed of shave ice after the movie,” she wrote.
His consultant, Lashauna Downie, additionally shared her shock: “I’m studying such as you by way of social media. That is heartbreaking & unhappy. He was certainly one of my greatest expertise & embodied the true which means of aloha…a mild large.”
Who was David Hekili Kenui Bell?
Bell was born and raised in Hawaii and is acknowledged for his ardour for performing, voiceover work, and group involvement. He appeared in reveals like Magnum P.I. and Hawaii 5-0 and was a member of SAG-AFTRA. In accordance with IMDb, he was additionally a part of The Wrecking Crew, an upcoming Amazon MGM action-comedy starring Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa, as per Deadline.
His voice might be heard over the P.A. system at Kona Airport, the place he labored as Assistant Airport Superintendent. “He beloved working to create an superior and secure buyer expertise,” his sister shared.
Bell attended Kalani Excessive Faculty, Hawaii Neighborhood Faculty, and Kapiolani Neighborhood Faculty. He additionally had a powerful social media presence, the place he posted behind-the-scenes photographs and his audition for the function of Massive Hawaiian Dude in Lilo & Sew.
In an earlier submit, he wrote, “Mahalo to all who labored on this movie! I knew it might be particular to attend a Forged and CREW screening and it did not disappoint!”
For Bell, the possibility to symbolize native Hawaiian tradition in a serious Disney movie meant every little thing. He celebrated the crew and forged in Hawaii who helped carry the world of Lilo & Sew to life. “They deserve simply as a lot or extra recognition!” he wrote.
Jalene shared that the humanities meant an amazing deal to David. She stated he beloved being an actor, doing voiceovers, and touring together with his canine Brutus as an envoy for Kona Brew. She shared that David attended Punahou and Kalani. With a father who spoke Hawaiian, he developed a novel means of delivering strains mixing English, Indigenous information, and Pidgin, making him, as she put it, a ‘diamond within the tough.’
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