Lilo & Stitch Star’s Final Days Revealed: Autopsy Details Uncover Tragic Health Battle
So, the guy who played the Big Hawaiian Dude in Lilo & Stitch—you know, the one with the chill vibe and the perfectly timed “Aloha!”—passed away at 46 after a health spiral that sounds less like a movie plot and more like a cautionary tale written by someone with a deep distrust of gravity. Jaden Patel here, your friendly neighborhood deadpan commentator, bringing you the facts with all the emotional weight of a spreadsheet. Let’s dive into what we now know about David Hekili Kenui Bell’s final days, because apparently, even death has a checklist.
Two months after his passing, the Hawaii Police Department released an autopsy report detailing four major medical conditions that were present at the time of death. First up: morbid obesity. Not just “I could use a salad,” but “I’ve been eating my feelings since 2012” levels of obesity. Then there’s acute respiratory failure—basically, lungs saying “nope, not today.” Sepsis followed, which is when your body’s immune system goes full war criminal on itself, attacking healthy tissue instead of invaders. And finally, hypertensive/atherosclerotic heart disease—the kind where arteries turn into clogged storm drains. The Cleveland Clinic confirms this isn’t a minor issue; it’s a ticking time bomb wrapped in cholesterol.
He wasn’t found unconscious in a ditch or anything dramatic. According to the report, Bell had complained of difficulty breathing before he passed. Multiple attempts were made to resuscitate him—yes, they tried CPR, defibrillation, whatever else doctors do when they’re out of options. No drugs. No alcohol. Toxicology came back clean. So no, he didn’t OD on a magic mushroom or drink himself into oblivion. Just… biology, doing its thing. The police confirmed no foul play. Case closed. Which, honestly, is the only satisfying ending here.
His sister Jalene Kanani Bell shared a heartfelt tribute on June 16, revealing how much David loved being on screen. She recalled buying tickets for the whole family to see him in the live-action Lilo & Stitch remake—“the best seats in the house,” she said. They stood in line together, surrounded by fans decked out in Lilo & Stitch merch, popcorn in hand, seltzer in the other. Afterward, they sat on her couch, talking story, doing genealogy, just… living. A quiet moment. A normal moment. The kind you don’t realize is precious until it’s gone.
David was also known for roles in Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-0, proving he wasn’t just a one-trick pony in a grass skirt. He leaves behind his aunt Gerry, sisters Kehau Bell and Lara Leimana, and a legacy that, while small in global fame, was deeply meaningful to those who knew him. His life wasn’t defined by viral moments or red carpets—it was defined by family, presence, and the simple joy of sharing a movie night with people who loved him.
So here we are. A man whose last act was sitting on a couch with his sister, sipping seltzer, talking about ancestry. And then, quietly, the body just… stopped. No drama. No scandal. Just a slow fade into silence, like a phone battery dying during a long call. It’s almost poetic. In a way. If poetry involved arterial plaque and sepsis.
Well, there you have it. Humanity at its finest. Or at least, its most human.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Hawaii Police Department, The Cleveland Clinic
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