Since Lilo & Stitch was recently released in live-action, the subject of ‘ohana’ has been surfacing online more and more, and it is obviously an important discussion. None of us knows what we would do if we were in Nani’s shoes–a young adult left to take care of a 6-year-old sister, without any support or financial stability. How do you cope, how do you balance the life of a guardian with the life you wanted to have for yourself?

In the movie (the animated version, since the live-action did not live up to anyone’s expectations), Nani does anything in her power to keep Lilo with her and to maintain the little family they have created for themselves. Even though she struggles and sometimes even fails, she never gives up. 

Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.

Nani had to give up a lot to become her sister’s guardian, but she never regretted it. It was all worth it, in the end. That is exactly what we imagine the sister in the story below is saying to herself right now.