Sydney Agudong’s Journey: From Kauai to Hollywood

In this episode of The Big Picture Hawaii Podcast, we sit down with Sydney Agudong — the Kauaʻi-born actress, singer, and storyteller who’s now known around the world as Nani in Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch. Sydney shares her journey from growing up on stage in local theater and pageants to nearly walking away from acting right before landing her biggest role yet. We dive deep into what it’s really like to handle rejection in Hollywood, how her experiences in pageantry and sports built her foundation, and why staying grounded in her Hawaii roots has carried her through. Sydney also opens up about creating safe spaces on set, the local crew that helped bring Lilo & Stitch to life, and how much it meant to premiere the film back home on Kauaʻi. From funny lightning round moments to vulnerable reflections on imposter syndrome, the sacrifices her family made, and why art needs to come back to the forefront, this conversation is a powerful look at chasing big dreams while holding onto who you are. If you’re passionate about Hawaii’s film industry, representation on screen, or just want an inspiring story of perseverance and gratitude, you won’t want to miss this episode.