'Lilo & Stitch' actress Sydney Agudong at Romer Hotel Waikīkī. Jason Sean Weiss/BFA.com; Romer Hotel Waikīkī Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission. Rising star Sydney Agudong, who plays Nani Pelekai in Disney's live-action version of Lilo & Stitch and hails from Kaua'i, showed up with friends and family for a late September backyard party at Romer House Waikīkī. Wearing a mini dress by O'ahu-based fashion label Strait (sold at Free People), Agudong performed her 2022 debut single, "Welcome to Hollywood," followed by her duet cover of John Legend's "All Of Me" with Hualālai Chung, who voiced Moni in Moana 2 and grew up in O'ahu. Agudong's artist name is Jayne Doe and the duet, recorded at Island Sound Studios in Honolulu, was released in May. Related Stories Lifestyle What Do Sydney Sweeney and 'SNL' Alumni Have in Common? They Train Their Abs at Solidcore Lifestyle The Top 25 Nordstrom Fall Sale Finds, From Celine Shades to Tory Burch Pierced Mules Agudong spent several nights at Romer Hotel Waikīkī, which opened its doors in June 2024 with the tagline "love your neighborhood" and serves up hyper-local vibes. A buzzy Honolulu go-to for the likes of Justin and Hailey Bieber at its original Chinatown location, The Lei Stand Waikīkī cocktail lounge relocated in May to a corner of the hotel; Its fresh custom-made couture-level leis are sold in a cooler in the hotel lobby, starting at $35. The Lei Stand at Romer House Waikīkī. Romer House Waikīkī "I think the way Romer House has stylized this place makes it feel like it's already been here for a very long time," Agudong told The Hollywood Reporter. "And the Lei Stand is historical. It housed so many iconic musicians, so it's cool that Romer House was able to bring it back. The layout of the tables at the party was like Auntie's backyard, with pu pu platters and fresh catch. There were a lot of family and friends. 'Love thy neighborhood' is what Hawaii is about. Gathering people together and taking care of each other is what we do." The 24-year-old sat down with THR to share some top places in O'ahu (where Lilo & Stitch was filmed) and her home base of Kaua'i to eat, hike, surf and caffeinate. What a beautiful place to grow up. Tell us where to go and what to do. Kaua'i is like my bread and butter. O'ahu, I'm still getting to know. I love that Romer is near Royal Hawaiian Center and there's a great coffee shop, Island Vintage Coffee Waikīkī, that also has a nice acai bowl, which is one of my favorite things. Or I go to Honolulu Coffee because I'm obsessed with their coffee. Then I might pop out on the beach and go surfing. It can be crowded, but it's a classic surf spot and has got a great wave on the right day. The Duke Kahanamoku statue is there; he was an iconic big-wave surfer and rode the longest wave from Diamond Head into Waikiki. Have you always surfed? I've messed around with surfing my whole life. I was able to stand up and ride a wave. But I was beautifully trained for Lilo by the Kaywana family, big-wave surfers on the west side. They are expert watermen who handle a lot of the productions that come by. I asked them to teach me back to the basics and it felt like we were going surfing with family. Maia [Kealoha, who plays Lilo] couldn't swim at first! So exciting that the Lilo & Stitch sequel is green-lit. I think we're doing it at the top of the year. Chris Sanders is writing it right now. Our timeline is Maia's height and maturity [laughs] . Any other O'ahu hot spots where you like to hang out? For local shopping, I love the Kalama Valley farmer's market, Honolulu Pawnshop streetwear by surfer Kelia Moniz, Arlie Glass jewelry, Avanti Hawaiian shirts and Coconut Ave's beachy fashion and swimwear. Joja Hawaii's original truffle smash burger is insane. Sometimes you have to pre-order it and they give you umbrellas because you're waiting in the sun and the line is so long! The Mai Tai Bar at Royal Hawaiian has some great truffle fries and it is right by the water. And then Lewers Lounge is a gem for date night; it's a beautiful, semi-intimate jazz lounge with live music where different artists play in a cool, cultivated environment that's very classy. Roy's Waikiki is right around the corner and it's a yummy restaurant. I tried escargot there for the first time. That was so scary for me, but it was fantastic! Sydney Agudong pictured at Romer Hotel Waikīkī Presents House of Aloha With Sydney Agudong and Island Sounds. Jason Sean Weiss/BFA.com There must be a lot of great hiking here. Another thing we'd always do growing up in Kaua'i is the Hanakapi'ai Falls hike, which is four miles each way, and there's a cold plunge pool at the end