It is quite possible that Lilo and Nani were both named after Queen Liliuokalani, the last ruling monarch of Hawaii. Lilo has the same first three letters of the monarch's name, while Nani has the last three letters of her name. Nani has a display of surfing trophies in her room but isn't seen enjoying the sport until later in the first film after she's all but exhausted herself trying to find a new job. Her strict dedication to providing for Lilo is eased only by her friend David Kawena's attempts to alleviate her stress. His similar dedication to Nani's happiness earns her appreciation and love in later films, and they become a couple. She initially worked as a Rental Hut worker, but later moved up to rental pavilion worker at the Birds of Paradise Hotel under Mr. Jameson. In almost all of her appearances, her tops are short enough to reveal her belly, justified being a teenager. It is likely that Nani is a surfing champion. This is based on the famous surfing scene in the original movie where she is able to surf professionally on big and small waves, even with Lilo and Stitch on her board, she doesn't fall. Additionally, her bedroom in the first movie has surfing trophies, medals, ribbons for competitive surfing scattered around her bed. There are also images of surfing idols on her walls. It could be implied that Nani gave up her dreams to pursue this potential career path to keep her family together ( Credit from Wotso Videos). However, she never stays far from her passion as she used to work renting surfboards at the Rental Hut in numerous episodes of the TV series.

Because Nani is stated to be nineteen, she should technically be qualified to care for Lilo, as she is past eighteen, the age at which one is considered to be a legal adult. During most of the series, Nani's primary outfit is the same blue top with khakis, but with blue open-toed sandals instead of brown. If this truly is indeed the case, then that would make their connection to the song " Aloha ʻOe" that much more meaningful, as they, as a whole, represent the last Queen of Hawaii, the author who wrote the song. In the intro sequence of the series, Nani appears in two squares in the hula dance, with her image and movements mirrored to one another. Wang Ai Ling • Wang Jiejie • Wang Daiyu • Meiying • Qian Dahu • Sage • Bao • Jaboodies • Wombat • Woolagongs • Platypus • Dim Long • Yong • Scratch • Jumba's Chinese ExperimentsIn the first movie, a deleted scene from the original draft had to be changed because test audiences were confusing Nani for Lilo's mother. However, in the scene where Nani comforts Lilo just before Stitch's ship crash-lands, Lilo says point-blank in response to Nani's apology for yelling, "We're sisters, it's our job."

Nani will refer to someone as "lolo", meaning stupid or crazy in Hawaiian, when she observes them doing just that. In the first film, she refers to Lilo this way when the latter suggests buying a lobster from the shelter, and again when Nani thinks someone caused them to wipe out while surfing.Penny Proud • Oscar Proud • Trudy Proud • BeBe & CeCe Proud • Suga Mama Proud • Puff • Wizard Kelly In " Frenchfry", she was able hold her own against the titular chef experiment, using a broom and her wits.