'Moana 2's' Auliʻi Cravalho's multicultural heritage reflects Hawaii's rich history
Auliʻi Cravalho was only 16 years old when she voiced her breakout role as Moana.
Auliʻi Cravalho was only 16 years old when she voiced her breakout role as Moana. And today, eight years later, she is reprising the iconic Disney character at the premiere of the much-anticipated sequel, “Moana 2.”
“Playing Moana has been the opportunity of a lifetime — voicing a character who isn’t afraid to grab a demigod by the ear and take him on a journey across the sea is a ton of fun,” Cravalho said in an email interview, referring to Moana’s superhuman friend Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson).
Moana sailed out on her first big screen adventure in 2016. She used the ancient navigation technique of way-finding, which relies on the stars, wind, waves and other clues from nature to find a path or direction.
Way-finding can also be applied as a philosophy, a way to find your true self in the world. And this year, “Moana 2” builds on that initial adventure of self-discovery with a much broader mission that can put her leadership to a test: bringing different island peoples together.
“As we meet her in this sequel, three years have passed in the ‘Moanaverse,’” Cravalho said. “To be able to watch Moana grow into the leader she was always meant to be is incredibly special, and I know I’m not the only one excited to see just how far she’ll go!”
Rating: 5