Moana is a beloved modern installment to the magical kingdom created by Walt Disney. The movie follows the titular character fighting to save her home from a terrifying plague. It became a monumental success thanks to the performance of its leading lady, Auli’i Caravalho. Her role opened many doors for her, turning her into an icon. Despite doing other things, she’s excited to reprise Moana, which she expressed in an interview.
Recapping the Story of Moana
In the animated film Moana, Auli’i Caravalho played opposite Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Its plot centered around the titular character tasked with a crucial mission. She must return the Heart of Te Fiti, a stone containing the power of creation. Or else a plague of darkness will kill off Nature and destroy her people. To accomplish this task, Moana embraces the seafaring ways of her ancestors. She must also locate the original thief of the Heart: the demigod Maui.
The Polynesian Disney princess begins her journey with her dimwitted rooster, Heihei, accompanying her. She finds Maui stranded on an island and insists he help her. The demigod agrees, but they must recover his lost magical fish hook first. They find it on the treasure-hoarding crab, Tamatoa, and successfully retrieve the weapon. But as you can guess, their troubles are far from over. They must combat the lava monster, Te Kā, to make it to Te Fiti.
The Impact of Moana
Disney’s Moana impacts society in various ways, many of them positive. It broke ground by introducing a Polynesian protagonist brought to life by Auli’i Caravalho. This decision allowed the studio to give young girls from diverse ethnicities a model. At the same time, it taught all females that they can be powerful by themselves. The movie also expressed the importance of protecting and restoring the environment. Moana’s quest alludes to the action humanity can take to fix the environmental damage.
However, the most momentous impact created by Moana is bestowing positive attention to Polynesian culture. It generated interest and inspired audiences to learn more about the customs. Of course, it also forged Oceanic representation in animated media, which is, sadly, rare. The only other prominent example you could find is in the Lilo & Stitch franchise. Moana receives praise for accurately portraying the culture, but others say otherwise. They’ve criticized Disney for profiting from the traditions and oversimplifying them.
Auli’i Caravalho Opens Up During Interview
After starring in Moana, Auli’i Caravalho premiered in other productions. These projects included the musical drama Rise and the film All Together Now. Caravalho didn’t stop there because she went on to appear in Darby and the Dead. She additionally debuted in 2023’s The Power and the 2024 Mean Girls movie. At the same time, this talented actress starred in two on-stage musicals, Evita and Cabaret. She eventually returned to the Moana franchise to reprise her character for the sequel.
Auli’i Caravalho recently participated in an interview conducted by renowned radio personality Billy V. Before they officially started, she adorably expressed her joy at being questioned by him. Caravalho talked about how happy she was to reprise Moana and expand her story. She even discussed her amazement at becoming a role model for other Polynesian women. Of course, Caravalho talks about Moana 2 and its lesson about connecting to different people. She lastly speaks about the Hawaiian-dubbed version, which features her, utilized for language tutoring.
Some Heartwarming Recent News
On a more recent note, Auli’i Caravalho bought her mother a house. The Moana star recalled how her maternal parent sacrificed so much for her. Caravalho was given the only bed in their apartment and raised on food stamps. Her mom ran a construction company for a living during this moment in their lives. Caravalho chose to repay her parent by gifting her a home, bringing everything full circle. You can only imagine how touched she was upon receiving this generous present.
Final Thoughts
Auli’i Caravalho is a brilliant actress and singer and generally a lovely person. Despite her fame, The Moana star’s interview showcased her as a down-to-earth individual. She’s also immensely adorable as she fangirled while sitting across from Billy V. The fact Caravalho bought her mother a house shows how kind and loving she is. If you ever get the chance to meet her, it’ll surely be a magical experience. Moana 2 is now in theaters, so check it out before it goes.
