Disney's live-action adaptation of "Moana" has reached cinemas this weekend, a decade after the 2016 animated original, with its cast and creative team emphasising how closely they worked to portray Polynesian culture authentically. Star Dwayne Johnson used the premiere to reflect on growing up without seeing himself represented on screen, and the film is being welcomed as a milestone by Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander audiences. Directed by Thomas Kail, the adaptation places traditions such as Māori tā moko tattoos, dance and generations of Polynesian heritage at its centre.

To ensure the representation was respectful and accurate, a large group of artisans, consultants and advisers worked with the production's Cultural Trust, including lead consultant Dr Grant Muāgututi'a, choreographer Tiana Nonosina Liufau and songwriter Opetaia Foa'i. Liufau drew on dancers from across the Pacific Islands, blending forms such as the Ori Tahiti, the Siva Samoa and Tongan movements into the musical numbers, and deliberately choreographed sequences so dancers' faces remained visible. Muāgututi'a focused on reflecting the culture's traditions of respect, with detailed attention paid to village scenes and how characters interact, particularly within the council of chiefs.