Moana, the main character in Disney's Moana , primarily speaks mainstream US English in the film for most of her dialogue
. However, the movie also incorporates multiple Polynesian languages to reflect its cultural setting authentically. Notably, the song "We Know the Way" features lyrics in Tokelauan, Samoan, and English. Tokelauan is a rare Polynesian language spoken by about 3,000 people in the South Pacific territory of Tokelau
. Additionally, some ancestral songs in the film include Samoan and Māori languages, further enriching the cultural depth
. Beyond the original English version, Moana has been translated into indigenous Polynesian languages such as Māori and Hawaiian. For example, there is a Māori-language version of Moana 2 , which premiered alongside the English version, and a Hawaiian-language version where the original voice actress reprised her role to promote the Hawaiian language
. In summary:
- Moana speaks mainstream US English in the film.
- The film features Polynesian languages including Tokelauan, Samoan, and Māori in songs and cultural elements.
- There are official translations and versions of Moana in Māori and Hawaiian languages to honor Polynesian heritage and reach indigenous audiences.
This multilingual approach highlights the film's celebration of Polynesian culture and language diversity
