What Disney’s Live-Action ‘Moana’ Really Left Behind in Hawai’i, Revealed
So the live-action Moana is officially out. As of July 10, you can go watch Maui and Moana sail the open ocean in real life instead of animation, and the internet has plenty of opinions about whether you should. But while everyone else is glued to box office trackers, I want to talk about the part of this story that actually made me smile: what this movie did for Hawai’i.
The Numbers Coming Out of O’ahu
Here’s the deal. The production filmed for nine days on O’ahu and, according to reporting by Aloha State Daily, pumped an estimated $39 million into the state’s economy. That estimate comes straight from Georja Skinner, who leads the creative industries division at Hawai’i’s Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, so this isn’t fan speculation. It’s the state’s own math.
Where did all that money go? Labor, vendors, contractors, transportation, basically the whole ecosystem that springs up around a big Hollywood shoot.
The hiring numbers are honestly the best part. The production brought on 560 Hawai’i residents, plus 185 folks from out of state, across 39 different job categories. We’re talking actors and stunt performers, sure, but also accountants, production office staff, special effects crews, drivers, and even on-set teachers. Skinner pointed out that locals working on productions like this pick up skills and experience that feed right back into Hawai’i’s own creative industry. That’s the kind of impact that outlasts any opening weekend.
Hawai’i Wants More Where That Came From
The state clearly liked what it saw, because Governor Josh Green just signed a new bill this week called SB 2580. In plain English, it sweetens the pot for Hollywood. Productions get bigger tax credits if at least 80 percent of their hires are local, streaming projects now qualify alongside movies and TV, and the overall tax credit cap jumps from $50 million to $60 million.
And Disney seems like the most likely repeat customer. The live-action Lilo & Stitch filmed on O’ahu, too, and with a sequel on the way, chances are good the mouse comes back to the islands.
Okay, but What About the Actual Movie?
Fair question. The remake has a lot going for it on paper. Dwayne Johnson is back as Maui and producing, and he’s been open about how personal this one is for him because of his Polynesian roots. Hamilton’s Thomas Kail directs his first feature film. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Mark Mancina returned for the music, and original writer Jared Bush co-wrote the script with Dana Ledoux Miller.
The new Moana is Catherine Laga’aia, an Australian newcomer making her big-screen debut. And in a classy move, original voice Auli’i Cravalho stepped back from playing the role herself, saying authentic casting mattered, and took an executive producer credit instead.
That said, the early signs at the box office are rocky. Thursday previews came in at $4.5 million, reviews on Rotten Tomatoes have been rough, and projections have the opening weekend somewhere between $45 and $60 million against a budget around $200 million. After what happened with Snow White last year, you can imagine how the internet is reacting.
Still, this franchise has earned some benefit of the doubt. Moana 2 opened to $389 million worldwide over five days in 2024 and cruised past a billion dollars total. People love this world.
Overall Take on Moana
However, the box office shakes out, I keep coming back to those 560 local jobs and that $39 million. Movies come and go, and remake discourse will always find something new to argue about. But real paychecks in real communities, plus a new law that could bring even more productions to the islands? That’s a happy ending no critic score can touch.
If you see it this weekend, let me know what you think. I’ll be there with popcorn either way.
