The Hawaiian language version of Disney’s 2016 hit animated film Moana will be distributed to schools across the state of Hawaii, according to NBC News.
- Every accredited school in Hawaii will receive a copy of the DVD for free as a gift the University of Hawaii’s Academy for Creative Media (ACM).
- This includes schools from pre-K through college level.
- ACM produced the Hawaiian language version of the film themselves earlier this year, even getting the film’s star, Auli’i Cravalho, to reprise her role.
- ACM students, faculty and staff translated roughly 10,00 words for the new version of the film.
- Cravalho was joined by fellow original cast member Nicole Scherzinger, who voiced Sina, as well as dozens of local speakers and entertainers who filled the remaining roles for the new version of the film.
- Moana is the first Disney film to ever be dubbed in Hawaiian.
- The Hawaiian language version of the film premiered in June.
What they’re saying:
- Chris Lee, the director and founder of the University of Hawaii’s Academy for Creative Media: “A lot of people don’t realize that the language was almost extinct in the ’70s. We hope this can help in continuing to broaden the fluency in the language.”
- Auli’i Cravalho, star of Moana, at the film’s premiere in June: “It is amazing to know that our language will be heard again around the world and to know that we are dang proud of it too.”
- Producer Osnat Shurer on the announcement of the film’s redubbing last year: “The filmmakers are thrilled that Moana continues to uplift and inspire all over the world, particularly in the cultures that inspired the film. Hawai’i is at the heart of the renaissance of traditional voyaging, and Nainoa Thompson, the Polynesian Voyaging Society and the incredible voyages of the Hokulea were a major inspiration for Moana. It is a great honor that our Hawaiian friends and partners would like to translate the film into the beautiful Hawaiian language.”