New Hawaiian-Language 'Moana' Film Premieres at Bishop Museum

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A new version of the Disney film 'Moana,' entirely in the Hawaiian language with English subtitles, has been released on Disney+ and is being celebrated with a free public screening at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. The film features an all-Hawaiian speaking cast and was produced by a team of native Hawaiian speakers, highlighting the capacity of Hawaiians to create their own stories and content in their own language using modern technology.

Why it matters

This Hawaiian-language version of 'Moana' represents an important milestone in the revitalization of the Hawaiian language and the ability of Hawaiians to tell their own stories using new media. It showcases the skills and creativity of native Hawaiian speakers, many of whom grew up in Hawaiian language immersion schools, and demonstrates the potential for more Hawaiian-language content to be produced and shared with the broader community.

The details

The new Hawaiian-language 'Moana' film was produced by a team of native Hawaiian speakers, many of whom attended Hawaiian language immersion schools from a young age. In the past, much Hawaiian-language content was simply translations of English-language materials, but this film represents an original production in Hawaiian, with all dialogue, songs, and voiceover performed by fluent Hawaiian speakers.

• The Hawaiian-language 'Moana' film was released on Disney+ in February 2026.
• A free public screening of the film is being held at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu on February 7, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The free public screening of the Hawaiian-language 'Moana' film at the Bishop Museum is scheduled for February 7, 2026, and is expected to draw a large audience interested in celebrating Hawaiian language and culture.