KAILUA-KONA — More than two weeks after it opened, Disney’s “Moana” is still packing theaters in Kona.
The film stars Auli’i Cravalho, who was born and raised in Kohala until the age of 9. Since its release, it’s attracted rave reviews, currently holding a 96-percent “certified fresh” rating at the review aggregator website RottenTomatoes.com.
The Associated Press reported last week that the film led the box office for the second week in a row, bringing in $28.3 million, upping its total to $119.8 million in North America.
The movie is set among the islands of Polynesia, incorporating familiar flora and fauna into its imagery and featuring a slate of Polynesian performers, including Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, who voice Moana and Maui, respectively.
Cravalho said in an interview earlier this week that before she got involved with Moana she was wary about how the film would portray Polynesian cultures.
After working on the film though, she said, she’s incredibly proud of it and how it depicts the cultures of Polynesia.
“Now that it’s out, everyone can see just how much pride it gives us,” she said. “It’s inspired by us, and it’s inspired so well and done so incredibly beautifully.”
Cravalho said she was honored to have been able to portray “such a wonderful, strong, empowered young woman,” in a film inspired by Polynesian cultures.
“She’s incredible in that way,” she said. “She’s rocking her gorgeous tan and her curly hair and everything.”
But the film hasn’t been without its detractors.
After Moana debuted, some criticized its portrayal of cultures in Polynesia and its depiction of Maui.
The Associated Press quoted a senior lecturer in Pacific Studies at a New Zealand university saying the cultural hero is depicted as “a buffoon in Disney.”
But families who filled a theater at Regal Makalapua Stadium 10 Saturday afternoon for the first showing of the day came out with consistently high praise for the film.
Jessie Marques, a Pahala resident who came to the screening with her great-granddaughter, said she really enjoyed the film.
“It was excellent,” she said. “It was meaningful.”
Marques, who is Native Hawaiian, said the cultural representation “was very appropriate.”
Often, she said, Hawaiian culture can get lost in Western lifestyles, but the film did a great job.
“I just see it as a really opportune time to enhance all that we are,” she said.
Tasha Fernandez, a Kona resident who attended the movie with her family, also said she enjoyed it.
“I think it was good,” she said, “gave me chicken skin.”
She also believed the filmmakers “really did their research” with the film when it came to its depiction of Pacific islands.
“I think it was pretty accurate,” she said, though saying there seemed to be more of a Samoan or Tongan influence.
Fernandez said she particularly enjoyed the character of Gramma Tala, Moana’s grandmother in the film, who was voiced by Rachel House.
“That was chicken skin,” Fernandez said of the character’s presence in the film.