Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson took time to precise his gratitude to the troops and their families in Hawaii through the highly successful opening weekend of “Moana 2.”
The actor and former WWE superstar, known for voicing Maui within the Disney franchise, visited Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu on Saturday to attach with members of the military community.
His visit comes because the highly anticipated film made an incredible splash on the box office, raking in $221 million over the five-day holiday period. Its record-breaking debut solidified the movie as a large success, further cementing the franchise’s legacy and Dwayne Johnson’s talent.
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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Thanks Hawaiian Troops During ‘Moana 2’ Opening Weekend
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been spending time in his home state of Hawaii for several weeks leading as much as the premiere of “Moana 2” this weekend.
Johnson shared highlights from his visit on X, the social media platform formerly often called Twitter, writing, “My absolute honor to once more come back to scared land, and spend time with our soldiers and their families at JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM here in Oahu, Hawaii.”
“Boundlessly grateful to all our military men and ladies & their families for his or her service,” he added. “An amazing day to look you in your eyes and shake your hands and loved all of the daps, hugs, tears and selfies too.”
He concluded, “God bless you, and your families. Without end a proud patriot as our freedom is our best privilege.”
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Dwayne Johnson Confirms He Wore A Bodysuit In Live-Motion ‘Moana’
Even “The Rock” needs a bit of help with regards to maintaining the physique of a demigod.
The actor, who lends his voice to the boastful Polynesian deity Maui in “Moana” and “Moana 2,” recently shared insights about how his iconic physique shall be portrayed within the upcoming live-action adaptation of the beloved princess story.
“That is a suit that took a protracted time to placed on,” he said during a recent interview with Extra, noting that he appreciated the interviewer asking if he placed on extra muscle to play the live-action Maui. “I’m so joyful that you simply said, ‘You bulked up,’ because while you said, ‘You bulked up,’ which means you could not tell.”
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‘The Rock’ Opens Up About Live-Motion ‘Moana’
Johnson later shared that portraying Maui within the live-action adaptation felt noticeably different from simply providing the character’s voice within the animated “Moana” movies.
“I even have a handle on who Maui is: I do know the voice, I do know the person, I do know his inspiration, I can access things, you bought it,” he said. “The moment I stepped on set as live-action Maui, I spotted straight away, ‘Oh, wow. That is different, by way of, that is real flesh and blood and skin and bones, and it becomes real rapidly. So then it’s almost like stepping into my grandfather’s skin.”
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Dwayne Johnson Reveals How Maui Relates To His Personal Life
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Johnson reflected on his personal connection to Maui, the character he voices in “Moana 2.” Johnson explained that Maui’s journey resonates together with his own life experiences, particularly in learning to embrace vulnerability and ask for help.
“Once I got to Maui, I used to be like, ‘Okay, I do know who that is,'” he revealed. “This guy who could be very presentational, who puts on a show, who likes to hold court, sing and dance, and make people feel good. But there’s lots that is brewing deep down that, eventually, he’s going to need to contend with since it’s like a ball that you simply’re holding underwater. Eventually, you have got to let the ball go, and it may explode.”
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How ‘Moana 2’ Will Encourage Viewers
Johnson hopes that Maui’s openness, especially in “Moana 2,” will encourage viewers to seek out the courage to embrace their very own vulnerability.
“It’s a very important moment for people to see that you would be able to be strong, you’ll be able to be big, you’ll be able to be independent, however it’s okay to ask for help,” he said. “While you do finally ask for help, the universe and your family members have a way of meeting you halfway. Even the strongest of individuals need assistance.”
“Moana 2” is playing now in theaters. The live-action “Moana” is ready for release on July 10, 2026.
