Dwayne Johnson Visits Hawaii Troops Amid ‘Moana 2’ Success

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson took time to specific his gratitude to the troops and their households in Hawaii throughout the extremely profitable opening weekend of “Moana 2.”

The actor and former WWE celebrity, identified for voicing Maui within the Disney franchise, visited Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu on Saturday to attach with members of the army group.

His go to comes because the extremely anticipated movie made an unbelievable splash on the field workplace, raking in $221 million over the five-day vacation interval. Its record-breaking debut solidified the film as an enormous success, additional cementing the franchise’s legacy and Dwayne Johnson’s expertise.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been spending time in his dwelling state of Hawaii for a number of weeks main as much as the premiere of “Moana 2” this weekend.

Johnson shared highlights from his go to on X, the social media platform previously generally known as Twitter, writing, “My absolute honor to as soon as once more come again to scared land, and spend time with our troopers and their households at JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM right here in Oahu, Hawaii.”

“Boundlessly grateful to all our army women and men & their households for his or her service,” he added. “A fantastic day to look you in your eyes and shake your arms and cherished all of the daps, hugs, tears and selfies too.”

He concluded, “God bless you, and your households. Eternally a proud patriot as our freedom is our best privilege.”

Even “The Rock” wants a bit of assist in relation to sustaining the physique of a demigod.

The actor, who lends his voice to the boastful Polynesian deity Maui in “Moana” and “Moana 2,” not too long ago shared insights about how his iconic physique might be portrayed within the upcoming live-action adaptation of the beloved princess story.

“That is a go well with that took a very long time to placed on,” he stated throughout a current interview with Extra, noting that he appreciated the interviewer asking if he placed on additional muscle to play the live-action Maui. “I am so pleased that you just stated, ‘You bulked up,’ as a result of while you stated, ‘You bulked up,’ which means you could not inform.”

Johnson later shared that portraying Maui in the live-action adaptation felt noticeably completely different from merely offering the character’s voice within the animated “Moana” movies.

“I’ve a deal with on who Maui is: I do know the voice, I do know the person, I do know his inspiration, I can entry issues, you bought it,” he stated. “The second I stepped on set as live-action Maui, I noticed instantly, ‘Oh, wow. That is completely different, when it comes to, that is actual flesh and blood and pores and skin and bones, and it turns into actual swiftly. So then it is nearly like moving into my grandfather’s pores and skin.”

In a current interview with Entertainment Weekly, Johnson mirrored on his private connection to Maui, the character he voices in “Moana 2.” Johnson defined that Maui’s journey resonates together with his personal life experiences, significantly in studying to embrace vulnerability and ask for assist.

“After I obtained to Maui, I used to be like, ‘Okay, I do know who that is,'” he revealed. “This man who may be very presentational, who places on a present, who loves to carry courtroom, sing and dance, and make folks really feel good. However there’s lots that is brewing deep down that, finally, he’s going to must cope with as a result of it is like a ball that you just’re holding underwater. Finally, you have to let the ball go, and it is going to explode.”

Johnson hopes that Maui’s openness, particularly in “Moana 2,” will encourage viewers to search out the braveness to embrace their very own vulnerability.

“It is an essential second for folks to see that you could be sturdy, you will be large, you will be unbiased, however it’s okay to ask for assist,” he stated. “While you do lastly ask for assist, the universe and your family members have a manner of assembly you midway. Even the strongest of individuals need assistance.”

“Moana 2” is taking part in now in theaters. The live-action “Moana” is about for launch on July 10, 2026.