Seiuli Dwayne Johnson has called the role of Maui a rare opportunity because "it's culture, and it's my culture." A role, he says, was inspired by his grandfather.
The world premiere of the live-action version of Moana is three weeks away. He reprises the role of Maui, the character he voiced in the animated feature.
Seiuli reflected on the importance of representation, saying he thought about "a little 10-year-old boy in Samoa or in New Zealand or Tahiti" seeing themselves on screen, while hoping Polynesian people would leave with a sense of pride in their culture.
"I really tried my best to stay in the moment and be present every day because opportunities like this do not come often in a career."
Seiuli spoke about the importance of representation for young Polynesians.
