Maui is a character larger than life in Moana, which makes sense considering his background. The demigod of the wind and sea was introduced in the 2016 Moana movie, but it has become clear that this is far from the last that audiences will see of him. Maui returns for the 2024 sequel Moana 2, and there’s no telling how far this franchise and character will go thereafter. Audiences are likely to learn about Maui’s background as the Moana movies continue to expand his story. Still, a great deal has already been established between the existing story and the mythology on which this character is based.
Moana is the true hero in the Moana movies, but Maui can’t be left out entirely (nor would he ever want to be). The character is rather fickle and quirky—morally good but also self-obsessed and full of mischief. The first Moana movie laid the groundwork for his backstory, explaining how he became a demigod, received his magical fishhook, and unwittingly began a plague that nearly wiped out all life across the Pacific Ocean. Going into Moana 2, there is a lot left to learn about what Maui does now that he has made amends for his past mistakes—but let’s first take a look back at his past and inspiration.
Maui Was A Human Raised By The Gods Before Moana
The First Moana Movie Explained Maui’s Origin
Maui pretends in Moana that he is pure, uncaring confidence. However, the Disney movie ultimately reveals that this character’s bravado hides someone who has been deeply injured. During Maui and Moana’s confrontation with the great crab Tamatoa, it’s hinted that the demigod was abandoned as an infant and that his desire to give humans all they desire comes from a hope to earn their love. Later, under Moana’s pressing questions, Maui explains that he was born a mortal child, but his family didn’t want him. So, they threw the infant into the ocean to die.
Maui used these powers to make life for humans better, hoping that they would love him in the way his parents seemingly never did.
It’s a tragic story, but the gods of Moana must have seen something in Maui (just as they saw something in Moana herself). The baby was rescued by the gods and raised up as a demigod. Maui was given the magical fishhook that gave him the ability to shapeshift. Prior to the events of Moana, Maui believed that he was nothing without this power. As a demigod, he was immortal, but the fishhook was what made him special. Maui used these powers to make life for humans better, hoping that they would love him in the way his parents seemingly never did.
Why Maui Stole The Heart Of Te Fiti & Was Banished
Maui Spent 1,000 Years On A Deserted Island
During the song “You’re Welcome” in Moana, Maui explained all the different feats he performed trying to please the humans. He is credited for lassoing the sun toward the earth and, therefore, stretching the days. He created breezes, pulled islands up from the sea for people to explore, and buried an eel’s guts to create coconut trees. Each time he did something, a tattoo would appear on Maui’s skin, commemorating the gift he gave to humans. However, it never seemed to be enough. Maui was desperate for approval, and this ultimately led him to make a terrible mistake.
The opening scene of Moana outlines how Maui stole the Heart of Te Fiti but was thwarted by a lava monster and banished to a deserted island (without the heart or his fishhook) for a thousand years. It’s later revealed that Maui had only stolen the heart in the first place because he wanted to give it to the mortals as a gift. He believed they could use this stone to create life themselves, but this was an honor restricted to the gods. Maui had no idea that stealing the heart would interrupt the flow of creation, and over the next thousand years, a plague stretched across the sea, killing everything it touched.
Maui’s Powers In Moana Explained
Maui’s Fishhook Gives Him Extraordinary Abilities
Maui’s main power in Moana came from his fishhook. This was how he could shapeshift into different animals, with a giant hawk being a particular favorite for the demigod. It becomes apparent in the 2016 movie that even with the hook, Maui’s ability to shapeshift is connected to his own confidence. After his monumental mistake of stealing the heart of Te Fiti and several centuries of being alone and powerless on an island, Maui’s confidence faltered, and he, therefore, struggled to transform freely once he had reobtained his hook. With Moana’s help, he slowly got the hang of it again.
Though Maui believed he was nothing without his fishhook, it’s proven in Moana that this wasn’t true. He was still a demigod, and though he didn’t possess the kind of power of gods, he could pull off some pretty amazing feats. Pulling islands up from the sea or lassoing the sun had very little to do with shapeshifting, so it’s assumed that Maui has herculean strength. Beyond this, Maui is immortal and won’t age or die of any natural causes. Still, his fear of facing Te Ka implies that he could die from injury.
Maui Is Inspired By A Demigod From Polynesian Legends
The Real Maui Is A Folklore Hero & Trickster
Though the character seen in Moana is fictionalized, he is based on the legends and myths from the various cultures of Polynesia (via Huff Post). Maui is regarded as a folklore hero and isn’t typically worshiped. However, this character is beloved in a similar way to European stories like Robin Hood or King Arthur. Legends of Maui originate in some variation or another from Hawai’i, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and more. This is truly remarkable since the stories surrounding Maui and the other gods of Polynesian mythology stretch over 4000 miles across the Pacific Ocean, demonstrating just how effective voyagers like those seen in Moana truly were.
Many of Maui’s feats described in the Moana song “You’re Welcome” come directly from these Polynesian legends.
Many of Maui’s feats described in the Moana song “You’re Welcome” come directly from these Polynesian legends. This mischievous and flawed hero was at the center of many creation stories, including the origin of fire and the sky. Maui’s own birth and origin story in Moana also fits with some versions of the actual demigod’s stories. There’s even a legend about a time when Maui tried to help humans become immortal but failed and was greatly punished by the gods as a result.
Dwayne Johnson Plays Maui In The Moana Movies
Dwayne Johnson Plays Maui In Moana, Moana 2, & The Live-Action Moana
Maui is famously voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Moana, an actor and former professional wrestler. Johnson is Samoan on his mother’s side and has been public in his adoration for his character in Moana. He has returned to the role for Moana 2 and will also be portraying Maui in the upcoming live-action remake of Moana. Between all these Disney movies, Johnson will forever be associated with the character of Maui. Of course, the real folklore hero goes far beyond an actor or movie, stretching back centuries and across miles upon miles of Oceania islands. Regardless, Moana and Johnson are responsible for bringing Maui to the mainstream.
