Aulani Fire Knife Performer Hualālai Chung Joins the Cast of Moana 2

Hualālai Chung, a fire knife performer at Aulani's KA WA'A – A Lū'au since 2016, makes his feature film debut in Disney's Moana 2 as Moni, a new storyteller character. Chung began his Disney journey at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, where years of performing Hawaiian culture through song and dance honed the storytelling skills that ultimately landed him on the big screen. Moana 2 opened in theaters on November 27, 2024.

Hualālai Chung, a longtime fire knife performer at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, makes his Disney feature film debut in Moana 2 as Moni — a storyteller who joins Moana's crew and shares the legends and lore of Motunui. Before the big screen came calling, Chung spent years at Aulani's KA WA'A – A Lū'au honing the art of Hawaiian storytelling through performance, making his casting a natural extension of a career rooted in sharing culture and community.

From the Lū'au Stage to the Silver Screen

Hualālai Chung has been a fixture at Aulani's KA WA'A – A Lū'au since the Hawaiian resort's lu'au program opened in 2016. A practitioner of fire knife performance since the age of three, he has spent years transforming into a storyteller of Hawaiian culture through song and dance each night — embodying precisely the spirit of community and tradition that sits at the heart of the Moana franchise.

Chung shared that years of live performance — the discipline of commanding an audience, reading the room, and weaving narrative through movement — directly prepared him for the demands of voicing Moni. "Performing has helped prepare him for his role as Moni by honing his skills of storytelling, just for the big screen," Chung reflected.

A World Premiere in His Own Backyard

The world premiere of Moana 2 was held in Ko Olina — the same coastal community that is home to Aulani Resort — giving Chung the rare opportunity to debut his film role in front of his own 'ohana and community. He described the premiere as a chance to share with the wider world the people and place that shaped him as a performer and as a person.

When asked to reflect on his favorite parts of Aulani itself, Chung did not hesitate — it is the food. His go-to items include refreshing shave ice from Pāpālua Shave Ice and the iconic Mickey musubi from The Ulu Cafe, two of the resort's most beloved quick-service offerings.

Watch Hualālai Tell His Own Story

Chung shared more about his journey from Aulani to the big screen in the video feature below.

Why This Story Matters

Hualālai Chung's path from resort cast member to Disney feature film performer reflects the deep connection between authentic cultural expression and the Disney storytelling tradition. His casting in Moana 2 demonstrates how Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa — far from being simply a vacation destination — functions as a genuine incubator for Hawaiian cultural talent. Moana 2 is now playing in theaters, and guests can experience the traditions Chung has shared for years at KA WA'A – A Lū'au by visiting disneyaulani.com.