Auli'i Cravalho

Auliʻi Cravalho – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Meta description: Auliʻi Cravalho (born November 22, 2000) is an American actress and singer best known as the voice of Disney’s Moana. Explore her life, rise to fame, impact, and inspiring words.

Introduction

Auliʻi Cravalho is a young but influential presence in film, television, and musical storytelling. Rising to prominence when she was cast as the voice of Moana at age 14, she has since expanded into acting, singing, and stage performance—with roles in Rise, All Together Now, Darby and the Dead, Mean Girls: The Musical (film), and theatrical works including Cabaret. Her journey reflects determination, cultural pride, and the power of embracing one’s roots while reaching for new horizons.

Early Life and Family

Auliʻi Cravalho was born November 22, 2000 in Kohala, Hawaii.

Her parents, Dwayne Cravalho and Puanani “Cathleen” Cravalho, ran a construction company.

She grew up in Mililani, Hawaiʻi, attending Kamehameha Schools (Kapālama campus) and singing in the glee club.

Youth, Influences & Turning Points

Cravalho’s path to Moana is notable for being unexpected. She originally did not plan to audition — believing there were already many strong submissions — but a talent scout in Oahu discovered her via a local charity video contest and encouraged her to try. last person to audition out of hundreds.

Her casting as Moana while still in her first year of high school marked the start of her professional career.

She deferred attending Columbia University, where she was accepted to study environmental science, to focus on her acting career.

In April 2020, she publicly came out as bisexual. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a connective tissue disorder).

Career and Achievements

Breakthrough Role: Moana

Her debut came with voicing Moana in Disney’s 2016 animated film Moana (and its sequel in 2024). “How Far I’ll Go” — brought her early international recognition.

She also participated in dubbing Moana into Hawaiian language.

Television & Film Roles

• Rise (2018): She starred as Lilette Suarez in the NBC drama series.

• All Together Now (2020): Cravalho played Amber Appleton in this Netflix drama film.

• Darby and the Dead (2022): She took a leading role in this supernatural comedy.

• Crush (2022): She starred as AJ Campos.

• The Power (2023): She was cast in this sci-fi series.

• Mean Girls: The Musical (2024): She played Janis ‘Imi’ Iike in the film adaptation.

On stage, she has appeared in productions such as Evita (London, 2023) and Cabaret (Broadway, 2024).

She has also contributed voice acting to works beyond Moana, and participated in nonprofit virtual theatrical readings.

Legacy and Influence

Though still early in her career, Auliʻi Cravalho’s influence is emerging in several ways:

• Representation & cultural pride: As a Native Hawaiian voice leading a major Disney film, she has become a role model for Polynesian and Pacific Islander youth, showing that one’s heritage can be central, not peripheral.

• Empowerment of young women: Moana’s story is one of self-discovery and leadership without needing romantic validation. Cravalho has often remarked on its significance.

• Visibility in diversity and identity: Her openness about her sexuality and health challenges offers visibility and destigmatization.

• Artistic versatility: She is building a resume across film, television, voice work, and theater—suggesting she will continue evolving in many directions.

Personality, Values & Creative Philosophy

Cravalho often speaks about staying grounded, maintaining humility, and honoring her roots in Hawaiʻi. In a 2025 interview, she reflected:

“My people love life and they’re also not afraid to tell you when you're wrong… I try to take that with me wherever I go. It hasn’t steered me wrong yet.”

She credits her mother for keeping her grounded through chores and responsibilities, ensuring she did not lose perspective amid rising fame.

Her Hawaiian roots and connection to land and ocean inform her worldview. She has affirmed: “If you take care of the ocean, the ocean will take care of you in return.”

Cravalho also encourages youth not to confine themselves to expectations. She once said:

“By no means should you ever limit yourself because of what others think or because of their perceptions of what someone looks like in a certain field.”

She describes herself as “animated” — her voice carries emotion in a way she sees as a blessing.

Famous Quotes of Auliʻi Cravalho

Here are a selection of her more memorable and insightful quotes:

• “Everyone needs to take that time to figure out who they are. … You don’t need another person to help you find yourself.”

• “Moana doesn’t have a love interest … this movie is about a journey … finding herself.”

• “I surf, swim, play water polo, and I paddle an outrigger canoe … I’m also a klutz on land, so water is my thing.”

• “My mom keeps me grounded … She makes me do chores.”

• “From baby time to now, I wanted to be a Disney princess, and then I wanted to be a singer or an actress.”

• “It’s ‘ow,’ like you stubbed your toe. ‘Lee,’ like Bruce Lee. Then, you add an ‘e.’” (on pronouncing her name)

• “What I really love are acai bowls, with berries, granola, and so much honey.”

• From Moana (as the character): “Sometimes our strengths lie beneath the surface… Far beneath, in some cases.”

• Also from Moana: “The ocean is a friend of mine.”

These quotes reflect her values: self-discovery, humility, connection to nature, and resisting narrow expectations.

Lessons from Auliʻi Cravalho

From her journey and outlook, we can derive several lessons:

• Embrace your origins: Cravalho’s Hawaiian identity is integral, not optional. One’s roots can empower rather than confine.

• Step into opportunity even when uncertain: She auditioned despite doubt and gave voice to Moana, which became life-changing.

• Maintain humility through success: Her insistence on chores and grounded family relationships helped her stay centered.

• Don’t restrict yourself: Her encouragement to not limit oneself because of others’ perceptions is a powerful message for all young people.

• Champion representation: Her role as Moana showed that leading characters don’t always need romantic arcs—they can be about journey, identity, and culture.

Conclusion

Auliʻi Cravalho’s story is still being written, but thus far it’s one of grace, resilience, cultural affirmation, and creative promise. From her debut as the voice of Moana to burgeoning roles across screen and stage, she exemplifies a generation that blends heritage and ambition. Her words—rooted in self-discovery, groundedness, and defiance of limits—offer inspiration not just to fans, but to anyone navigating identity, aspiration, and purpose.

If you’d like a deep dive into her filmography, a focus on her theatrical works, or analysis of how she represents Polynesian culture in her art, I’d be happy to expand!