Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Pays Tribute to Troops in Hawaii at Big ‘Moana 2’ Premiere

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson took time to express his gratitude to the troops and their families in Hawaii during the highly successful opening weekend of “Moana 2.”

The actor and former WWE superstar, known for voicing Maui in the Disney franchise, visited Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu on Saturday to connect with members of the military community.

His visit comes as the highly anticipated film made an incredible splash at the box office, raking in $221 million over the five-day holiday period. Its record-breaking debut solidified the movie as a massive success, further cementing the franchise’s legacy and Dwayne Johnson’s talent.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been spending time in his home state of Hawaii for several weeks leading up to the premiere of “Moana 2” this weekend.

Johnson shared highlights from his visit on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, writing, “My absolute honor to once again come back to scared land, and spend time with our soldiers and their families at JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM here in Oahu, Hawaii.”

“Boundlessly grateful to all our military men and women & their families for their service,” he added. “A great day to look you in your eyes and shake your hands and loved all the daps, hugs, tears and selfies too.”

He concluded, “God bless you, and your families. Forever a proud patriot as our freedom is our greatest privilege.”

Even “The Rock” needs a little help when it comes to maintaining the physique of a demigod.

The actor, who lends his voice to the boastful Polynesian deity Maui in “Moana” and “Moana 2,” recently shared insights about how his iconic physique will be portrayed in the upcoming live-action adaptation of the beloved princess story.

“That’s a suit that took a long time to put on,” he said during a recent interview with Extra, noting that he appreciated the interviewer asking if he put on extra muscle to play the live-action Maui. “I’m so happy that you said, ‘You bulked up,’ because when you said, ‘You bulked up,’ that means you couldn’t tell.”

Johnson later shared that portraying Maui in the live-action adaptation felt noticeably different from simply providing the character’s voice in the animated “Moana” films.

“I have a handle on who Maui is: I know the voice, I know the man, I know his inspiration, I can access things, you got it,” he said. “The moment I stepped on set as live-action Maui, I realized right away, ‘Oh, wow. This is different, in terms of, this is real flesh and blood and skin and bones, and it becomes real all of a sudden. So then it’s almost like getting into my grandfather’s skin.”

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Johnson reflected on his personal connection to Maui, the character he voices in “Moana 2.” Johnson explained that Maui’s journey resonates with his own life experiences, particularly in learning to embrace vulnerability and ask for help.

“When I got to Maui, I was like, ‘Okay, I know who this is,'” he revealed. “This guy who is very presentational, who puts on a show, who loves to hold court, sing and dance, and make people feel good. But there’s a lot that’s brewing deep down that, eventually, he is going to have to contend with because it’s like a ball that you’re holding underwater. Eventually, you’ve got to let the ball go, and it’s going to explode.”

Johnson hopes that Maui’s openness, especially in “Moana 2,” will inspire viewers to find the courage to embrace their own vulnerability.

“It’s an important moment for people to see that you can be strong, you can be big, you can be independent, but it’s okay to ask for help,” he said. “When you do finally ask for help, the universe and your loved ones have a way of meeting you halfway. Even the strongest of people need help.”

“Moana 2” is playing now in theaters. The live-action “Moana” is set for release on July 10, 2026.