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Moana was so important for me and my daughter – so it meant the world to speak to live-action stars Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga'aia
Samoan-born chef and MasterChef: The Professionals judge, Monica Galetti, talks and cooks for the stars of the new Moana film.
- Monica Galetti
Published: Monday, 6 July 2026 at 5:00 pm
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This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine.
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I’ve been living and cooking in the UK for about 26 years now and people would always ask, “Oh, where are you from?” If I said Samoa, they looked confused. But 10 years ago, the Disney animation Moana came out. Now, I’ll say, “OK, have you seen Moana?” They say “Yes.” I say, “Well, think of that side of the world, and I’m Samoan.” So, it is very important.
My daughter Anais must have been about nine or 10 when the animation first came out, and all of a sudden she had something to relate to about her culture. Moana is a story about a young girl, a chief’s daughter from the Pacific Islands, who’s drawn to the water, to the oceans.
One day the Pacific Islands start dying, because the trickster demigod Maui stole the heart of Te Fiti, an Earth goddess. Moana takes on the great task of returning Te Fiti’s heart, with Maui’s help. If that heart wasn’t returned, then her people would perish.
I remember watching it and crying – there’s a scene where Moana discovers the true history of her people, and they’re singing in Samoan. When I hear Samoan music, I remember family, I remember growing up in the islands. And I think even more so now I’ve lost both my parents, hearing that straight away hits my heart.
Now, 10 years later they’ve remade the film in live-action, with Dwayne Johnson back as Maui [the character he previously voiced], and 19-year-old Australian actress Catherine Laga’aia taking over the role of Moana.
Moana actor Catherine Laga’aia and MasterChef: The Professionals judge Monica Galetti. Ray Burmiston
Meeting them both for Radio Times was a joy. Seeing real people carrying out the Pacific Island customs – the canoes, the houses, the traditional weaving, the clothing – will have such a big impact, even more than the animation did.
Obviously for me, Samoan food is also hugely important. Today I brought things for a tasting that I thought Catherine could relate to. The first is a Koko-misu, a fun take on a tiramisu. I mean, everyone’s had a tiramisu, but I hoped she would recognise the Koko I grated on it – it’s pure chocolate from Samoa. I was right, apparently her dad uses it! My dad used to make it and bring it to me here in the UK.
The other one, which is a Pani Popo, is like a brioche bun, and it’s baked in coconut milk. In my recipes I always try to take it a little further – I use desiccated coconut, for example, underneath it. Catherine said it’s possibly the best one she ever tasted… I’ll take that!
Both of these recipes are in my upcoming cookbook, Gathering. Something in Moana I really related to was that quite a lot of us have to leave home, to find our path and what we’re meant to do. The name comes not just from the recipes that I discovered and gathered on my journeys, but it’s also about when my family used to come together – a gathering.
Those moments eating together, or going fishing with my mom and dad, or picking water cress. For me everything’s about family, the travels and your culture. But in the end, it’s also about who sits around the table with you.
Catherine’s verdict
Koko-misu: That is yum! I really like that.
Pani Popo: I like this one. This one’s really good. My dad would love that. He’d be sitting on the couch with his ukulele in one hand, eating that with the other. But it would be gone in one bite.
The pair tuck into Monica's Koko-misu and Pani Popo. Disney
Monica First I have to say, growing up as a Polynesian this side of the world, the original Moana meant a lot to my daughter. She could say ‘That’s where I’m from’. How was that for you, Catherine?
Catherine I’m one of four sisters, and growing up so many random people would come up to us and say, ‘Oh, you look like this’ – and it’s never someone of your actual ethnicity. But when Moana came out, it was, ‘Oh, you look like Moana, your sister looks like Moana…’ That, for me, was really special, because we do!
Dwayne How cool is that, right?
Monica In this live-action remake, I noticed more Samoan influence, especially in the music. It all took me back to growing up – Dwayne, what are your memories of that?
Dwayne My grandfather was High Chief Peter Maivia. The character of Maui was inspired by him, even though there’s different iterations of Maui in our Polynesian cultures. This particular one, his size, his hair, his music, how he sang, he was tough, vulnerable when he had to be… that’s my grandfather.
I grew up an only child, it was me and my mom a lot, my dad [wrestler Rocky Johnson] was always on the road. She would try to teach me Samoan and she’d give me the Samoan food. But it wasn’t until I got to Auckland, and we lived with my grandfather’s side of the family, that I really started to understand and have Sunday To’ona’i every week…
Wrestler turner actor Dwayne Johnson. Lucas Figueiredo/Getty Images for Disney
Monica Sunday To’ona’is [feasts] are the best, aren’t they?
Dwayne Yes. Until we had to kill the pig. As a seven year old…
Monica I had a pet pig they killed! It happens... Catherine, you were 17 starting this movie and there were over 23,000 applicants to play Moana? You must know this is going to inspire so many Pacific Island girls...
Catherine 32,000! There’s a lot of pressure, because I think of all of those other girls, and I’m like, ‘What made me different?’ But you know, I’m so proud of the film that we made.
Dwayne I have three daughters, and I look at Catherine as if she’s my own daughter. I had an amazing front row seat to watch this young actress take on this role, her first one. It’s a beloved story globally for over a decade. At 17, she put it on her shoulders with this grace and this dignity. And in a way that’s so Samoan, and just how things are done. I was so impressed with her.
Live-action Moana stars Catherine Laga'aia and Dwayne Johnson. Samir Hussein/WireImage
Monica Finally, I just have to say it’s so nice to have fellow Samoans here in London.
Dwayne It’s funny, you know, you talked in Samoan when we arrived… When I was living in New Zealand, because I was often doing something stupid and getting in trouble, my auntie would always say, “Oh Kalofae”. And I thought that was my Samoan name, but...
Monica But that means ‘poor thing’!
Catherine My dad would just call us all ‘Muli head’ for the longest time.
Monica Muli head! That’s like saying bottom head. I say that to my daughter now.
Catherine I thought it was a term of endearment until I met one of my uncles, and he said, I can’t believe you let your dad call you that!
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Monica Galetti
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