Hawaiian Airlines and Walt Disney Animation Studios just said Aloha to the first of three Moana-themed airplanes and kicked off a promotion where you have a chance to win a trip for two to the Hollywood Premiere.
The inaugural decal design features four characters from the movie on Hawaiian’s fuselage as they take off on a wayfinding journey, including the demigod Maui, the adventurous teenager Moana, and her two friends: Heihei the rooster and Pua the pig.
Dwayne Johnson, the voice of demigod Maui, and Auli‘i Cravalho, the Hawaiʻi-born actress who is the voice of Moana, were among the first to see the inspiring design when the plane was revealed in a hangar at the airline’s home base at Honolulu International Airport (HNL). The surprise reveal was hosted by Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley at a special event attended by several hundred members of the airline’s Team Kōkua program — employees and their families who have volunteered their time and service to give back to the local community.
Next month, Hawaiian will reveal two additional livery designs featuring custom-made decals that show the characters interacting with the planes in dynamic and engaging ways. The unique artwork, created by Walt Disney Animation Studios in collaboration with Hawaiian’s team, reimagines each aircraft as a modern-day voyaging canoe, flying Moana, Maui, and their friends to new and exciting destinations.
Check out this bit of promotional fluff from Hawaiian Airlines, it also has the time lapse video of the planes being painted with their new livery:
Think Hawaii might be expecting some increase in tourism from people who see Disney’s Moana and want to experience a little Polynesian paradise of their own?
Hawaiian also announced the Hawaiian Airlines Wayfinder Caption Contest which runs through Oct. 23 for fans in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. To enter, contestants will be asked to select one of three “Moana” illustrations and, in 150 words or less, capture the spirit of voyaging and wayfinding. Based on the quality and creativity of the caption, the winning entry will receive a Grand Prize trip for two to attend the Los Angeles premiere of “Moana” on Nov. 14. One runner-up will receive a First Place prize of 80,000 HawaiianMiles and a Second Place winner will receive a Hawaiian Airlines and Disney Moana co-branded gift pack. For more information and to enter, follow #SoaringWithDisneyMoana and visit HawaiianAirlines.com/Moana.
According to “Moana” producer Osnat Shurer, the story of Moana, Maui and their heroic journey sprang from the imagination of the filmmakers, who were deeply inspired by the glorious people of Oceania.
“We were inspired by the history of the great Polynesian voyagers,” said Shurer.
“They were the greatest navigators in the world, voyaging across the vast Pacific without the use of modern instruments. They would do all of this using their knowledge of nature – the stars, the waves, and the currents. We’re very excited to work with the modern-day voyagers of Hawaiian Airlines to help bring this story to the world.”
Though it operates with today’s state-of-the-art technology, Hawaiian honors the courage and ingenuity of skilled Polynesian navigators, who were guided by the waves, wind, stars, moon and sun, by naming each of its A330 aircraft after celestial objects. Today’s branded aircraft is N392HA, christened as Hikianalia, the sister star to Hōkūle‘a. Both are part of the constellation Iwikuamoʻo, and rise together above the Hawaiian Islands to help guide travelers back to their island home.