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Disney’s live-action Moana sailed into theaters on July 10, 2026, and the breathtaking shorelines you see on screen are real Hawaiʻi. The production filmed its ocean and beach scenes on Oʻahu between July and November 2024, with crews reported at Pokai Bay and Mākua Beach on the island’s west side. Studio work happened at Trilith Studios near Atlanta. These stunning moana filming locations hawaii are a must-visit for fans.
If the movie has your kids running around the living room singing “How Far I’ll Go,” this guide is for you. Below, we explore every reported filming location, whether you can visit them, and the stunning beaches and valleys on Maui and the Big Island where families recreate the Motunui look in their own Moana inspired family photos.
Where Was the Live-Action Moana Filmed?
The 2026 live-action remake was shot in two primary places. Controlled water scenes were filmed in massive tanks at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia. The real-world coastline, ocean sailing, and majestic mountain backdrops were captured on Oʻahu.
One honest note before the list: Disney has not published an official location breakdown. What follows comes from behind-the-scenes footage, local news reports, and residents who watched the crews work. Treat the studio locations as confirmed and the Oʻahu spots as strongly reported.
To make the most of your visit, explore the magical moana filming locations hawaii to truly immerse yourself in the beauty of the islands.
Pokai Bay — Waiʻanae, West Oʻahu
Pokai Bay is the location most closely tied to the film. Production crews were spotted here during the 2024 shoot, and cast members were seen working near the shoreline. It makes perfect sense: the bay is protected by a breakwall, so the water stays calm and glassy, which is exactly what you need for sailing scenes with a young lead actor. The Waiʻanae mountains rise right behind the sand, creating a cinematic backdrop.
Pokai Bay is also home to Kuʻilioloa Heiau, an ancient Hawaiian navigation temple — making it a deeply fitting location for a film about a Polynesian wayfinder.
Mākua Beach — West Oʻahu
Further up the leeward coast, crews also filmed at Mākua Beach. It is one of the least developed stretches of sand on Oʻahu: no hotels, no crowds, just a wide beach backed by steep green cliffs. Mākua Valley is a culturally significant area for Native Hawaiians, so if you visit, stay on the beach and treat the place with care.
Kualoa Ranch and the Koʻolau Mountains — Windward Oʻahu
The towering, fluted green ridges behind Motunui? Multiple location trackers point to Oʻahu’s windward side, including the area around Kualoa Ranch, the 4,000-acre private reserve that has appeared in Jurassic Park, Jumanji, and dozens of other productions. Aerial shots of Mount Kaʻala, Oʻahu’s highest peak, were also reportedly used for the film’s big landscape moments.
Families can book the official Kualoa Ranch Movie Sites Tour to explore the valley up close.
Trilith Studios — Atlanta, Georgia
Principal photography began on July 29, 2024, at Trilith Studios, where the team built indoor water tanks and shot the effects-heavy sequences against green screens. Everything Te Kā-sized happened here. Everything golden-hour happened in Hawaiʻi.
Can You Visit the Moana Filming Locations?
Yes, and it costs almost nothing. Pokai Bay and Mākua Beach are public beaches, free and open year-round. Pokai Bay is also one of the best swimming beaches on the west side for small kids because the breakwall keeps the water calm. Kualoa Ranch is private, but it runs daily movie-site tours that families consistently rate as a trip highlight.
A quick etiquette note: Waiʻanae is a local community first and a film location second. Pack out your trash, give fishermen space, and skip the drone.
Ready to capture your own memories on Oʻahu? Book an Oahu vacation photographer to document your family adventure at these iconic spots.
For beach conditions and public access information, check the Hawaii Division of State Parks before you go.
Moana-Inspired Family Photo Locations on Maui and the Big Island
Here is the part most Moana fans don’t realize: you don’t need to fly to Oʻahu to stand in a scene from the movie. The production chose West Oʻahu for its calm water, empty sand, and green cliffs, and Maui and the Big Island have all three. These are the exact spots our Dreamgraphy photographers shoot week after week to capture that authentic Motunui aesthetic without the Hollywood crowds.
Maui: Where Motunui Meets Golden Hour
- Mākena Cove (“Secret Beach”): A pocket of golden sand framed by black lava rock, with palm trees leaning over the water. At sunset, the light here turns the same amber-orange as the movie’s opening scenes. It’s small, so it photographs like a private island.
- ʻĪao Valley State Monument: Steep, emerald ridgelines with clouds catching on the peaks. If you want the Te Fiti backdrop, this is the closest thing on Maui. Morning light works best, before the clouds roll in. Check hours and entry fees at the ʻĪao Valley State Monument official page.
- Kapalua Bay: Calm, protected water like Pokai Bay, which means toddlers can splash in the shallows while the camera rolls. The rocky points on either side give depth to wide family shots.
Book a Family Photoshoot in Maui →
Big Island: Wilder, Greener, Emptier
- Polōlū Valley Lookout: A black-sand beach far below sea cliffs stacked in green folds, one after another down the Kohala coast. This is the most cinematic overlook in Hawaiʻi, and most visitors never make the drive.
- Kua Bay (Maniniʻōwali Beach): Bright white sand against turquoise water and black lava fields. Midweek mornings it can be nearly empty, which makes candid shots of kids playing in the waves easy.
- ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay (A-Bay): Palm trees silhouetted over a west-facing beach, so the sun sets directly into the ocean behind your family. The historic fishponds behind the beach add a second look without moving your car.
Book a Big Island Family Photoshoot →
How to Plan a Moana-Style Family Photoshoot
- Shoot the last 90 minutes before sunset: Every wide shot in the film glows amber for a reason. Hawaiʻi’s golden hour does the work for you. For more tips on timing your session perfectly, check out our 2025 Best Time for Family Beach Photos in Hawaii: Golden Hour Guide. For exact sunset times at your beach, use TimeandDate.com’s Hawaii sunset calculator.
- Skip the costume, keep the palette: Rust, terracotta, cream, and ocean blue photograph beautifully against sand and lava rock, and your kids will still love the photos at sixteen.
- Let the kids get wet: The best Moana photos are candid. A four-year-old charging into the shallows reads more like the movie than any posed shot.
- Check the tide and swell first: A beach that is calm in July can have serious shorebreak in December, especially on west-facing shores.
- Book a photographer who lives there: Locals know which cove is empty on a Tuesday and where the light lands at 6:40 p.m. That knowledge shows up in the photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the live-action Moana filmed?
The 2026 live-action Moana was filmed on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, and at Trilith Studios near Atlanta, Georgia, between July and November 2024. Reported Oʻahu locations include Pokai Bay and Mākua Beach on the west side, with the Koʻolau mountains providing backdrops.
Is Motunui a real island?
No. Motunui is fictional, drawn from islands across Polynesia, including Samoa, Fiji, and Tahiti. For the live-action film, its beaches and mountains were brought to life on Oʻahu, so the scenery on screen is real Hawaiʻi even though the island itself is invented.
Can you visit the Moana filming locations in Hawaiʻi?
Yes. Pokai Bay and Mākua Beach are free public beaches on Oʻahu’s west side, and Pokai Bay’s calm water makes it family-friendly. Kualoa Ranch, tied to the film’s mountain backdrops, offers paid movie-site tours daily.
Which Hawaiian island looks most like the Moana movie?
Oʻahu’s west side is the literal filming location, but Maui’s ʻĪao Valley and Mākena Cove and the Big Island’s Polōlū Valley and Kua Bay deliver the same green cliffs, calm turquoise water, and golden sand seen throughout the film.
Bring Motunui Home in Your Family Photos
Your kids will only be this age, on this beach, once. Dreamgraphy pairs visiting families with vetted local photographers on Maui, the Big Island, and Oʻahu who know exactly where the Moana light lands. Sessions start at $390 for an hour, include professional editing and a full digital gallery, and can cover multiple locations in one shoot.
Check availability for your travel dates and book your Hawaii vacation photographer today to come home with photos that feel like the movie looked.
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A Note on Visiting Hawaiʻi with Respect
Hawaiʻi is not just a backdrop — it is a living culture with deep spiritual traditions, sacred sites, and communities that have called these islands home for generations. Many of the beaches and valleys featured in this guide hold profound significance to Native Hawaiian people that goes far beyond their beauty on screen. Before you visit any location, we encourage you to research its cultural and historical context, follow all posted guidelines, and treat every site — whether a heiau, a valley, or a quiet stretch of shoreline — with the care and humility it deserves. Travel thoughtfully, leave no trace, and remember that the privilege of being in these places comes with a responsibility to protect them for those who come after us.
