Auli'i Cravalho reveals mom 'happily retired' after she bought her a house following 'Moana' success

MILILANI, HAWAII: Auli'i Cravalho, who made her acting debut at the age of 16 as the voice of Moana in Disney's 2016 animated film, is celebrating more than just the success of the sequel 'Moana 2'.

The 24-year-old Hawaii native is marking a profound personal milestone: buying her mother, Puanani Cravalho, a home—a gesture that symbolizes the sacrifices and resilience that paved the way for her stardom.

Auli'i Cravalho's mother 'happily retired' after she bought her a house

"I really get to have that full decade look back at just how much growth I've gone through," Auli'i Cravalho shared with People as she reflected on her journey since 'Moana' premiered in 2016.

Cravalho’s journey to success wasn't without its challenges. Raised by her mother on food stamps in Hawaii, she recalled their humble beginnings. 

"We lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Mililani when I was cast. I slept in the bedroom, my mom slept on the couch. She gave me everything," she said.

That selflessness didn’t go unnoticed. After Moana catapulted her into the spotlight, Cravalho found a way to repay her mother's sacrifices.

"I bought my mommy a house. She’s happily retired," she revealed with a proud smile. She added, "Your parents give you so much. Kids feel a little indebted, I’m going to be honest! But we feel so grateful for our parents’ sacrifices."

Auli'i Cravalho says her mom's 'tough parenting' kept her grounded amid 'Moana' fame

While her success seems like a fairy tale, Auli'i Cravalho credits her parents—especially her mother—with keeping her grounded.

Her parents, who divorced when she was young but ran a construction company together, instilled values that helped her navigate the pressures of early fame.

"My parents were like, 'Listen, if [Moana] doesn’t go anywhere, you need to finish high school. You need to do the dishes. You need to fix your bed. Don’t let it get to your head,'" Cravalho shared.

However, balancing her schoolwork and promotional duties for the film wasn’t always easy.

"I’d be a little s***. I’d be a little gremlin. I’m going to be honest, I didn’t have anything left," she admitted. The energy she poured into 'Moana' left her depleted, but her mother stepped in with tough love.

"She was the one to discipline. She was the one to really support me right then and there," Cravalho explained. "That was some tough parenting in allowing me to grow as a human, but also looking me in the eye and saying, 'You need to be kind and you need to be kind to me.'"

Through these lessons, Cravalho learned the importance of balance and self-care. "It was at those moments that I realized, 'Okay, I can’t give all of myself.'"

Cravalho’s full-circle moment comes as 'Moana 2' hits theaters, reuniting her with Dwayne Johnson as Maui and introducing fans to new songs by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear.

Directed by David Derrick Jr, Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the sequel continues the legacy of the original, celebrating Polynesian culture and the strength of its people.