The Rock just pulled back the curtain on why Maui means so much to him, and it goes way deeper than Disney.
On June 15, The Rock took to Instagram and posted a video from Hawaii, where he honored his late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia. The post came 43 years after Maivia passed away, and The Rock made it clear that the legendary wrestler’s spirit is still riding with him.
The Rock said the day hit him hard because Maivia passed away in Hawaii back in 1982, and he felt that loss again when he woke up.
“June 13th, 1982, this was the day 43 years ago here in Hawaii, that my grandfather, the great high chief Peter Maivia, began his walk in the clouds. God and the universe called him home.”
Then The Rock explained why playing Maui in Moana is so personal. The character was not just another role to him. Maui was built from the same energy, look, charisma, and power that made Peter Maivia a legend.
“As many of you know, and maybe some of you don’t know, but the High Chief Peter Maivia, my grandfather, was the inspiration for the character I play in Moana, Maui.”
The Rock described Maivia as the complete package, from his tattoos to his presence in the ring.
“The charisma he had when he stepped into the ring from his tattoos, he had a traditional Samoan pe’a. His body, he was built, man, like a tank. His long flowy hair, just beautiful and also just tough as a two dollar steak.”
He also shared a story about Maivia getting his big break with Vince McMahon Sr. in the 1970s. According to The Rock, Maivia made his debut for the company at Madison Square Garden, the same building where The Rock later had his first WWE match.
Vince Sr. told Maivia to show New York City everything he had, then grab the microphone after winning and say whatever he wanted. Maivia got the crowd behind him, won the match, and then delivered one word that lit up the Garden. The Rock said the crowd exploded, and that moment helped launch the legend of Peter Maivia. That connection still hits The Rock today. He said he could never be his grandfather, but playing Maui lets him honor Maivia’s spirit in a way that stays close to his heart.
“This is why Maui, playing Maui is just so deeply personal to me.”
For The Rock, Maui is not just a character with a hook and a song. It is a tribute to the man who helped shape his family, his pride, and his path in wrestling and Hollywood.
What do you think about The Rock revealing that High Chief Peter Maivia inspired Maui? Did this make the Moana character feel even more personal? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
