Can’t Get Enough of ‘Can I Get a Chee Hoo?’ from ‘Moana 2’? Discover its Epic Cultural Impact Now!

“Can I hear a Chee Hoo?”

This is a line sung by the mythical Maui to the title character in “Moana 2.” It might seem like a simple phrase, but it carries cultural significance, plays a key role in the storyline, and has the potential to be Disney’s next catchy anthem.

Sung with enthusiasm by Dwayne Johnson, the song deserves to be praised, especially following the popular tunes from the 2016 film, composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina, and Opetaia Foa‘i. “The first film was a wonderful introduction of this culture to the world, and I’m immensely proud of what we accomplished,” stated Foa‘i.

“The music of a sequel must be either on par with or superior to the original,” stated Mancina, who co-authored the sequel’s songs with Foa‘i, Abigail Barlow, and Emily Bear. “If the songs lack sincerity, children will know: it’s just a cash grab.”

The animated sequel takes place three years after the first film: Moana, now an experienced navigator, respected community leader, and older sister, responds to a call from her ancestors to venture further than ever before in order to ensure the future of her island.

“In this sequel, the narrative centers around the idea of growing, planning your path, desiring to stay on track but understanding that life will throw unexpected obstacles and challenges your way, and relying on your team to help you overcome them,” said Auli’i Cravalho, who voices Moana, and returns for the sequel.

The song, “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” stands out and is performed midway through the film, when Moana is feeling disheartened about confronting Nalo, the god of storms.

“In the first film, Maui encountered Moana when he was most vulnerable, and she empowered him and helped him realize his full potential,” said David Derrick Jr., one of the sequel’s three directors. “We wanted Maui to return the favor to Moana, but in the most engaging way possible.”

“Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” is an energetic, percussion-heavy track with a hint of a rock anthem, featuring a unique instrumental solo (a mix of a jazz flute and various synthesizers, performed by Maui using a fire conch). It was the final song composed for the film, replacing another tune that didn’t quite capture Moana’s emotional state at that point or Maui’s affection for her.

“Everything we attempted was either excessively corny or abstract, or it sounded like a motivational speech copied from YouTube,” said Bear. “How do we make this sound cool and not awkward, while still being true to this character and his relationship with Moana?

“When I’m feeling down and no words will cheer me up, I don’t need an inspirational speech, I need a reality check,” Bear added. In this song, “Maui essentially tells Moana, ‘Stop doubting yourself, because the adversary you’re facing doesn’t doubt you. He wouldn’t bother trying to stop you if he didn’t think you were capable of defeating him.’”

Through song, Maui elevates Moana by reminding her of her identity, praising her inherent greatness, and then encouraging her to do the same. How? “With a call to action of epic scale,” said Barlow.

This particular phrase — frequently used by Maui in the first film — is a fa’aumu, an emotional expression in Samoan culture, and it holds substantial importance throughout Pacific Island communities.

“I believe the way it’s depicted in the film mirrors its actual usage today,” said Grant Muāgututi’a, a Samoan linguist and dialect coach who worked on the film. “It’s like revealing your heart. The most common use nowadays is to show support at a special event — be it a performance, a football match, a wedding, or a funeral.”

“It’s an essential celebratory cheer, similar to our version of ‘hip hip hooray,’” added Cravalho. “As soon as the New Year’s Eve fireworks commence, you can hear Chee Hoos all across the island. It’s almost like a call-and-response. Anytime there’s a graduation and a Pacific Islander is on stage, you can bet we are the loudest ones Chee Hoo-ing.”

The song in “Moana 2” adopts this Pacific Islander greeting as a life philosophy, much like how “Hakuna Matata” uses a Swahili translation as a personal mantra in “The Lion King.” “We wanted to ensure our work was not overly whimsical,” said Mancina, who worked on both songs, “but that it remained truly entertaining.”

Using the culturally significant phrase in a highly anticipated Disney film initially made co-director Dana Ledoux Miller nervous.

“I take it very seriously and have had multiple discussions about it, primarily because I wanted to ensure that its usage was celebratory and positive,” she said. “Knowing that it would mean a lot to many people, we didn’t want to misrepresent it. It was thrilling to proceed with such mindfulness through this collaboration and produce something that’s so enjoyable. I’m extremely proud of the care we took in this.”

In order to get everything right, the directors of “Moana 2,” Derrick and Ledoux Miller — both of Samoan descent — and Jason Hand, incorporated numerous culturally accurate elements into the film, thanks to the movie’s Oceanic Cultural Trust, a group of 13 experts in anthropology, history, movement, canoes and navigation, linguistics, and various cultural practices.

“I believe that as we depict more moments where we embrace the uniqueness of culture, the audience also becomes more engaged because it anchors our story in reality,” said Derrick. To him, a song like “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” demonstrates that “being culturally specific doesn’t have to be a solemn moment. It can be uplifting, fun, and joyous.”

“It’s incredible to be a part of this group of brilliant minds, working together to ensure the film is as impactful and respectful as possible,” added Muāgututi’a, a member of the Oceanic Cultural Trust. “When elements like ‘Chee Hoo’ are shared in an accurate and inclusive manner, it’s less about appropriation and more about appreciation. It’s all about love.”

The trust advised on many significant moments that depict Moana’s culture as well as her character’s growth: her involvement in a kava ceremony for a new title, the further development of her navigation skills, and her pivotal performance of a haka, a ceremonial dance and chant. “I’ve never performed a haka before, so I was really into it,” said Cravalho about filming the scene. “I threw my entire being into it, and it felt amazing!”

And in “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?,” Moana is shown performing siva afi, or fire-knife dancing. “This is typically performed by men,” said animation reference choreographer Tiana Nonosina Liufau. “When I was physically doing it [as a model for the film’s animators], I felt incredibly empowered. So, imagining Moana doing it at a moment when she’s feeling low, particularly because it’s not usually performed by women, I think she gains a lot of strength from this song.”

“We were determined to get that right,” said Hand about recreating Liufau’s movements for the fire-dancing sequence. “Each move carries a meaning, so it’s crucial to do it correctly. Our animators paid close attention to all the effort she put into it.”

According to Hand, Johnson “had chills when he first heard” “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” In the recording booth, Bear urged the actor to envision he was singing directly to his daughter: “If you saw her in this predicament, how would you want to convey this message to her? It would be full of heart.”

With “Moana 2” now in theaters, “We’re probably going to hear a lot of young children shouting ‘Chee Hoo’ everywhere,” said Foa‘i, laughing. For Moana actor Cravalho, that’s a thrilling prospect.

“I’ve spent a decade with this character, and her ongoing influence is almost too much for me to comprehend,” she said. “It’s truly significant to see a young woman be the hero of her own tale, and I take great pride in our specificities being shared with a wider audience because Disney amplifies them. So, to those who are not of Pacific Island descent but still resonate with this character or others in this film, I say thank you.”