Latest news with #Auli'iCravalho
Buzz Feed
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Drew Afualo Interview — Voices Of The Pacific
BuzzFeed: You've taken down hundreds of misogynistic men on TikTok, all with your signature laugh that we know and love. In your book, you said your mom named you Drew, a gender-neutral name, so you couldn't be discriminated against during job applications — it almost feels like you were born to defy the patriarchy! What brings you the most joy when you stand up to those men? If you could pick one thing for people to take away from your videos, what would it be? Have you ever faced challenges in your career as a Pacific Islander? If so, how did you overcome them? On your podcast, The Comment Section, you've had so many incredible guests, from Auli'i Cravalho to Karamo Brown to Chappell Roan. Have you remained friends with any of your guests? If you could work with any Pacific Islander, who would it be and why? Your book has helped thousands of readers to realize their self-worth and find their confidence. How does it feel to be the first Samoan woman to make the New York Times Best Seller list? There was so much I loved about your book, but one part that really struck me, as a fellow childfree woman, was your journey to realizing you don't want kids. Samoan culture places so much significance on family, and while that's beautiful and keeps us a close-knit community, it can make it difficult for Islander women to come to terms with their decision to not have children. What would you say to any women struggling with this? For Pacific Islanders, there are so many aspects of our cultures that we hold close to our hearts, from our foods to our dances to our tattoos. What's your favorite part of your culture? Do you have a favorite Samoan food? I'll never forget the gorgeous tapa dress look from the Black Adam premiere, complete with glam from Samoan makeup artist Adam Simmons. Why was it so important to rep your culture on the red carpet that day? What advice do you have for young Pacific Islander creatives? What do you want your legacy to be, and how do you hope future generations will remember your contributions to Pacific Islander history? You took a break from TikTok for a little while and posted a really emotional video to announce it. How are you feeling now? I know professionally, you're absolutely killing it, but I mean emotionally. You also host the Two Idiot Girls podcast with your sister, Deison. You toured across the country together to over 20 cities. What's next for you? What's the dream? Finally, what does being Pacific Islander mean to you? Thank you for chatting with us, Drew! Be sure to keep up with Drew on Instagram and TikTok.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Auli'i Cravalho on Her New Documentary Reef Builders and Giving Flowers to Indigenous Communities
After smashing box office records in Moana 2 and coming down from a four-month Broadway run as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Auli'i Cravalho took on a new project as associate producer of Reef Builders, a new documentary available to stream now on Prime Video. The documentary highlights the work of Sheba Hope Grows, 'one of the world's largest coral reef restoration programs.' Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take Coral reefs are considered among the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet, and half of the world's reefs are damaged due to changing water temperatures, ocean acidification, pollution, invasive species, changing weather patterns, and physical impacts from ship groundings and storms, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Reefs are an integral part of communities around the world, as they provide habitat, and feeding, spawning, and nursery grounds for more than a million aquatic species, including commercially harvested fish species. Places like the South Pacific are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change; the coral reef loss in this region has resulted in food insecurity for islands with ocean-based economies. Nearly 70% of the region's population depends on agriculture for its livelihood, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Cravalho, who is Kānaka Maoli, or Native Hawaiian, says she loved being able to highlight the experience of Indigenous communities around the world. 'What was most important to me in being behind the camera was the tone and how we were going to show these communities onscreen,' she tells Teen Vogue. 'I was very aware of Hawai'i, of course, but we also touched upon places like Indonesia, Kenya, and Australia." She continues, "There are so many different methods to reef building. All of them are important, and I appreciated the sentiment that we are a community of reef builders who are connected by this ocean, who are affected — as people on the front lines usually are — by climate change, from the erosion of reefs to coral bleaching.' Below, Cravalho tells Teen Vogue more about the the new documentary, how to get involved in climate action, and what's next for her. This conversation has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Can you share more about the film and how you became involved as a producer? Auli'i Cravalho: I have always been rooting for oceans — I've always been that girl. My specific love for the scientific side of this actually started in high school. I was in a summer science institute for molecular cell biology, and my particular field of study was that I tested the efficacy of different invasive algae and how well they filtered UVA, B, and C rays. [I was] hoping to find a natural form of sunscreen because I have really sensitive skin, but also because Hawai'i had banned certain sunscreens that were chemical based with oxybenzone and octinoxate, so just trying to find kind of a solution and wanting to be part of that larger ocean space and that solutions-based kind of conversation. That same summer I auditioned for Moana and my life changed drastically. So this feels kind of like coming back to that. I attended the International Coral Reef Symposium with my friends at Kuleana Coral two years ago, and it was after those conversations that I realized, 'My God, you're doing such wonderful work! Who else is a part of the Sheba Hope Grows program?' As this documentary was kind of coming together, I learned about it. They approached me and I said, 'I would love to continue telling this story.' It just felt really important to have a film give flowers to these communities that are also taking charge of their own restoration. We own this and we want to stay in our homelands, so we will rebuild. I love that. I think it's really important to highlight that the problem is affecting Indigenous communities around the world. From your perspective as Kānaka Maoli, what does the restoration mean, and how does it impact your community? AC: For a while I thought the restoration space was dominated by the scientific community and I didn't really see myself as a part of it. I don't have a college degree, but I do have a love for my homeland, and I do have a lot of passion. What I loved most working with Kuleana and their collaboration with Sheba is that they are given the funds to educate. They're given the funds to do outreach programs with the local community. They have the opportunity to reach out to those people affected in Maui to work on the improper management of water and how that waste affects the coral communities out in the ocean. It is a much larger conversation that the community needs to be a part of. And I liked that there was a lot of listening taking place — I learned so much by being a fly on the wall. And I appreciated how everyone's techniques are different depending on the community that you speak to, and that is respected. In Hawai'i we have such large swells. Our winter swells really take over and knock over quite a few large coral colonies, so that was our major concern of how we can do this work. But then also, how to engage in the community, how to make sure that they understand we're not just messing things up — because there is so much that happens without communication. So part of this film is explaining the process of getting permitting, and that is a struggle, but also one that is difficult out of protectiveness of our oceans. It's a conversation about this solutions-based thinking that needed to have happened yesterday, but if it's happening today, let us tell you how it works, why it works, and ask you to be part of it. I am really glad that this is the conversation we're having because so often solutions are brought forward with funding, but that only lasts a couple of years, and this feels like an ownership over our own oceans. That's what will make the difference in the long run. What can young people who watch this do to take action? How are they able to get involved in climate action and reef restoration? AC: [I'm] starting this answer off with acknowledgement that these conversations can feel overwhelming. There's so much anxiousness and heaviness in our hearts and on our shoulders to do the right thing to fix the problems of the world. I have found, personally, that doing the work in my own backyard makes me feel good. And that small step is, I think, what makes all the difference. Truly, that I have found my space; I love my oceans, I'm going to rep coral. You know what I mean? That makes me happy and it's something I'm passionate about. As young people, we just have that drive to make a difference. You can find that in your own backyard. You can join an arts program. You can pick up trash whenever you see it at the park or at the beach. You can join your local Sierra Club. You can go on hikes. You can learn about your native flora and fauna. You can tell stories of your ancestors. That sense of community only happens around other people, right? A lot of our news is digested through the internet, and that disconnect is real. It disconnects us also from the solutions that these grassroots organizations are doing. If you just look up 'nonprofits in my area,' you'll find your people and whatever that might be. You mentioned that these conversations can feel overwhelming. Do you feel like there's a lot of ? AC: I think that there is an expectation of me. I think that there is an expectation of all of us, that we should all just be doing more. But I think there's also a sense that we could be doing a little less — we could be consuming less. It's hard to strike that balance. It's hard to figure out what's right and wrong. I just had a conversation with a friend yesterday, and when I was talking about sunscreens that were banned in Hawai'i, she went, 'What? What do you mean?' And that's a completely real conversation. We've banned oxybenzone and octinoxate because they harm our coral reefs, and people don't know that. So there's just a lot of information out there. You do your best, and you do your best to be informed, and you do your best to remain limber and loose when new information comes in. I made the best decisions when I had this set of information, and now that information has changed. Be kind to your neighbors because, my gosh, we are all just trying to live in this world that is capitalistic, and no one has enough. We all feel that we need to be doing more or have more. So I have no set advice besides, just do your best and let the rest go, because your mental [health] is also its own job. What are your plans for the future? Do you have plans to produce more films like this? AC: Yes, I absolutely do. I was really taken by the space. I loved that it wasn't scripted. I loved that we got to meet people where they were, and tell their stories in their own words. This was not to write down what they say and put it into a pretty little capsule; they spoke about their truth in this film. And I loved learning about different communities. I think there is absolutely more story to tell for Indigenous communities. I'm very grateful to be learning what it's like to be behind the camera, because it sets the tone for how a story is told when you have someone rooting for you backstage and behind the scenes. I like being that person. I'm also fundamentally curious, so I hope to continue asking questions and growing and eventually work my way up to directing. But I've got a long way to go till then, and I'm happy to take my time. Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue Want more Teen Vogue climate coverage? 17 Young People on the Moment the Climate Crisis Became Real to Them 7 Ways to Manage Climate Anxiety Why Activists Go on Hunger Strikes In California, Incarcerated Teens Help Fight Wildfires
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Reef Builders' Makes Waves with World Premiere Hosted by the SHEBA® Brand Ahead of Prime Video Launch
Actor and environmental advocate Auli'i Cravalho welcomed guests to London's Natural History Museum to honor the coastal communities behind one of the world's largest* coral reef restoration programs LONDON, April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the SHEBA® brand, part of the Mars family of brands, announced the new documentary, "Reef Builders," will be available to stream globally from Monday 14th April on Prime Video. The film saw its official World Premiere last night at an exclusive teal-carpet event hosted by the SHEBA® brand at The Natural History Museum in London. The new documentary spotlights the inspiring stories of the people behind the Sheba Hope Grows™ program – part of one of the world's largest* coral reef restoration programs led by Mars Sustainable Solutions (MSS) – and the vital role of ocean communities in the move to restore our planet's coral. The SHEBA® brand hosted the World Premiere for the film, with attendees including broadcaster and author Stacey Dooley, press, creators, and members of the film's cast and crew, including actor, environmental advocate and associate producer, Auli'i Cravalho. Guests walked the teal carpet, a homage to the sweeping footage of underwater ocean scenes that can be seen in the documentary, and experienced the first official public screening of the film. "Growing up in the islands of Hawaiʻi taught me just how lucky we are to live in harmony with our oceans. It's easy for me to want to protect my own backyard, but this film allows audiences around the world to come together to learn about the vital importance of coral reef restoration. Being a small part of the solution makes me optimistic about the future of our oceans," says Auli'i Cravalho, actor, environmental advocate and associate producer. "I'm thrilled to be here in London to present 'Reef Builders' to the world. The huge platform that Prime Video provides will allow those both near and far from the restoration conversation to have a front row seat not only to coral reef degradation and restoration, but also the profound impact on local coastal communities." Following the screening of the film, guests enjoyed a panel discussion featuring Auli'i, Victoria Noble, Executive Producer, Professor David Smith, Chief Marine Scientist, Mars Incorporated, and Senior Director, Mars Sustainable Solutions, Mindy Barry, Global Vice President, SHEBA® and Tamsin Raine, Co-Founder, Ocean Culture Life (OCL). "The SHEBA brand is all about creating extraordinary experiences for cats and cat parents – from the products we make to telling extraordinary stories of hope," said Mindy Barry, Global Vice President of Marketing, SHEBA Brand. "Since 2021, the Sheba Hope Grows™ program has supported coral reef restoration and the communities and partners who are leading this critical work around the world. The release of 'Reef Builders' marks a huge milestone for the program to share this incredible story of hope through the power of film, which enables audiences to immerse themselves in the rich stories of local communities, scientists, and reef builders. Our aspiration is for audiences to walk away feeling hopeful that there are solutions and to be inspired to take action themselves." The premiere event featured a brand-new immersive soundscape experience incorporating sounds recorded on a healthy coral reef. The 360 immersive audio-visual journey – brought to life by the Grammy and Emmy award-winning composer Emily Bear – surrounded guests with experiences of the reef, engaging both sight and sound. The audience witnessed a conceptual coral reef transform before their eyes, as dynamic lighting shifted the atmosphere from dark and subdued, to vivid and lively. This showstopping experience underscored the urgent need to protect coral reefs. New research from the SHEBA® brand reveals a critical gap in public awareness about coral reefs – driven by limited education, media coverage and personal exposure. Most people (73%) underestimate how much of our coral reefs have been lost in the past 30 years (Wakefield Research survey, 2025). But in truth, in the period between 1957 and 2007, researchers found that the world's coral reefs declined by over 50% (One Earth, 2021). "Sound can create intense emotion in humans, and in the case of coral reefs, it can be a sign of life. While drawing inspiration from marine scientists on this project, it was fascinating to learn that thriving coral reef ecosystems produce a symphony of sounds, such as popping, whooping, and crackling. It's full of movement, rhythm, and harmony – something that holds true in music as well," says composer Emily Bear. "Creating this soundscape was a unique opportunity to bring the ocean's voice to an on-land audience. This experience helps really underscore the larger mission of the 'Reef Builders' film." Dive into the inspiring story of coral reef restoration – "Reef Builders" will be available to stream globally on Prime Video beginning Monday the 14th of April. Plus, for those in the U.S. and Canada, the SHEBA brand has partnered with Amazon on a Stream it Forward donation campaign. From April 14 – June 29, 2025, Amazon will donate $1 (USD) for every hour streamed in the U.S. (up to $100,000) to non-profit organization Kuleana Coral Restoration, the SHEBA brand partner helping to restore and protect Hawai`i's coral reefs and native ecosystem. Similarly, from April 14-June 29, 2025, Amazon will donate $1CAD for every hour streamed in Canada (up to $30,000 CAD) to Corales de Paz, the SHEBA brand partner helping to restore and protect coral reefs in Colombia. To learn more about the documentary and the Sheba Hope Grows™ program visit and follow the brand on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. About Mars, Incorporated Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a $50bn+ family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world's best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M's®, SNICKERS® and BEN'S ORIGINAL™. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™ and ANICURA™ span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet. For more information about Mars, please visit Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. *In terms of restoration sites and partners. Photo: View original content: Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Auli'i Cravalho Reflects on Making SXSW Documentary ‘Reef Builders' and How ‘I Feel Like I'm Inheriting a World That Is On Fire'
'Moana' star Auli'i Cravalho recognizes how her status as an actor and Broadway singer has created the opportunity to truly make a difference. And with the documentary 'Reef Builders,' which recently premiered during SXSW, she shines a light on coral reef restoration efforts. 'Truthfully, not everyone is able to make an impact. That's a fact,' Cravalho told Variety's Clayton Davis at the Variety Watch Party of 'Reef Builders' presented by Sheba. 'The fact that I am in this position and get to combine my joy for filmmaking with my passion of advocacy, specifically for my home country and my home state, it was a no-brainer for this project.' More from Variety Tim Burton Docuseries Shares First Look, WME Handling Worldwide Sales (EXCLUSIVE) 'The Shadow Scholars' Sheds Light on Multibillion-Dollar 'Fake Essay' Industry Built on the Work and Wits of Kenyan Writers CPH:DOX, European Film Promotion Invite U.S. Buyers to Europe! On-Demand, Doc Filmmakers Share Their Visions 'Reef Builders,' which premiered during SXSW, tells the true stories of people involved in the Sheba Hope Grows program, leading major restorations to save the world's coral reefs in the face of climate change. The documentary is brought to audiences by the SHEBA brand, with Cravalho attached as an associate producer. During the event, Dr. Daniel DeMartini from the Kuleana Coral Restoration recognized how technology created by the SHEBA brand and Mars Sustainable Solutions has made coral restoration a possibility to the rest of the world. 'We're working in this high wave energy environment where we have complicated and complex governmental structure and just all those setbacks that we felt,' DeMartini said. 'I do really appreciate the film showing that reality — not just for Hawaii, but for Kenya and everywhere else. The tool is powerful.' Director and producer Stephen Shearman was originally daunted by the project and telling the story of coral reef preservation. But his whole perspective changed when he went to Bontosua for the first time — a tight-knit island of just 400 people. 'When you look someone in the face, you can read their story,' Shearman said. '[Sam] just kind of casually said, 'Yeah, there were two more houses down there. They've gone.' The impact of coral reef then just smacked me between the eyes. Losing coral reefs to these people is everything, and that's what opened the film up.' Professor David Smith, senior director of Mars Sustainable Solutions, took the opportunity to directly address the audience to think about the importance of coral reefs in their lives. 'Your life, the air that you breathe depends on the ocean, and that ocean depends on coral reefs … It's your responsibility to do something as well.' Cravalho went on to say how: 'As a young person, I feel like I'm inheriting a world that is on fire. And it is, it really is. But what I love about this documentary is that it shows that there still is hope … It would be for naught, actually, if not for community and local indigenous people.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Moana 2' is finally on Disney+, here's how to watch it for less
After voyaging out to the movie theaters, Moana is finally coming home! Moana 2 has landed on Disney+! The Disney sequel was originally envisioned as a Disney+ series that would have gone straight to streaming, so it's only fitting that Moana 2 is now returning to its intended home. The second Moana movie follows its Polynesian princess on a brand new adventure across the sea, accompanied by her old pal Maui and a fun new sailing crew. Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson both reprise their roles in this sequel, but for the upcoming 2026 live-action remake of Moana, Cravalho has moved on to let a new leading lady step into the titular role. Johnson will return as Maui, though. Are you ready to watch — or rewatch — Moana 2? Here's what to know about when the Disney sequel hits streaming (and how you can watch it for less with the new Disney+ promo!). Moana 2 landed on Disney+ on Wednesday, Mar. 12, 2025. The Moana sequel became available to stream on Disney+ at 3:01 a.m. for East Coast viewers and 12:01 a.m. PT for West Coast viewers. Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson both reprise their roles in Moana 2 as Moana and Maui, respectively. Temuera Morrison returns as Moana's father and chief, Tui (Tui's singing voice was provided by Hamilton star Christopher Jackson in the first film), and Nicole Scherzinger is back as Moana's mother, Sina. And Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda voices Moana's little sister, Simea. While nothing has been confirmed yet, Disney definitely isn't finished with Moana's story. In 2026, the live-action remake of the first Moana film will be released, starring Johnson and newcomer Catherine Laga'aia. So while there's no word on Moana 3 just yet, her future is looking bright.
