Lifestyle

'Moana' Star Says It's 'Totally Appropriate' for Kids to Dress Up as Her Character for Halloween

LifestylePublished Oct 25, 2018
By Ashley Austrew
moana star auli'i cravalhoauliicravalho/Instagram

The debate over whether or not certain Halloween costumes are offensive has raged hard this year. Although character costumes such as Black Panther, Coco, and Moana are some of the most popular with kids, many people have pointed out that there's a big problem with letting a white child dress up as a character who is a person of color. But Moana herself doesn't necessarily agree. Auli'i Cravalho, the Hawaiian-born actress who does the voice of Moana, said she's actually honored that any little kid wants to celebrate her character on Halloween.

When asked about white kids dressing up as Moana, Cravalho said she thinks it's "totally appropriate."-placeholder
When asked about white kids dressing up as Moana, Cravalho said she thinks it's "totally appropriate."
AuliiCravalho/Instagram

When asked about white kids dressing up as Moana, Cravalho said she thinks it's "totally appropriate."

“It’s done in the spirit of love and for Disney and for the little ones who just want to dress up as their favorite heroine. I’m all for it," the 17-year-old actress and singer told People.

The problem with white children dressing up as Moana, many argue, is that the character represents a real culture.-placeholder
The problem with white children dressing up as Moana, many argue, is that the character represents a real culture.
Party City

The problem with white children dressing up as Moana, many argue, is that the character represents a real culture.

When kids dress up as Moana, they're effectively using the character's culture as a costume, stripping away the meaningful things Moana represents about Polynesian people and their spirituality. It's the same reason why it's inappropriate for an adult to dress up as a Native American. Cultural identities are not costumes.

Last year, mom blogger Sachi Feris went viral when she explained it to her daughter this way: "I don't like the idea of dressing up using the same traditional clothing that someone from Moana's culture may have worn because that feels like we are laughing at her culture by making it a costume. A child whose family is Polynesian could dress up using that type of traditional clothing but Moana's culture is not our culture."

Still, Cravalho said she doesn't necessarily agree that kids dressing up as Moana are dismissing the character's culture.-placeholder
Still, Cravalho said she doesn't necessarily agree that kids dressing up as Moana are dismissing the character's culture.
auliicavalho/Instagram

Still, Cravalho said she doesn't necessarily agree that kids dressing up as Moana are dismissing the character's culture.

“I would encourage anyone who wants to dress up as a wayfinder who journeys beyond her reef to figure out who she truly is. I totally support you. Go for it!" she told People. "Parents can dress up as Moana, too."

Although Cravalho's opinion on this doesn't necessarily represent everyone's, there are some ways parents can make Moana costumes less offensive.

Emmeline Matagi wrote for The Spinoff that if white kids want to be Moana, parents should stick to a few guidelines. First and most importantly, they should not under any circumstances try to paint or darken their child's skin. Parents also shouldn't attempt to draw on traditional tattoos. 

In 2016, Disney found itself in hot water after the brand started selling a Maui costume, another character from Moana, that was essentially a dark-skinned body suit covered in tattoos that held significance to Polynesian people. The costume was ultimately pulled from shelves, but it was one of the first costumes from the movie that sparked the conversation about the problems with allowing kids to appropriate Polynesian culture on Halloween.

For her part, Cravalho says she loves Moana because she represents the same bravery and boldness as all of the Disney princesses.-placeholder
For her part, Cravalho says she loves Moana because she represents the same bravery and boldness as all of the Disney princesses.
auliicavalho/Instagram

For her part, Cravalho says she loves Moana because she represents the same bravery and boldness as all of the Disney princesses.

“I think each of the Disney princesses are just pretty reflective of their time,” she told People. “This day and age, we definitely need a heroine who is the hero of her own story, who journeys beyond what her parents have done, who breaks the mold."

And that's why she believes kids who want to dress up like Moana are doing it from a place of love and appreciation. Cravalho also told People she won't be rocking a Moana costume this year, but only because she can't find one in her size. "I was thinking of picking up a cardboard box or something and then drawing a light socket on it and then like a whole bunch of a colorful stuff so I could be -- wait for it -- a creative outlet," she said.

Now there's a costume idea that we can all agree is pretty awesome.

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