‘Moana’ star Auliʻi Cravalho surprises mom with heartfelt gift

Auliʻi Cravalho recently shared an emotional gesture she made for her mother, Puanani Cravalho, after the 2016 release of her first Moana movie.

In a conversation with People, she revealed that she had bought her mother a house with her earnings.

"I bought my mommy a house. She’s now happily retired," she referred to her mother, who voiced a villager in the original film.

Cravalho went on to talk about her life as she grew up and explained that her mother had raised her on food stamps during her childhood. 

She further told the magazine that her family lived in a one-bedroom apartment in the city of Mililani on the island of Oʻahu and stated that her mother gave up the bedroom to sleep on the couch, just to make her daughter comfortable.

Moana, which marked the 24-year-old’s acting debut, grossed over $687 million globally and was honored with numerous awards, including two Academy Award nominations.

After her big break, the actress went on to star in major productions such as Mean Girls, Crush, and All Together Now.

The actress revealed that she still maintains a close bond with her parents and expressed her gratitude for them and the sacrifices they made.

The actress revealed that she still maintains a close bond with her parents, and expressed her gratitude for them and the sacrifices they made.

"Kids feel a little indebted, I’m going to be honest!" she expressed.

"But we feel so grateful for our parents’ sacrifices."