Heartwarming videos of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s family touring the Polynesian islands under the guidance of the Polynesian Cultural Center were shared on Instagram. Johnson, who was born in Hayward, California, traveled to Samoa, Aotearoa, Hawai’i, Fiji, and Tonga with his mother and two small kids in the first film. Vibrant leis, which are greeting symbols, were used by the Polynesian Cultural Center to meet them.
The 49-year-old actor and his family participated in intense drumming, singing, and dancing with the Polynesian community during the visit. While the family was visiting Samoa, fire knives were whipped by dancers in stunning swirls, and a group of men carried the star meal of the luau—kalua pork—on banana leaves. Men can be seen dancing and doing the Haka, a Maori warrior dance, alongside Johnson in the video from their trip to Aotearoa.
This dance was originally meant to frighten away adversaries with its menacing face expressions and boisterous gestures. “As a means to preserve and portray the cultures, art, and crafts of the people of Polynesia,” the Polynesian Cultural Center designs tours that allow tourists to learn about and engage with Polynesian customs.
Johnson seemed to be brimming with cultural pride during their visit, studying carving, drumming, and even shaking a grass skirt with fervor. In his videos, Johnson—who hails from a proud line of professional wrestlers from Polynesia—not only expresses his admiration for his history but also his paternal side. As they stroll and explore, Johnson picks up and carries his daughter Jasmine, often known as “Jazzy,” in his arms or holds her hand. Johnson demonstrates his “ponytail” prowess in a different film by tying Jasmine’s hair in a ponytail and accessorizing her with a lei of white flowers.
Johnson says, “That’s our culture,” to the Polynesian community who hosted the family in the family’s last film, which is heartfelt. It’s an emotion. A sense of pride. a fondness. a force. A mana.
As Maui in Disney’s 2016 animated film “Moana,” which is set in a fictional universe influenced by Polynesian traditions, Johnson has a long history of publicly expressing his Samoan background.
