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San Francisco Bay Area's 11-year-old 'Moana' star Amaya Masoli speaks on culture, representation
By KGO at ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC)
· July 10, 2026
· 1 min read
San Francisco Bay Area native 11-year-old Amaya Masoli, who's starring as young Moana in Disney's live-action remake, sat down with ABC7 Eyewitness News, shared her excitement for the film, now out in theaters, and how she brought her own Samoan culture into the experience.
Why this matters in The San Francisco
The Bay Area's own Amaya Masoli is making waves with her starring role as young Moana in Disney's live-action remake, and her connection to the local community is a significant part of her story. As a Samoan native of the Bay Area, Masoli's involvement in the film brings a level of authenticity to the representation of Pacific Islander culture on the big screen. This is particularly meaningful in a region with a sizable Pacific Islander population, where residents can see themselves reflected in the film. Masoli's experience also highlights the importance of cultural diversity in the Bay Area's thriving arts scene, where opportunities for representation and inclusion can have a lasting impact on the community. With the film now out in theaters, Bay Area residents will be watching with interest to see how Masoli's performance is received and how it might inspire other young locals to pursue careers in the arts.
About this story
Original reporting by ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC) . The San Francisco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 10, 2026 ·
Source: ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? San Francisco Bay Area native 11-year-old Amaya Masoli, who's starring as young Moana in Disney's live-action remake, sat down with ABC7 Eyewitness News, shared her excitement for the film, now out in theaters, and how she brought her own Samoan culture into the experience.
When was this published? This article was first published on July 10, 2026 by ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC) and curated for The San Francisco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by KGO at ABC7 News (KGO-TV, ABC). To learn more about how The San Francisco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Francisco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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