"I grew up with her," Laga'aia told Billboard in Hawaii alongside co-star Dwayne Johnson. "I think for a lot of young girls, when they kind of get to have their Disney princess, I feel like it's a rite of passage. … Getting to grow up with Moana and having that representation is so important to young girls. I feel like it changes something in your brain and allows you to dream bigger and think farther. So I think getting to join in that legacy, I hope that it kind of extends that onto the next generation, and makes me be a part of something bigger than myself in a way that Moana also was."

A new song, "Along the Way," penned by original songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, features Laga'aia, Dwayne Johnson as Maui, and Moana's original voice actress, Auli'i Cravalho. The track plays over the end credits of the new film.

My mom got to sit in the booth while I was recording, and so she was sitting next to [director] Tommy [Kail] and Lin, and I come out after we were recording for a bit, and she goes, 'Katie, they were talking about making a new song.' And I was like, 'Mom, they're not gonna make a new song. … We're already recording the old ones. There's no time to make a new one.' I didn't hear about it again until we wrapped in Atlanta, and Tommy played it for me and DJ.

Johnson described the song as a "musical conversation between these two films, or all the films," highlighting the concept of "O.G. Moana and new G Moana." He added, "It's just a really cool conceit, and if there's a guy who can write that, it's Lin-Manuel. I loved it. I love the song. I just love the idea. I was pushing for the song to be in the film." Johnson also noted the film incorporates a hint of the instrumental, leading into the end credits, conveying that "O.G. Moana and Maui, we're gonna meet you along the way, but this is your journey, and we got you."

This marks Johnson's first time physically embodying Maui, a role he previously voiced in the 2016 animated film and "Moana 2" in 2024. The original film also led to his Billboard Hot 100 debut with the song "You're Welcome." Johnson shared a deep personal connection to the character, inspired by his grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia.

I embody this character physically, emotionally, spiritually, every which way that ends with Y. He's connected to my grandfather, and he was inspired by my grandfather. I lived with my grandfather here on this island. He's buried on this island. But my grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia had this charisma, big body, tattoos everywhere. He sang like an angel, he was tough, he was everything, and that's who Maui is. So from the very first day on set, working with Catherine, very first take, it was overwhelming in a good way.

During their interview, Johnson and Laga'aia also participated in a game of "Finish the Lyrics."

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