Builder of Moana's canoe brings Disney magic to Jersey shore

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. (WPVI) -- As excitement builds for Disney's live-action 'Moana,' fans of the franchise are getting a chance to feel closer to the famous wayfinder.

We first met Moana in 2016 in the animated Disney classic.

Now, that story is coming to life on the big screen in a big way, and that includes her iconic canoe.

One of the boats used in the film is in Point Pleasant Beach on the boardwalk along the Jersey shore.

Sailing into the shores of New Jersey, Captain Nakoa Prejean is a voyager, kind of like Moana.

"This is something that we grew up doing that was passed on to us from our family," says Prejean.

Captain Nakoa is the founder of Hawaiian Ocean Adventures in Oahu, and he was tasked with the honor of building the canoes used in Disney's live-action 'Moana.'

"It's about passing on the knowledge of what we love to do, and we've been very fortunate to be able to be a part of this whole production and part of the huge team that brought it all to life, he says.

He also taught the stars to sail, from 'Moana,' Laga'aia to 'Maui,' Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

"Katie was a natural," he said, joking that Johnson needed a little work. "We got about three or four days in Hawaii sailing some of the canoes that we built, traditional craft. She had a wonderful time. It was exceptional."

Look for Captain Nakoa's handcrafted canoes when Disney's live-action 'Moana' hits theaters on July 10.

Moana's canoe will be on the boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ through 11 p.m. on July 5.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of this ABC station.