OAHU, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The world premiere of Disney's ( DIS )

"Moana 2" sailed into Oahu, Hawaii on Thursday along

with a celebration of Pacific Islander heritage.

In the storyline, three years have passed since Moana's

adventures in the first hit film. "At first, she was wondering

if she could be a wayfinder," Auliʻi Cravalho, who voices the

title character, told Reuters.

"By the time we see her again she's a ... master navigator."

The film also takes Moana on a journey into the future, so

she is traveling "even further beyond," the native Hawaiian

actor added.

"Moana 2," directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and

Dana Ledoux Miller, arrives in theaters on Nov. 27.

In it Moana receives a sudden call from her ancestors to

travel the seas and break the god Nalo's curse, which prevents

the people of various islands from reconnecting.

She must form her own crew and reunite with her friend, the

demigod Maui, played by Dwayne Johnson.

"Maui's journey in 'Moana 2' means to me a few things,"

Johnson said.

"Number one, legacy, and number two, the character Maui was

largely inspired by my grandfather who's buried here (Hawaii),

so it's pretty meaningful to me," he added.

The premiere opened with performances from Hawaiian dancers

wearing leis and waving Hawaiian flags.

The film is highly anticipated after Disney's ( DIS ) other 2024

animated sequel "Inside Out 2" passed the $1 billion mark at the

worldwide box office less than three weeks after its release -

the fastest that any animated film has reached that level.

The first "Moana" topped the 2016 Thanksgiving box office

rankings, earning a mighty $81.1 million over the five-day

holiday period.