The towering figure of Maui, the demigod of the wind and sea, is one of the most physically imposing characters in the Disney canon. Since the release of *Moana* in 2016, a single question has captivated fans: exactly how tall is this legendary shapeshifter? As of December 14, 2025, Disney has never released an official, definitive height measurement for the character, leaving fans and analysts to piece together the answer using clever on-screen comparisons, the size of his voice actor, and the scale of the original Polynesian mythology.
The quest for Maui’s true height is a fascinating journey into character design and animation scale. While no official number exists, the most convincing fan theories and calculations place the demigod's height in a very specific, and surprisingly grounded, range that is considerably different from the colossal scale suggested by his mythological origins.
The Maui (Moana) Character Profile: A Demigod of Immense Scale
Maui is not just a tall man; he is a demigod, and his size is a fundamental part of his design and personality. He is voiced by the famously large actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, which immediately sets a high expectation for his physical stature.
Maui's Biography and Key Character Facts
- Full Name: Maui, Demigod of the Wind and Sea, Hero of Men.
- First Appearance: *Moana* (2016).
- Inspiration: Loosely based on the mythological figure Māui, a trickster demigod common in Polynesian mythology (including Māori, Hawaiian, Samoan, and Tahitian traditions).
- Voice Actor: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
- Key Artifact: The powerful, magical fishhook.
- Defining Feature: His entire body is covered in living, animated tattoos that chronicle his heroic feats, including a 'Mini-Maui' that acts as his conscience.
- Official Height: Undisclosed by Disney.
Unpacking the Fan Theory: Calculating Maui’s Height from Moana
Without an official statement, the most reliable method for estimating Maui’s height comes from a detailed, frame-by-frame analysis of his on-screen interactions with the other characters, particularly Moana. This method is known as the "Heihei Measurement."
The Heihei Measurement: A Scientific Fan Calculation
The most widely accepted—though still unofficial—fan calculation uses the height of Moana, which is then derived from the size of the small, comic relief rooster, Heihei.
- Step 1: Establishing a Baseline. Heihei is a bantam chicken, or rooster, which typically stands at about 16 inches tall.
- Step 2: Calculating Moana's Height. In one scene, Moana is measured against a stack of four Heihei-sized objects. This suggests Moana is approximately four Heihei tall. 4 x 16 inches = 64 inches. 64 inches is 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm).
- Step 3: Calculating Maui's Height. By comparing Moana's height (5'4") to Maui's height in various shots where they stand side-by-side, analysts estimate that Maui is roughly 1.1 to 1.15 times Moana’s height. This places Maui's estimated height in the range of 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches (183 cm to 188 cm).
This estimation suggests that while Maui is a massive and imposing figure, he is not a literal giant, but rather a very tall, exceptionally broad, and muscular human-sized demigod. This design choice helps ground the character in a relatable, though still larger-than-life, way.
The Dwayne Johnson Factor: Voice Actor vs. Character Size
It is impossible to discuss Maui’s scale without mentioning his famous voice actor, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. His physical presence is a major influence on the character's design, even if the final animated height differs.
Dwayne Johnson’s Verified Height
Dwayne Johnson is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, and his size is often a topic of discussion. His height is consistently reported in a tight range:
- Dwayne Johnson’s Height: Approximately 6 feet 3 inches to 6 feet 5 inches (190.5 cm to 196 cm).
Interestingly, the fan-calculated height for Maui (6'0" to 6'2") is actually slightly shorter than his voice actor. This is a common phenomenon in animation, where characters are often designed to look a certain way regardless of the actor's actual measurements. Maui's immense bulk and broad shoulders are what truly make him appear gargantuan on screen, not just his vertical measurement.
The Viral Height Misconception
You may have encountered a wildly incorrect height for Moana—and by extension, Maui—in your searches. For a time, a viral Google search result erroneously listed Moana's height as 7 feet 5 inches (226 cm).
- The Domino Effect: If Moana were 7'5", Maui would have to be an unbelievable 8 to 9 feet tall to maintain the on-screen size ratio. This viral misinformation is a classic example of how a single search error can confuse the true scale of the characters.
Maui's Mythological Scale: Why the Disney Character Is "Small"
To truly appreciate the Disney character's scale, we must compare him to his source material: the mythological Māui. In the legends of Polynesia, Māui’s size is not just "tall" but cosmic, reflecting his status as a legendary hero who performed feats of impossible scale.
Feats of the Mythological Māui
The traditional legends depict a figure whose size is entirely superhuman, far beyond the 6-foot range of the Disney character.
- Fishing Up Islands: Māui is credited with using his magical fishhook to literally pull islands, such as the Hawaiian Islands and New Zealand (Te Ika-a-Māui), from the ocean floor.
- Snaring the Sun: He captured and snared the Sun (Tama-nui-te-rā) to slow its passage across the sky, allowing people more daylight hours.
- Lifting the Sky: In some myths, Māui physically hoisted the sky to a greater height, as it was originally too low for people to stand upright.
These stories establish the mythological Māui as an entity of immense, world-shaping scale. The Disney version, while large, is significantly scaled down to fit the animated world and to provide a more relatable dynamic with the human protagonist, Moana. The Disney Maui is a demigod who looks like a hero, whereas the mythological Māui is a being whose very existence shapes the world.
Final Verdict: The Most Likely Height of Maui
While an official number from Walt Disney Animation Studios remains elusive, the evidence overwhelmingly points to a highly specific, fan-derived range. The character design prioritizes mass and width to convey power, not just extreme vertical height.
The most accurate, unofficial estimate for the height of Maui from *Moana* is:
Maui's Estimated Height: 6 feet 0 inches to 6 feet 2 inches (183 cm to 188 cm).
This height makes him a very tall human, but his immense bulk, exaggerated shoulders, and powerful physique make him appear much larger than his actual measurement. This clever use of character design is what truly gives the demigod his towering, unforgettable presence on screen.
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