Tui is the chief of Motunui in the 2026 live-action Moana.
Chief Tui is Moana’s father and the leader responsible for guiding the island’s community. His position explains both his authority and his concern about Moana sailing beyond the reef: he believes the ocean is dangerous and wants her to remain connected to Motunui and its people.
Tui’s leadership is not the same as being a warrior, priest or navigator. Those roles may exist within the island’s wider society, but “chief” is the title specifically attached to his position. His reluctance to accept ocean voyaging also reflects the story’s larger tension between inherited rules and Moana’s calling to explore.
In the 2026 film, John Tui plays Chief Tui. The casting creates a notable name coincidence: the actor and character share the surname Tui, while the character himself is Moana’s father. Moana is expected to carry forward her family’s leadership legacy, but her journey ultimately expands what that responsibility means.