JASON MOMOA: HAKA - LOS ANGELES AQUAMAN PREMIERE
Go behind the scenes with Jason Momoa in the lead up to performing the haka at the Los Angeles premiere of Aquaman.
Maori Television spoke to Tuhoe kaihaka Shannon Borell who was instrumental in helping put together the haka "Tangaroa Ararau" for Jason Momoa Aquaman's premiere in L.A. He also collaborated with Momoa and other Māori martial art fighters during the filming of Aquaman in Australia over a six month period to integrate mau rākau into the fight scenes.
The former Te Matatini leader said the Hollywood actor only had 30 minutes to learn the haka with members of the Manawa Ora group, who train in Māori weaponry on the Gold Coast including TV star, Cole Smith.
"We wanted Jason Momoa to be likened to Tangaroa, god of the sea. The objective was to showcase our Māori culture to the world."
Check out the full interview on Maori TV here
Louisa Tipene also breaks down the meaning of the haka below:
Jason appeared on the James Corden show and said of performing the haka "We based the character around Polynesian culture and thought it would be honoring a lot of people by doing it,"
For more behind the scenes videos of Jason on his Aquaman World Tour click here