Disney's newest animated heroine is a free-spirited Hawaiian teen named Moana. To bring the character's voice to life, filmmakers conducted a search to find a local who would be Moana's match.

And they found a match in Hawaiian native Auli'i Carvalho, a vibrant rising singer-actress.

“I didn’t think I would have a chance,” the high school sophomore said in a statement. “When I was little, I used to dance around the house singing at the top of my lungs. In my mind, that was performing and I loved the feeling of it. But I never imagined being in a Disney movie, being Moana—representing my culture in that way.”

The forthcoming animated feature follows the titular character as she grows up "on an island where voyaging is forbidden,” director Ron Clements said. “But Moana has been drawn to the ocean since she can remember and is desperate to find out what’s beyond the confines of her island.”

"Moana" sees the adventures teen embark on a journey of self discover, where she fulfills the destiny of her ancestors. Guided by demigod Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, she overcomes the dangers of the South Pacific.

"Moana" sails into theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.