Since my middle son, Sam, decided our minivan is actually a “Canoe to Te Fiti,” I’ve been living in a house full of makeshift wayfinders and Moana coloring pages.
This obsession is currently at a high tide in our house, and between the “How Far I’ll Go” sing-alongs and the kids pretending the backyard is a tropical island, I am just trying to keep my head above water.
I’ve realized the best way to manage that voyaging energy is to give them a project that feels as big as the Pacific Ocean.
I put this collection of Moana printable coloring pages to capture everything from her voyage on the sea to the legendary Maui and his magical hook.
It’s the best way to make sure these tropical portraits look great on the fridge without any meltdowns over coloring outside a tiny line.
Scroll down to find your favorites and start your own tropical coloring session!
Your kids will also love: Princess, Ariel, Jasmine, Elsa, Cinderella.
Highlighted Free Moana Coloring Pages
1. Moana Teaching Her People to Sail
This is such a powerful leadership moment. Moana is standing tall at the front of a large boat, pointing the way while a group of villagers looks on.
It’s a fantastic page for kids who love coloring groups of characters. My oldest, Leo, likes to give each villager a different colored outfit to make the scene look like a bustling community at sea.
2. Moana Trying to Catch a Fish
This is a fun, everyday island life scene. Moana is wading in the water, reaching down to grab a fish while her canoe floats nearby.
The water ripples around her legs are perfect for practicing light blue and white blending. It’s a great way to show how water can look clear and moving at the same time.
3. Walking Towards Te Ka Fearlessly
This is the ultimate “bravery” page. Moana is walking directly toward the massive, smoking lava monster with her oar in hand.
Because Te Ka is made of molten rock and smoke, it’s the perfect excuse to break out the dark greys and bright, glowing oranges. We like to make the smoke clouds look extra thick and “stormy”.
4. Moana Waving Goodbye
This is a sweet, cheerful portrait of Moana standing on the beach and waving. A small boat and a palm tree in the background set the tropical scene.
Since this is a simpler composition with a large character, it’s my go-to for my youngest, Lily. She loves coloring the palm leaves bright green and making the sun look extra big.
5. Wearing Her Chief Outfit and Headdress
Talk about a royal look! This page features Moana in her full ceremonial chief attire, including the elaborate feathered headdress.
The textures on the grass skirt and the feathers are incredible. It encourages the kids to use short, rhythmic strokes to make the individual feathers and fibers look realistic.
6. Weaving a Basket from Palm Leaves
I love this page because it highlights a different side of Moana’s skills. She is sitting on the sand, focused on weaving a large basket.
The cross-hatched lines of the basket are great for practicing steady hands. We usually use a mix of tan and light green to show the fresh palm leaves being woven together.
7. Moana with a Manta Ray Tattoo Design
This is a beautiful, close-up portrait where Moana has a manta ray design appearing on her arm. It’s a lovely nod to her grandmother’s spirit.
The swirling patterns in the background and the detail in her hair make this a more intricate project. I save this for when I need the kids to really slow down and focus on the details.
8. Moana with Wind Blowing Her Hair
This is a classic, heroic shot of Moana standing on the beach with her hair flowing wildly in the breeze.
It’s the best page for practicing “hair flow”. I have the kids use long, sweeping motions with their crayons to follow the lines of the wind, making the whole image feel like it’s in motion.
Coloring Tips For Moana Coloring Pages
The “Tropical Water” Gradient
The ocean in Motunui isn’t just one shade of blue. I teach the kids to start with a very light turquoise or “seafoam” green near the shore and blend it into a deep navy as they move toward the horizon. It makes the island scenes look much more vast and realistic.
Mastering the “Lava Glow”
For the Te Ka coloring page, you want the lava to look hot. Have the kids color the center of the lava flows with a bright yellow or even a white crayon.
Then, they can layer orange and red around it. The light center makes it look like the heat is actually radiating off the page.
Creating “Sandy” Texture
Sand shouldn’t look like a flat yellow block.
I show the kids how to color the beach with a light tan first, and then take a slightly darker brown crayon to add tiny “dots” or “speckles” all over. It gives the paper a gritty, sandy texture that feels authentic to the island.
The “Palm Leaf” Highlight
To make palm trees pop, don’t just use green. I have the kids color the center “rib” of the leaf with a bright yellow-green and the outer edges with a dark forest green.
This simple contrast makes the tropical foliage look lush and three-dimensional.
Tattoo Detail Strategy
When coloring the manta ray design on Moana’s arm, tell them to use a very sharp colored pencil or a fine-tip marker.
Because it’s a “spirit” design, we sometimes use a light grey or a soft teal to make it look like a part of her skin rather than a dark, heavy drawing.
Wayfinding “Night Mode”
For a fun twist, turn a day scene into a night scene by coloring the sky deep purple or indigo.
If they leave tiny white circles for stars, it looks like Moana is navigating by the constellations, just like a true wayfinder.