Moana and her Boat Costume

It was a big year in our house this Halloween, it was the first year our youngest daughter got to pick our family theme for our costumes. We gathered around her as she excitedly proclaimed.......Moana, I want to be Moana. My excitement quickly turned to terror and not the good Halloween terror, as I looked at my older daughter’s face......she was not happy about this choice. It took days of convincing her that I would make sure her costume was the most beautiful......Goddess Mountain, I could possibly make. I truthfully was hiding my own horror inside. How could I possibly make a family of costumes from a movie that the leading characters include a goddess mountain, a chicken, a pig, and a Demi-god. I picked up my glue gun and didn’t stop until I had done it.
Weeks later my fingers still have the hot glue burns to prove it.


Moana….IT CALLS US….every day and every night. For the Te Fiti costume we hand glue each leaf from recycled plants from friends and neighbors to create this magnificent goddess. Lots and lots and lots of hot glue and burned fingers. The Heihei costume was for the birds….created with lots and lots of feathers. The headpiece was created from a swim cap and embellished with feathers and details to create the mow hawk effect. We also used fabric and felt to make the sail and waves for Moana’s boat. Similar creativity was used to create Moana’s boat, Pua, Maui and Moana herself including her oar. And no one knows, how far we’ll go…….

Halloween taught our family a few things this year. First, that you can make just about anything beautiful with a hot glue gun. Next, if you use your imagination it really is possible to make ordinary costumes extraordinary. Finally, there’s something magical about seeing the dream of your four year old daughter turned into a reality.
I lost my mother when I was just a child. Making memories like these with my own children make up for the lost memories of my childhood. It’s amazing how Halloween, the scary holiday, can bring so much love to our family.