Moana’s journey in the film reflects the Polynesian practice of wayfinding, an ancient navigation technique that uses the stars, ocean currents, and bird movements to travel vast distances. As Herman (2016) explains, Polynesians used these methods to settle faraway islands, and Moana’s quest mirrors this tradition of exploration and connection to the sea.
The film also touches on the historical "Long Pause", a 2,000-year period when long-distance voyaging stopped. Moana addresses this gap by showing how the heroine helps revive these traditions. Boysen (2016) suggests that environmental factors, like climate changes, could have contributed to this halt in exploration, making Moana's journey a symbolic return to ancestral knowledge.
Including Polynesian languages in the film helps it feel more real. In songs like “We Know The Way” you can hear Samoan, Tokelauan, and Tuvaluan, which brings the story closer to the cultures it represents (Mukherjee, 2022).