Nature as Divine

Motunui

Motunui is Moana's home island to which she is in line to be chief. Early in the film, we hear the islanders sing about how Motunui gives them everything they need from coconuts to fish. This quickly changes as Maui's actions have repercussions on the island, which then falls into peril. Because of this curse, the Islanders find no fish in the sea and see their coconuts have dried up. Now the island that once provided for them will soon be uninhabitable. However, despite this devastation Moana and the islanders do not give up their faith. In fact, Moana's connection to Motunui only become stronger as she now sees that her destiny is to save the island and her people. She decides to risk her life in order to protect the island as it has protected her throughout her life. Thus, Motunui can be looked at as a significant spiritual entity as the islanders all worship it for giving them everything they need. And when things begin to go wrong instead of losing faith an abandoning Motunui, they are determined to fight to restore the island back to true harmony.

Te Fiti

Moana's central focus is to restore the heart of Te Fiti, which Maui had stolen. We see Te Fiti as an island goddess who is a creator of life. It is her impending demise that sets Motunui into the turmoil which initiates Moana's journey in the first place. In Polynesian religions, nature is often given animate qualities. Island and elemental gods and goddesses are common as nature is typically held at spiritual significance, and Te Fiti is no exception. Te Fiti is the embodiment of an island goddess. Te Fiti is the closest mention of any dogma or higher being in Moana. She is an almighty being who creates, and in her alter persona, destroys life. The main focus of spiritual devotion in Moana is the islanders, and particularly Moana's, faith in Te Fiti. This island goddess is the highest being, and even another god, Maui bows to her. This strengthens the fact that life revolves around nature, and faith in nature roots the spirit.

Te Ka is Te Fiti's alter persona. When her loving island heart was stolen by Maui, Te Fiti became an evil embodied monster set out to destroy the islands. This evil island monster of earth and fire acts as the films main antagonist by attempting to destroy what the islanders hold sacred, nature.This monster chooses to take away nature because it is what the islanders most value and worship, thus alluding to the fact that nature is of most significance to the people of Motunui. In this wayTe Ka is very much the opposite of Te Fiti, by taking life away opposed to giving it. Te Ka is another example of how nature is given animate qualities in Polynesian religion as it is an island god.

Te Kā

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Moana. Directed by Ron Clements et al., Walt Disney Animation Studios, 2016.

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