
Within the canyon of water and surrounded by sea life and coral, a wave forms over Moana's head and looks curiously down at her. Once it's safe, a rippling effect washes over the surface of the ocean and the water recedes, revealing a trail of beautiful seashells which Moana gathers in her tiny arms. Leaving the shell, Moana shields the turtle with a large leaf and guides it to the water's edge. She sees a seashell wash up on shore and goes to collect it when she notices a baby sea turtle being menaced by a group of frigate birds. In the chaos the little girl, Moana ( Louise Bush), slips away and goes down to the water. However, he accidentally hits a post that reveals multiple cloth paintings of monsters, sending the children into a panic. At that moment Chief Tui ( Temuera Morrison), the little girl's father, enters and tells the children that there is no darkness or monsters and they are safe on their island as long as they stay within the reef. Gramma Tala then says that, one day, someone will find the heart, journey beyond the island's reef, find Maui, and take him to restore the heart and save everyone. At this, most of the children either cry or faint, but one girl is spellbound. Gramma Tala finishes her story saying that, a thousand years later, Te Ka and other monsters still hunt for the heart while the darkness continues to spread until, one day, it will consume their island. Maui boldly engaged Te Ka in battle but was struck from the sky, losing both his hook and Te Fiti's heart to the sea. Maui escapes on his boat but is confronted by Te Ka, a demon of lava and fire which rose from the sea like a volcano. Without her heart, Te Fiti's island begins to deteriorate and sends forth a terrible darkness. The demigod Maui ( Dwayne Johnson), using his magical fish hook to shape shift into various creatures, travels to the mother island and steals Te Fiti's heart a small, green gemstone engraved with a spiral.

However, other beings desired the power of her heart but only one was daring enough to take it. With her heart, Te Fiti possesses the power to create life and brings other islands into existence.


Using a tapa cloth to animate her story, Gramma Tala ( Rachel House) tells a group of young children the story of the mother island Te Fiti.The synopsis below may give away important plot points.
