Why did they stop sailing in Moana?
Why did they stop sailing in Moana? Historians don't know why Polynesian people stopped exploring. Some, however, theorize that a change in wind patterns made it too difficult, which may be why Moana's father warned about sailing beyond the reef. In the movie, the rough seas are attributed to the loss of Te fiti's heart, which was stolen by Maui.
What is the real story behind Moana?
Although Moana is from the fictional island Motunui some 3,000 years ago, the story and culture of Moana is based on the very real heritage and history of Polynesian islands such as Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti. In fact, once you start looking for ties to Polynesian culture in Moana, it's hard to stop!