“ We Know the Way ”: Culture – Nature Relationship and Kuleana in Disney ’ s Moana
and adventurers as well as colonizers and usurpers , who venture there because of the islands ’ beautiful landscapes and strategic placement . However , there is another side of these islands that many do not see , and even fewer understand . When the sunscreen , ABC Stores , island tours , and lu ’ aus are left behind , when the tides recede , one might find that there is a part of Oceania that longs for the return of its independence , its identity , and its culture . These cultures no longer wish to see its people impoverished . They no longer wish to be forgotten in history books and remembered only when it is time to plan a family trip over the summer . Mainstream media depictions of the people of the Pacific pale in comparison to the truth provide false depictions of wealth , lifestyle , physical characteristics , intelligence , and exaggerating Pacific Island culture as a commodity . This paper argues that the film Moana does the opposite . Using Hawaiian culture as an example , the following paper analyzes Moana ’ s portrayal of the connection between nature and culture , and the possible consequences of severing this relationship .
MEDIA , DEPICTIONS , AND STEREOTYPES
Take a moment to ponder what you know about Hawai ’ i , 1 maybe you ’ ve been there for vacation , or even watched a movie where the setting took place in Hawai ’ i . Think about what kinds of things come to mind when thinking about Hawai ’ i . Does a paradise escape with girls in hula skirts , people surfing , people wearing Aloha shirts , and untouched lands come to mind ? If you have only watched a movie about Hawai ’ i , or visited for a short time , these kinds of things may be
1 Although it is considered to be grammatically correct to spell it either Hawaii or Hawai ’ i , in its native language , the okina , or glottal stop , between the two i ’ s changes the pronunciation of the word . Recent efforts are being made to legally change the spelling to Hawai ’ i , so I will use this spelling to honor the traditional spelling .
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