Family History Lessons from Moana

Guest Post by Miyamoto Loretta Jensen,

The Polynesian Genealogist

I remember watching the Disney movie Moana for the first time and I could not hold back the tears. This movie displayed my Pasifika culture and ancestry in ways that I have never seen on the big screen before! But I think what really struck me was the overarching themes and lessons of genealogy.

As a professional genealogist, I am always looking for mentions of family history anywhere I look. And this movie beautifully shared the cultural and spiritual aspects of family history with the world! Moana got me thinking about how this movie can be a powerful tool to teach children the power of knowing who their ancestors are.

Below are a few lessons, takeaways, and applications parents can emphasize to their children as they watch the movie Moana. There are many more mentioned and shared in the movie, but I hope that the below mentioned can encourage all of us to look for the other hidden gems within the movie:

Lesson 1: Follow your heart

Since Moana was a little girl, her heart longed to be one with the Ocean. Her father recognized this since her infancy because he was just like his daughter. After all, Moana means “ocean” in the indigenous languages of Oceania.

As we see in the movie, Moana’s father strongly opposed her suggestion that her people go beyond the reef to find fish and resources to save their island. With the support of her mother and grandma, Grandma Tala (my favorite character in the entire movie), Moana listens to her heart and fulfills her calling.

Can you imagine if she didn’t follow her heart? What do you think would have happened? All I know is that she did the right thing, even when her father said no.

Takeaway: Not everything that we do will be in line with our families. And that is okay. Sometimes, we are the ones that need to break barriers, stereotypes, stigmas, and fear that is held within ourselves and families so that we can grow and rise together.

Application: Share stories with your children about how their ancestors, living relatives, or yourselves, have followed their hearts. What became of it? What lessons were learned? How has their  (and your) decisions affected your family relationships?

Lesson 2: Knowing the stories of your family can change the way you view yourself

Moana had no idea that her ancestors were voyagers until she learned this from Grandma Tala. Learning her ancestors’ history validated Moana’s desire to go beyond the reef and save her people. You could visibly see the joy in her eyes as she discovered not only the truth of her ancestors but of the understanding of where her love for the Ocean comes from.

This changed the way Moana saw herself and because of this, she was able to save her people. You see? Moana may not have gone on her journey and fulfilled her destiny if she didn’t know who her ancestors were. She saw their resiliency and the legacy they left behind. She then knew that she could do what was deemed impossible: going beyond the reef.

Takeaway: Learn the stories of your ancestors. You’ll discover patterns from their lives that may be similar to yours. You’ll also see shared characteristics, desires, dreams, and hopes within yourself that have existed in your family for generations.

Application: Share family stories with your children. It can be as simple as telling your children how you met your spouse, what your favorite food was as a child, your best childhood memories, your dreams, what made you laugh today, etc. Maybe you know stories of your family’s ancestors. Share those stories, too! If you don’t know any, ask around in your family. It’s that simple. And take the time to ask your children how these stories change their views of themselves. Ask yourself that question, too.

Lesson 3: Your ancestors are there for you.

When Moana was about to give up on her journey to return the heart of Tafiti, the spirit of her ancestors, specifically Grandma Tala, came to give her strength. This scene still makes me weep each time I see it.

Moana’s ancestors knew who she really was and what she was meant to do even before Moana did. They helped her recover, recuperate, and refocus on the task ahead. They were with her every step of the way.

I don’t know how else to say this, but I know that this is true for us. Our ancestors are there to walk with us, talk with us, and show us the way. All we need to do is learn about them to know how they are assisting us along our journey in life.

Takeaway: You are never alone. You have the love and guidance of your ancestors to help you in any and every circumstance. Look to them for help whenever you need it!

Application: Teach this lesson to your children. Help them understand that they are not alone. Their ancestors are with them every step of the way. You can tell them that even if they can’t see their ancestors, they are all around us in love. Sharing pictures of who their ancestors are can also make the lesson more real and applicable to them.

All in all, there is so much knowledge and truth in the movie Moana. You don’t have to be Polynesian to see that these lessons are applicable to everyone. My hope is that as you take the time to point out these truths to your children that there will be added healing and joy in your life and in the lives of your loved ones.

In the last two years, Miya has presented at multiple genealogical conferences, including RootsTech, the National Genealogical Society conference, and the Association of Professional Genealogists' Professional Management Conference. Miya currently is FamilySearch's Pacific Islands records and oral genealogies analyst. On social media, Miya is known as "The Polynesian Genealogist."

Miyamoto Loretta Jensen is of Samoan, Tongan, Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Swedish, and English ancestry. In 2018, Miya became the first Pacific Islander to graduate from BYU’s genealogy program, with an emphasis on Polynesian family history. She has been an intern in the Family History Library, Church History Department, and Hawaii State Archives.

You can find Miya on Facebook and Instagram @thepolynesiangenealogist and check out ThePolynesianGenealogist.com.