Painting by Lindauer, Gottfried (1839-1926)/Bohemian, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, New Zealand, Bridgeman Images. Retrieved from nationalgeographic.com

Excerpt from nationalgeographic.com

Audiences are buzzing with anticipation for another rich adventure through Polynesia in Moana 2. The first film was celebrated for its joyous honoring of Oceanic cultures, nominated for two Oscars, and made more than half a billion dollars worldwide. Who knows how far this one will go?

Experts across the Pacific, including the islands of Fiji, Tahiti, and Samoa helped bring to life the demigod Maui—a shapeshifting trickster with humor and heart, plus a set of impressive pipes. His character has deep roots in Polynesian myth and folklore.

From his signature tattoos, we can learn about the place of the practice across the Pacific Islands, what its images communicate, and how tattoos tie leaders to their communities.

Who is Maui?

Although stories surrounding his character vary, Maui has a place in legends across the islands as a demigod. Tales of his exploits, including pulling up the islands, are one common thread. “Each island tells a slightly different story,” says Su‘a Sulu‘ape Toetu‘u, a Tongan tattooist based in O‘ahu.