As a Pacific Islander growing up in the '90s, there wasn't much Polynesian representation in media. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Troy Polamalu, and Lilo were the only famous Islanders I knew.
So when I saw the previews for Moana, I was understandably excited. A Disney movie with a Polynesian princess! It was a dream come true. But since its release, the movie has elicited some strongly mixed reviews from the Pacific Islander community. So I want to hear your honest opinions!
Maybe you think the portrayal of Maui is a tired stereotype of a Pacific Islander male body type.
Perhaps you think Moana is a great example for Pacific Islander kids since she follows her heart and stays true to her roots.
Maybe you view the film mostly positively since it offers overdue representation, but you do believe the movie gets many things wrong culturally.
