The movie, Moana, opened last week to sell out crowds at Nu’uuli Place Theater.
And while there are a few critics unhappy about the portrayal of Samoans in the movie, the Disney animation flick has received great reviews from locals who’ve seen it. .
Kimberly McGuire, who was a crew member on the traditional voyaging canoe, Gaualofa, said seeing the movie brought back to life her experience at sea.
She says, “It gave me flashbacks of my time out at sea on Samoa’s very own voyaging canoe ‘Gaualofa’ and the journey we made with our Pacific island voyaging family.
“Here I was sitting in the theater recollecting the memories of magnificently star lit nights, and the excitement of playful dolphins spinning and jumping at the bow in the morning light.
“It made me so happy to know that these images are being shared around the world. Disney does not own our culture, but MOANA is being shared with the world at a time that I believe it is needed.
“This animated feature highlights our LOVE for family and the urgency to take care of our island homes especially with rising sea levels and crop failure due to Climate Change.
“While the world is watching we need to be true to our duty as stewards of the environment. We are people who have always drawn inspiration and strength from a Higher Power and the beauty of Creation.
“WE ARE VOYAGERS.:
