Moana takes place in ancient Polynesia, specifically on the fictional island of Motunui, which is located in the South Pacific Ocean. Motunui is inspired by real Polynesian islands and is geographically placed east of Tonga, near the real-world island of Niue. The island of Te Fiti in the film is based on Tahiti. The culture and environment of Motunui closely resemble those of Samoa, with influences from other Polynesian cultures such as Tonga, Hawaii, and Fiji
. The story is set about 2,000 years ago during a period known as "The Long Pause," when Polynesian voyagers temporarily stopped their explorations before resuming to discover and settle many islands across Oceania
. In summary:
- Location: Fictional island Motunui in Polynesia, near Tonga and Niue
- Cultural inspiration: Samoa, Tahiti, and other Polynesian islands
- Time period: Approximately 2,000 years ago, during the ancient Polynesian era
