Why Did Moana’s People Stop Sailing?
The movie, Moana, directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, follows a young girl’s journey as she discovers her destiny to restore the heart to a goddess of creation and save her island from destruction. Part of her journey involves discovering why her people, the Motunui Islanders, stopped sailing beyond their reefs hundreds of years ago in what is known as the “Long Pause”. In this article, we explore why Moana’s people stopped sailing and how it impacted their lives and their navigation techniques for generations to come.
Historical Context of Moana’s People
Moana is set in an ancient Polynesian culture, where voyaging was commonplace. For centuries these brave navigators sailed out into open ocean waters, exploring new lands and discovering new cultures around them in great vessels called waka.
This was a form of exploration that allowed these people to not only expand their knowledge of the world but also gain access to resources that were not available on their islands such as food, wood and tools for fishing or farming.
The Long Pause
The story follows Moana as she discovers why her people stopped sailing beyond their reef hundreds of years ago, known as “the Long Pause”. This decision by Chief Tui is made out of fear for his daughter’s safety when he forbids her from sailing beyond the reef due to its dangerous waters and rough waves. This decision is met with much resistance from Moana who dreams of exploring what lies beyond their island’s shores but ultimately decides to obey her father’s wishes out of respect for him as chief and for his protection over his people.
Reasons Why Sailing Was Banned
The reason why Chief Tui banned all voyaging from Motunui Island is because he believes that it is too dangerous for his people to sail beyond the reef due to its rough waters and treacherous waves. He believes that any attempt to sail outside their reef will most likely result in death or injury due to lack of experience with navigating such dangerous waters and lack of understanding about how ocean currents work or how to use navigation tools such as stars or sun compasses effectively when venturing out into open sea waters without landmarks or other navigational reference points available nearby like landmasses or islands nearby which could be used as visual guides in order to help sailors find their way back home safely if they get lost at sea while navigating these unfamiliar waters without any visible land markers available near them while they are out at sea away from home navigating unfamiliar waters without any visible land markers available near them while they are out at sea away from home navigating unfamiliar waters without any visible land markers available near them while they are out at sea away from home navigating unfamiliar waters without any visible land markers available near them while they are out at sea away from home navigating unfamiliar waters without any visible land markers available near them while they are out at sea away from home .
What The Ban Meant For Moana’s People
This ban meant that the Motunui Islanders could no longer explore new lands or resources outside their own islands which severely limited their ability to grow economically or culturally through exploration which had been so important for centuries before this decision was made by Chief Tui .
It also meant that they were limited in terms of trade as well since they could no longer sail far enough away from their own island in order to trade goods with other cultures which could have been beneficial for both sides .
In addition, this ban meant that any knowledge or skills related to navigation and sailing were lost over time since there was no need or incentive anymore for anyone on Motunui Island to learn these skills since there was no reason for anyone there to go beyond their own reefs anyway .
Technical Aspects Of Sailing
In order for sailors like Moana’s ancestors to be able successfully navigate open ocean waters, they needed a working knowledge of basic nautical principles such as being able map courses using stars or sun compasses, understanding currents, being able identify landmarks, having an understanding about wind patterns, being able tie knots, being able make repairs on board, being able use navigational instruments like astrolabes, etcetera .
All these skills were necessary in order for ancient sailors like those depicted in Moana movie were necessary if ancient sailors like those depicted in Moana movie were going be successful in completing long-distance voyages safely without getting lost at sea due unforeseen circumstances such as getting caught up in strong ocean currents which can easily steer ships off course if proper navigational techniques aren’t used correctly when plotting courses across open oceans .
Sailing Beyond The Reef: The Dangers
When attempting long-distance voyages across open ocean seas ,there are many dangers involved with this kind of exploration such as encountering storms , rough waves , strong winds , unpredictable weather patterns , large predators , coral reefs , etcetera .
These risks can be even more dangerous if sailors don’t have enough experience with navigation techniques such stars compasses , astrolabes , maps , etcetera . For these reasons , it’s understandable why Chief Tui would want protect his daughter by banning all voyaging from Motunui Island since going outside limits would put them all danger he wasn’t willing take .
Exploration Of The Ocean Currents
In addition understanding how navigate using stars compasses & astrolabes , ancient sailors also needed understand how ocean currents worked order plot courses effectively & avoid getting caught up strong currents which could potentially steer ships off course & cause long delays during voyages if not accounted for properly during planning stages voyage before setting sail .
This knowledge can gained through observation & experimentation with local winds & tides which can give sailors insight into larger patterns occurring seas around them & allow them better prepare themselves against danger & other unexpected variables during voyage so they can reach destination safely without delays caused by unexpected events occurring seas such strong winds pushing ships off course due unexpected changes local weather patterns occurring seas around them so unexpected developments during voyage don’t delay entire journey & prevent ships reaching destination safely on time according original plans laid down before voyage began .
Navigation Methods And Tools Used By Moana’s People
To help prevent getting lost at sea during long-distance voyages , ancient Polynesians did not rely just on stars compasses & astrolabes but rather collected multiple sources information based off observations local environment along with information passed down orally generations so sailors could rely multiple sources data when trying plot courses across open oceans rather than relying just one source information alone which may not always be reliable depending situation encountered during voyage which is why oral tradition passed down generations was so important part successful navigation during long-distance voyages because it gave sailors backup sources data fall back on whenever one source data wasn’t reliable anymore due changing environment encountered during voyage so they could always find way back home even if one source data become unreliable due changing environment encountered during voyage so they always had something else fall back on if needed during long-distance voyages across open oceans , like stories passed down generations about creatures encountered seas around them or changes local weather patterns observed throughout generations which could potentially help future sailors make better decisions when plotting courses across open oceans based off previous observations experienced generation after generation over centuries .
Impact Of The Long Pause On Navigation And Sailing
Due Chief Tui’s decision ban all voyaging from Motunui Island hundreds years ago after banning daughter Moana from sailing beyond reef himself due fear danger it presented his community , all knowledge skills related navigation & sailing became lost over time resulting decline technical proficiency related sailing among Motunu Islanders over generations until finally reaching point where none remained who had sufficient knowledge skills related navigation & sailing required execute successful long-distance voyage across open oceans safely anymore , resulting decline overall expertise related navigation & sailing among inhabitants Motunu Island since then until present day where none remained who had sufficient knowledge technical aspects related navigation & sailing required execute successful long-distance voyage across open oceans safely anymore resulting decline overall expertise related navigation & sailing among inhabitants Motunu Island since then until present day where none remained who had sufficient knowledge technical aspects related navigation & sailing required execute successful long-distance voyage across open oceans safely anymore resulting decline overall expertise related navigation & sailing among inhabitants Motunu Island since then until present day .
Conclusion
It is clear that Chief Tui had good intentions when banning all voyaging past the reef hundreds years ago , however it’s unfortunate that much knowledge about navigation and sailing has been lost over time ever since resulting decline overall expertise related these two topics among inhabitants Motunu Island today until point where none remain who have enough experience necessary execute successful long-distance voyage across open oceans safely anymore , however thanks bravery young girl named Moana we now know more about why her ancestors decided stop exploring seas around them hundreds years ago after all fear danger presented those unknown lands still lingers today even though many dreams exploring what lies past horizon remain alive within hearts many adventurers today hoping explore world around us more one day soon when danger posed unknown lands finally conquered once again allowing us venture forth explore our planet more confidently than ever before same way our ancestors did centuries ago before us !
