Tautai - Moana

Tautai 🌌

One of the many reasons I find the story of Moana so impactful is because of the boundaries it crosses.  She isn’t a princess who needs saving like just about every other Disney movie.  She is a wayfinder, a Tautai, a Demi-god. 

In Moana, her father (the Chief), gives her the title of Tautai. This really signifies his perception and acknowledgment of her abilities in wayfinding and exploration.  This is huge because the previous Tautai became essentially the ancestral leader of Moana’s tribe. So for her to be placed on his level is a big honor. Little do we know she is meant to exceed all accomplishments of any Tautai in the history of her tribe. 

Wayfinding is a hard skill to master and wayfinding by stars is on another level of mastery.  For this reason I knew I wanted Tautai to mirror the darkest night sky.  It’s a deep inkwell navy blue that marks Moana’s ability to utilize celestial bodies to navigate.