Catch in the Current

Moana, the oldest Taupou, is now thirty six, the successor to the Waialiki bloodline and will soon become Matai and lead Motunui to greatness as their Chief and Tautai. The people of the island are preparing the Saofa'i to appoint her the title as soon as she arrives home from her most recent voyage with her crew, Lototasi, Kele, Moni, and occasionally her demigod husband, Maui. But a week before the ceremony, the four arrive early with what remnants they have of Moana's freak accident death. With Moana dead and with Tui and Sina too old to continue as the Matai and Faletua of Motunui, the job is left to nineteen year old Simea Waialiki, the youngest Taupou who has stood forgotten in the shadow of her demigoddess Tautai older sister her entire life. Only having stood proudly as an aiuli and the island's ceremonial performer, she knows nothing of the duties and pressure that comes along with being Matai. She begins her journeys, speaking with the other islands and further connecting the different peoples of the ocean as a highly inexperienced wayfinder and way-to-quickly-coming-future Chief, where she meets the twenty year old Nihean warrior, Taupou and future Matai of the island Nihea, Toanui Palajiko. Caught between the impending love she feels for Toanui, knowing the love of two women, especially two future Matai, is forbidden; and her duties as Taupou and future Chief. She doesn't want to disgrace herself, her family or her island. But when love comes crashing down on her like the deadly ocean waves, she doesn't know whether to run towards or away from the sea.