Moana's grandmother, Tala, tells the story of Maui, the shape-shifting demigod of the wind and sea and master of sailing who stole goddess Te Fiti's heart. However, Te Fiti disintegrates, and Maui is attacked by Te Kā, a volcanic demon. His magical fishhook and Te Fiti's heart are lost in the ocean. The ocean then chooses Moana to return the heart to Te Fiti. Tui and Sina, Moana's parents, try to keep her away from the ocean to prepare her to become the island's chief. Sixteen years later, blight strikes her island and to attempt to prevent it, Moana suggests going beyond the reef which her father forbids her to. She tries with Pua the Pig but is overpowered by the waves and is shipwrecked back to shore. Tala shows Moana a secret cavern full of ships, revealing her ancestors were voyagers but stopped after Te Fiti's heart was stolen due to the ocean no longer being safe. She further explains Te Kā is causing the blight and she must seek Maui and the heart to stop it. On her deathbed, Tala convinces Moana to do so.

Setting sail on a camakau from the cavern, Moana is caught in a typhoon and shipwrecked on an island where she finds Maui, who boasts about his achievements. She demands that Maui return the heart, but he refuses and traps her in a cave. She escapes and confronts Maui who throws her off the boat multiple times but due to the ocean he reluctantly lets her onto the camakau. They are then attacked by Kakamora—coconut pirates—who, like other creatures, seek the heart. Moana and Maui escape them and Moana convinces Maui to help her by saying Maui is no longer a hero and should redeem himself by returning the heart. First, Moana and Maui must retrieve Maui's fishhook in Lalotai, the Realm of Monsters, from Tamatoa, a giant coconut crab. Maui takes his fishhook, only to find he does not have control over his shape-shifting anymore. Moana outwits Tamatoa and they escape. Maui reveals to Moana he became a demigod after his mortal parents abandoned him, the gods took pity on him and granted him powers. After Maui's confession, the two grow closer.

They are attacked by Te Kā after they arrive at Te Fiti's island. Moana refuses to turn back, resulting in Maui's hook being badly damaged. Unwilling to lose his hook in another confrontation, Maui abandons a tearful Moana who asks the ocean to find someone else to restore the heart and loses hope. The ocean obliges and takes the heart, Moana breaks down crying feeling hopeless but Tala's spirit appears, inspiring Moana to find her true calling. She retrieves the heart and sails back to confront Te Kā. Maui returns, having had a change of heart, and buys Moana time to reach Te Fiti by fighting Te Kā, destroying his hook in the process. Moana discovers Te Fiti is missing, and realizes Te Kā is Te Fiti, corrupted without her heart. Moana tells the ocean to clear a path, allowing her to r…

Read more on Wikipedia

The Verge stated that Moana is a fully-rounded character with a believable, while still idealized body. They also praised her resourcefulness and the fact she does not end up partnered at the end of the film. IGN conveyed that she is a wonderful role model for her perseverance and courage. Victoria McNally states that she is the most revolutionary Disney Princess by not having a love interest, being a good leader, and embracing her culture. A. O. Scott of The New York Times said Moana was "inspiring" due to her smartness, bravery and decency. The fact Moana did not aim to meet a prince was praised by Firstpost. Plugged In writer Bob Hoose lauded Moana's focus, determination, and the fact she was able to face death to fix the wrongs of the past. The Times of India wrote "she also conquers your heart. You won't regret setting sail and voyaging with her." The Guardian commended Moana since she cared about nature and was willing to face the challenges of the future. Variety described her as "one of Disney's most remarkable heroines yet" since she did not await a prince and took control of her own destiny. The Stanford Daily praised Moana's development and her "human traits" which were not present in previous Disney Princesses.

Cravalho was also praised for her voice acting and singing. Screen Rant called her performance "lively and charismatic". Common Sense Media stated Cravalho and Johnson shared a "refreshingly student-and-mentor-like chemistry". Firstpost said she was going to be a "huge star" in the future and felt her "insane" singing range was one of the most surprising things in the film. Rolling Stone described Cravalho's performance as sassy. The Guardian and Radio Times felt Cravalho's voice acting and singing were beautiful. RogerEbert.com said Cravalho showed skills beyond her age and praised her grace, timing and energy. Flixist wrote Cravalho was an "absolute delight". The New Zealand Herald compared her voice acting to that of Mickey Mouse Club. The Hollywood Reporter was impressed by Cravalho's voice acting and complimented her singing range. Entertainment Weekly wrote Cravalho "show[ed] off her pipes" during Moana's "I Want" song "How Far I'll Go".

The character has not been without criticism, however. ScreenCrush said it was "not impossible" to criticize Moana's "underwhelming qualities". Film Inquiry felt Moana lacked originality and unpredictability in her arc, calling her a "carbon copy of every other Disney Princess". Similarly, Den of Geek found it unfortunate that Moana was an "inversion" of Ariel from The Little Mermaid.
Moana received a nomination for Best Animated Female from the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, tying for the award with Judy Hopps from Zootopia. Additionally, Moana and Maui were nominated for Favourite Frenemies at the 2017 Kids' Choice Awards, losing the award to characters from Zootopia. Cravalho has also received and been nominated for several other awards including winning an Annie Award for Outstanding Voice Acting and being nominated for two Teen Choice Awards, winning one for Choice Breakout Movie Actress.

• Disney portal
• Moana at Disney Princess