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In anticipation for disney newest princess Moana, I am creating a Disney Princess series based off island cultures in the South Pacific. I love to imagine how the stories and princesses would look like if they lived on the island of Samoa, Tonga, Hawaii, and New Zealand (Aoteoroa) etc. I am super excited to watch Moana however I have to wait until November so this will help
pass the time.

UPDATE: Saltwater crocs are not common in Fiji. Only three incidents recorded their existence however they are known to travel all the way to the Fijian Island. I might remake this picture with a Snake or Boar as a replacement for the croc in the future. Any information on Fijian wildlife please DM through my profile! I will be in great debt to you!

This week's princess is based off our favorite Scottish princess Merida from the Pixar's Brave and the island she will be showcasing is the proud culture of Fiji. I was reading the warrior culture the Fijians were known for and reminded me of the warrior culture of the Scots. They both excelled in bravery and power when the odds are stacked against them. So I envisoned an alternative setting to Brave would be on the island of Fiji. For her mother, she transformed into a saltwater crocodile instead of a bear like in the movie. They are found in Fiji and are the only large animals native there.

When studying the cultures of the Pacific, you will always come across details of maritime warfare that was known throughout. Granted many sources also romanticize the warrior cultures as "primitive" compare to guns and broadswords but I disagree. Where they lack resources like precious metals to make steel, the Polynesians especially the Fijians constructed their weapons out of wood and precious stones. They had been proven to be very effective in close combat and can cause as much damage as someone using a bat. If you are interested about Polynesian warfare, I suggest watching the Dead Lands from New Zealand that features traditional Maori weapons in action.

Fijian Merida is holding a traditional weapon of choice, a war club called a totokia. It's narrow beak at one end of the club was design to puncture a fatal blow to the enemy's skull. It's one of the most popular weapons carried by Fijian chiefs and was easy to travel through thick bush in time of war. The totokia is a prized treasured like the sword in Scotland.

Next week will feature Cinderella in the Kingdom of Tonga so please stick around!

Disney Princesses in Polynesia
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Hawaii
The Little Mermaid - Samoa
Cinderella - Tonga
Beauty and the Beast - New Zealand (Aotearoa)
Mulan - Easter Island

Brave © Pixar/Disney

Description

In anticipation for disney newest princess Moana, I am creating a Disney Princess series based off island cultures in the South Pacific. I love to imagine how the stories and princesses would look like if they lived on the island of Samoa, Tonga, Hawaii, and New Zealand (Aoteoroa) etc. I am super excited to watch Moana however I have to wait until November so this will help
pass the time.

UPDATE: Saltwater crocs are not common in Fiji. Only three incidents recorded their existence however they are known to travel all the way to the Fijian Island. I might remake this picture with a Snake or Boar as a replacement for the croc in the future. Any information on Fijian wildlife please DM through my profile! I will be in great debt to you!

This week's princess is based off our favorite Scottish princess Merida from the Pixar's Brave and the island she will be showcasing is the proud culture of Fiji. I was reading the warrior culture the Fijians were known for and reminded me of the warrior culture of the Scots. They both excelled in bravery and power when the odds are stacked against them. So I envisoned an alternative setting to Brave would be on the island of Fiji. For her mother, she transformed into a saltwater crocodile instead of a bear like in the movie. They are found in Fiji and are the only large animals native there.

When studying the cultures of the Pacific, you will always come across details of maritime warfare that was known throughout. Granted many sources also romanticize the warrior cultures as "primitive" compare to guns and broadswords but I disagree. Where they lack resources like precious metals to make steel, the Polynesians especially the Fijians constructed their weapons out of wood and precious stones. They had been proven to be very effective in close combat and can cause as much damage as someone using a bat. If you are interested about Polynesian warfare, I suggest watching the Dead Lands from New Zealand that features traditional Maori weapons in action.

Fijian Merida is holding a traditional weapon of choice, a war club called a totokia. It's narrow beak at one end of the club was design to puncture a fatal blow to the enemy's skull. It's one of the most popular weapons carried by Fijian chiefs and was easy to travel through thick bush in time of war. The totokia is a prized treasured like the sword in Scotland.

Next week will feature Cinderella in the Kingdom of Tonga so please stick around!

Disney Princesses in Polynesia
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Hawaii
The Little Mermaid - Samoa
Cinderella - Tonga
Beauty and the Beast - New Zealand (Aotearoa)
Mulan - Easter Island

Brave © Pixar/Disney