In the film Moana, Te Ka is portrayed as the antagonist threatening Moana’s world. Later on it is revealed that Te Ka is Te Fiti without its heart. Te Fiti’s heart was stolen from her. Moana, with her power over both water and land, realizes that the conflict is a response to a violation. It’s Te Fiti’s trauma-induced fight response. Understanding that Te Ka represents the rage resulting from violation, including themes of colonialism, genocide, and cultural violations, Moana decides to restore the stolen heart so that peace would come to the land.
The acknowledgment in Moana indicate that healing and restoration are more complex than simply returning what was taken. While the Disney ending may simplify the process, in reality, true restoration requires extensive efforts e.g. therapy, whether it is directed at healing a land, a people, a culture, and/or an individual. Despite the idealised ending, Moana and Te Ka’s friendship highlights a more subtle agreement, where mutual understanding leads to a positive outcome for both characters.