In ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches the island of Motunui, it causes the crops to fail and fish to disappear. The island's chieftain's daughter, a spirited and fearless teenager, is desperate to save her people. Despite her father's strict navigation ban beyond the island's protective reef, the ocean itself guides her to her true calling. Chosen by the ocean, she sets off on an epic voyage to find Maui and return a mystical relic to Te Fiti, the goddess who created all life in the Pacific Islands, in hopes of restoring balance to her world.

During her daring adventure, she meets the legendary and conceited Maui, who reluctantly agrees to help her on her quest. As they sail across the open ocean, they encounter enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, she discovers the one thing she's always sought: her own identity. Her courage, determination, and her navigational skills are put to the test as they journey together. She must overcome the challenges of the open sea and embrace her destiny as a navigator and leader to save her people.