Polynesians divided over Disney's 'overweight' Maui depiction ^Featured

Later this year he will feature as a character in Disney's animated film Moana.

But a trailer revealing his comically large physique has provoked mixed reactions from Pacific Islanders, ranging from excitement to anger.

"When I first saw the drawing I thought 'Oh, that's cute'," Sydney's Tongan Language School teacher, Uani Havea, told SBS News.

"There's a Tongan word that comes to mind [which] includes the words 'large', 'strong', and 'heavily built'."

While Disney's depiction of Maui is a far cry from those in her books, Ms Havea said she had accepted it as a more contemporary version.

"It's actually showing a big, large person who is strong and active," she said.

But others haven't been as accepting, including Samoan Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu.

The former rugby star has accused Disney of mocking Polynesian culture and posted an image on social media labeling Maui's depiction as "half-pig, half-hippo".

"Obviously it perpetuates the overweight Polynesian, and perpetuating that our ancestors were like that, which is horrendous," he told SBS News.

"Taking our history and manipulating it and amplifying the stereotypes that already exist... you cannot be overweight if you lived the life Maui lived, which a lot of us are still living."

Mr Sapolu's meme was shared by New Zealand MP Jenny Salesa via Facebook. In a post, that has since been removed, she called the depiction "not acceptable" and a "negative stereotype".

NSW Council of Pacific Communities vice chairman, Selwyn Lloyd, said while obesity was a very real problem across several nations, everyone's perception of Maui would be different.

"I don't see it as a negative stereotype, but I see how people do see that," he told SBS News.

"We have some of the highest [rates] of obesity and diabetes. It's the world that we live in.

"But what I see is [Maui's] power and his aura rather than obesity."

In 2014 a World Health Organisation study found Pacific Islands make up most of the top ten most obese nations in the world.

During a speech in Tonga last month, United Nations Development Programme Administrator - and former Prime Minister of New Zealand - Helen Clark said of the 10 countries and territories with the highest prevalence of diabetes last year, eight were Pacific Island countries.

Uani Havea said heavy consumption of processed foods has contributed to high obesity rates in Tonga. But she dismissed other labels that come with "being big".
 
"With due respect to people who are against Disney's depiction of Maui... in saying those things they're perpetuating the western mindset that's associated with negativity of being overweight," she said. "That's we're lazy, we're sloppy, unintelligent, we have low self esteem. But that is not the case.
 
"I think (Disney's depiction of Maui) will dispel that stereotype."

Polynesian 'positives

Both Ms Havea and Mr Lloyd said they were thrilled that Disney decided to make a movie featuring so many Polynesian elements.

Princess Moana is voiced by Hawaiian actress Auli'i Cravalho, while Maui is voiced by actor Dwayne Johnson, who is half Samoan.

The story is co-written by acclaimed Maori director Taika Waititi, and features music by Samoan composer Opetaia Foa'i.

Emelda Davis from community group Australian South Sea Islanders said she looked forward to seeing how the film's story and characters would play out.

"The storyline isn't about him being a man of a large structure, it's about heroism and fantasy and journey and history and maintaining that culture," she said.

"I take more about that than I do about the physical look of this man."

Disney did not respond to SBS's request for comment.

-SBS