When I was very little, my parents took me for a walk along the beach of our home island, Motunui. My father Maui, demigod of the Wind and Seas, sat me on his broad shoulder while my mother Moana, the Chief of our tribe, walked beside us.

What? You didn't know?

After my mother became chief of our people and showed them that voyaging was essential to our way of life, the friendship she formed with my father when she was fourteen grew stronger as she grew older and he joined her on voyaging expeditions. Over time, that friendship turned to love.

Some time later, I was born.

Anyway, the sun was setting, causing the sky to turn a burnt orange color. Mom took me from Dad before sitting where the water kissed the shoreline. After Dad sat down next to us, she let me sit down in front of her. I giggled because of the way the ocean tickled my feet when my mom got my attention.

"Do you see the light where the sky meets the sea, minnow?"

I looked to where she had pointed at the sunset. The light was shining across the ocean brightly. It almost looked close enough to touch.

I looked back at Mom with a smile. "Yes Mama."

She smiled. "I followed the light to my destiny, which was to restore Te Fiti's heart and show our people that voyaging is a part of who we are."

Dad cleared his throat pointedly, to which Mom rolled her eyes playfully. "And, I suppose, to find your father."

Dad raised an eyebrow. "You suppose?"

He wrapped a burly arm around her shoulders before pulling her closer and nuzzling the side of her face. I smiled as I watched them together. Something that I've always admired about my parents was the bond they had with each other. Two people from completely different worlds managed to find a deep and passionate love in each other. Deep down, I wanted that. I wanted what my parents had with each other.

Almost as if she was reading my thoughts, Mom placed both hands on my sides before lifting me up so I could stand on my own, causing me to look up at her.

"If you follow the light where the sky meets the sea, minnow, it will lead you to your destiny. And maybe, just maybe, it will lead you to the person whom you are meant to spend the rest of your life with."

I looked away from Mom to look back at the sunset. If I have to follow the same light that my mother followed to find the person I'm supposed to become, then that's exactly what I'm going to do.

Mom's hold was loose enough that if I darted forward just a little bit, I could easily break free. I only managed to take a few steps before Dad's large hands wrapped around me and pulled me back to him and Mom.

"Easy there Little Wave. You don't need to worry about who you're going to be, or who you're going to be with for a long time."

Mom chuckled. "Sometimes time flies in the blink of an eye. You should know this best if all."

Dad grumbled before holding me closer. "That doesn't mean I have to think about when she grows up."

She chuckled before reaching over and gently holding the left side of my face with her hand. "When the time comes, you'll be ready to follow the light and the challenges it brings. I know you will."

I looked back at the horizon where the sunset was slowly disappearing. Mom was right. Soon I'll be ready to face what Destiny had in store for me.

Soon, but not now.

I am Malia of Motunui.

And this is my story.