At this point in the movie, Moana is a toddler. After she helps a baby sea turtle reach the ocean, the ocean introduces itself and begins to play with her. Seeing Moana’s good heart and curiosity, it tries to give her the heart of Te Fiti, endowing her with the sacred task of restoring the balance of nature on the islands.

“An Innocent Warrior” was re-written from a Te Vaka song from Opetaia Foa'i’s repertoire that had a special place in both his and singer Vai Mahina’s hearts. As Vai Mahina explained in an interview:

There is a song called “Loimata e Maligi” that Opetaia had written in honour of the the 19 girls who lost their lives in a fire on the island of a Vaitupu, Tuvalu in 2000. I had felt such immense sadness because during this time I was carrying my own child, my daughter. Emotion in this song is true to how I feel every time I sing this song and when I look at my daughter and my children I am always reminded how lucky I am, to have them here with me. “An Innocent Warrior” was rewritten from “Loimata E Maligi” for the film. I always carry that memory of the girls with me.

Essentially, a song that was about the tragic loss of young girls was remade as a song cherishing Moana’s youth and potential.