The following contains spoilers for Moana 2, now playing in theatersMoana 2 radically reinvents the Kakamora, the coconut tribe from the first film, into a far more tragic community of characters. Introduced in the first film as one of the dangerous groups on the ocean that Moana must overcome during her mission to restore Te Fiti, the Kakamora were one of the more visually memorable elements of the film. They were also fairly one-note complication in Moana's world, a basic threat that could be overcome with an oar and some persistence.

The Kakamora return and one of their number play an important role in Moana 2's ending. However, it's not just as a basic villain or potential threat. The full scope of the Kakamora's origins is revealed in Moana 2, revealing the tragic reason they became the pirates seen in the first film. This story makes the coconuts a surprisingly tragic reflection of Moana's tribe and their motivations, and could set them up to be more important in a potential Moana 3.

The Kakamora Story In Moana 2, Explained

The Kakamora Have An Important Role In Moana 2

Kakamora leader pointing its stick out to the sea in Moana 2

The Kakamora prove to be crucial supporting players in Moana 2, with the film's revelations about their backstory making them some of the most tragic characters in the entire story. The Kakamora initially appear in Moana 2 much as they did in the first film, a massive hoard of pirates who travel the ocean in search of targets. However, after capturing Moana and her allies, they discover that the Kakamora are actually separated from their home island. The same curse Nalo places on the ocean to constrain humanity's expansion also inadvertently cut the Kakamora off from their home island.

Moana in Moana and Moana 2
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This makes the Kakamora's marauding ways more tragic, as they stalk the sea for a way to get back home. Their reputation across the ocean as "murderous little pirates" takes on a harsher edge with the knowledge that they simply want to return home and lead a different life. It also gives the Kakamora an understandable reason to align with Moana and her allies, as the larger shared threat of Nalo becomes a unifying danger.

Moana 2 Makes The Kakamora Retroactively Tragic

Moana 2 Gives The Kakamora A Secretly Sad Origin

The Kakamora were one of the minor threats encountered by Moana and Maui in the first film, a comical band of pirates that still presented genuine danger to the pair. However, the revelations in Moana 2 suggest they may have tried to take the Heart of Te Fiti out of a desire to create a new home to replace the one they have been walled off from by Nalo's curse. Their wandering ways become more inherently tragic when one considers their home has been lost for untold years.

Kotu effectively serves as the Kakamora equivalent to Moana herself...

Even the reveal that Kotu, the child of the Kakamora's apparent chief, is a hero in their own right. Joining up with Moana and her crew for the rest of the journey, Kotu effectively serves as the Kakamora equivalent to Moana herself. This makes Kotu's decision to travel alongside them more important, and lends a bittersweet element to the farewells and antics of the Kakamora. They remain a silly looking group due to their physical appearance and approach to combat, but the true motivations behind their actions give the Kakamora's actions a more powerful undercurrent.

What's Next For The Kakamora In Moana's Future

Moana 3 Could Bring The Kakamora Back As Major Allies Against Nalo

Moana steers a watercraft in Moana 2
Image via Disney

The ending of Moana 2 is a happy conclusion for most of the characters, including the Kakamora. Thanks to Kotu's efforts to assist Moana and her crew, they're successfully able to undo Nalo's curse and restore the ability to fully cross the ocean. This means the Kakamora are able to head home to their own island, reuniting Kotu with their people in the process. The reveal that the Kakamora aren't necessarily villains could be the perfect way to make them more heroic in future adventures, too.

If the tease from Moana 2's post-credits scene is any indication of Moana's future, then she'll need all the help she can get. With a vengeful god Nalo set to bring more destruction to the world, he may even decide that the Kakamora are also targets. This could force Moana and her people to work alongside the Kakamora once more, setting them up to become more recurring allies in the future. If there is a follow-up to Moana 2, then the Kakamora's tragic backstory and surprising motivations might make them a perfect ally for Moana and her people to rely on.