When a storm washes an infant boy ashore upon a small South Pacific island, he is at first well-received as a gift from the heavens, even to the point of the tribal chief adopting him as a successor. However, as hardships increased, he gets out casted to live with the poorest people on the island, Mahana and her drunken father. Mahana is considered homely and undesirable, but Tama feels differently about her. When Tama was old enough to build a craft to sail away, he vowed to return for Mahana one day. While away, a lucky stroke brings Tama to land on the island of Johnny Lingo, the wealthiest trader in the islands. After years of service to Johnny, Tama learned much about life and himself, and he decides to honour his pledge to Mahana.