Kahu craves her great- grandfathes's attention, but he is busy as chief of a tribe that claims descent from the legendary 'whale rider'. Every generation, a male has inherited the title of chief, but now there is no male heir. There is only Kahu. She should be next in line, but her great grand- father is blinded by tradition and sees no use for a girl. Kahu, however, has a unique gift- the ability to communicate with whales.