This is a long shot, but also the type of thing Lego would do,
Have you ever noticed how detailed the statues of the toa are?
Pretty good for some one who has never met them.
How about this;
The toa and Turaga lived on metru nui for a bit, but when they fled, the only way to get the toa safely to Mata Nui was in those Cans. When the Toa where dismantled and put in the cans they lost their memories for being so inactive, thats why all the Turaga where 'waiting for the arrivel'.
In Comic 1 when Matoro took Kopaka to [Ice village leader] what was his first remark?
"I know who he is Matoro"

Wow, good theory except for one thing. In MNOG Vakama said that Takua summoned the Toa. Otherwise, it is a very well thought out theory.

Kopaka 22

I read some where that the toa come from the same place as Mata Nui and Makuta and they were sent to Mata Nui (island) by "The Great Beings". In the movie, Vakama says that the Matorn (and I asume that means the Turaga too) were brought to the island by Mata Nui. The movie made him coming from the sky (the toa fell from the sky) so I believe that the Toa came from the smae place as the Matorn.

I think you're right except for there's one thing I'd like to add. I think instead of journeying there, they were put into stasis and were to be summoned when they were needed.

I think he knows who Kopaka is because of the prophecies, probably a Ga-koronan saw them through a telescope or vakama consulted the sacred fire.

QUOTE (Onepu @ Nov 1 2003, 09:02 AM)

I think he knows who Kopaka is because of the prophecies, probably a Ga-koronan saw them through a telescope or vakama consulted the sacred fire.

I agree, all the Turaga knew the Toa would come because of the prophecies.

QUOTE

Have you ever noticed how detailed the statues of the toa are?

What statues are you talking about? Other than that, it's a pretty good theory.

It's my belief that the current Toa are lesser Great Spirits, given bodies and sent down to the Island to rectify Makuta's... ill-doing.

it seems the original Toa were the Turaga, but after they were Matoran.
I reiterate: Matoran--> Toa --> Turaga.

Perhaps, along with Makuta's nefarious proceedings, the knowledge of how Matoran become Toa had become lost, prompting the Great Beings to step in and send the Toa we know.

[Edit: I just made all that up, so if it turns out to be correct, or close enough, then I'm a genius. If not, then I just became over-creative for a moment.
Usually I refrain from forming theories without evidence. Maybe this should form a thread of its own...]