Jason Momoa's "Chief of War" Is a Polynesian Cultural Moment

Newsweek

23-07-2025

It's not every day that Hollywood hands the keys to an epic, large-scale historical drama over to an Indigenous creative team, but with Apple TV+'s Chief of War, Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett seized their opportunity and built a breathtaking cultural monument. The sweeping nine-episode saga, premiering August 1, centers on the unification of the Hawaiian islands at the turn of the 18th century, an era fraught with tribal warfare, political upheaval and the looming threat of Western colonization.
At its heart, Chief of War is more than a story about battles won or lost. It's a reclamation of cultural identity, told through the eyes of Polynesian people by Polynesian people, in their language. "It's mind-blowing to be able to tell this incredible story of my ancestors and to do it with an amazing cast and brilliant team behind the camera," Momoa says in the show's production notes. "Ka'iana knew what was coming from the outside world. He was fearless, devoted, a visionary. His journey is full of action, drama, and romance—but it's ultimately about love for his people."
Ka'iana (Momoa) is a complex figure in Hawaiian history who has been both celebrated and condemned by historians for his shifting allegiances in the tumultuous years before unification. In Chief of War, Ka'iana is portrayed as a man struggling between tradition, ambition and survival in the face of rapid change. A former war chief returning home after years abroad, he finds himself caught between competing chiefs, colonial powers and his own internal battles with loyalty and legacy.
Jason Momoa as Ka'iana in new series "Chief of War," which he co-created.
Jason Momoa as Ka'iana in new series "Chief of War," which he co-created.
Nicola Dove/AppleTV
Cultural Deep Dive
While Ka'iana's personal journey drives much of the drama, the larger narrative belongs to King Kamehameha, played by Kaina Makua. The series traces Kamehameha's mission to unify the islands of Hawai'i, Maui, O'ahu and Kaua'i under one rule—an unprecedented political and spiritual undertaking that would forever alter the destiny of the Pacific. Kamehameha's campaign is not depicted as a straightforward military conquest; it's complicated by fractured alliances, internal betrayals and the weight of prophecy.
Through this lens, Chief of War offers a rare glimpse into a chapter of history often overlooked by Western media. It dives deep into the customs, hierarchies and belief systems that shaped precolonial Hawai'i, with a particular emphasis on the role of women, spiritual leaders and the sacred ties to the land and sea.
For Temuera Morrison, who plays cunning King Kahekili of Maui, bringing this story to life required tapping into something deeper than craft. "I had to draw on thunder and lightning for my performance," he says. "I wanted to bring a little bit of what Polynesians call that inner power—that essence, that scariness. Fortunately, we're trained in Māori haka. Haka—if you break it down—'ha' is the breath, 'ka' is the fire. We needed a lot of that in this epic." Morrison credits the trust placed in him by Momoa and the writers. "When they said 'action,' it was our time to ignite ourselves and do the best we possibly could," he adds.
Prince Kupule, right, played by Brandon Finn.
Prince Kupule, right, played by Brandon Finn.
Nicola Dove/AppleTV
Cliff Curtis, who plays King Kamehameha's rival chief Keoua, also stepped in as a co-producer, helping to shepherd the series through the complex cultural protocols of filming across Polynesia. "What's unique about the series is that it's been written, directed, produced by Hawaiians, by Jason and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett, and drawn from their ancestral stories," Curtis says. "We filmed a large segment in Aotearoa [New Zealand], and it was important to honor the tribes of those lands. I was proud to help lead that process—acknowledging the many tribal boundaries where we worked, engaging with about 25 different tribes."
That reverence extended far beyond location agreements. Morrison shares how the production functioned on multiple cultural levels. "We'd stamp our feet to connect to Mother Earth. We'd say prayers to connect us to the heavens above. We're just manifestations of that energy," he says. "So when it came time to work, we brought that energy with us."
For Makua, a cultural practitioner and taro farmer from Kaua'i, stepping into the role of King Kamehameha required some persuasion. "I wasn't looking to be an actor," he says. "My purpose is with our youth, grounding them in farming, in culture, every day." Initially, Makua gave Momoa's offer a polite brush-off. "But after prayer, talking to our elders, I came to the decision. I was told, 'If not you, then who?' So I tried my best to fill the shoes of Kamehameha."
On set in Aotearoa, he made a point of speaking only 'Ōlelo Hawai'i—the Hawaiian language—whenever possible. "It helped the other actors get comfortable, get accustomed to the language. It made it easier for them to do them, on set."
'Part of Something Special'
Language is a central pillar of Chief of War. Much of the series is performed entirely in 'Ōlelo Hawai'i, a remarkable choice in a global television landscape often driven by English-first storytelling. "One of the privileges we had was, I didn't speak one word of English in the whole series," Curtis says. "It made me feel like I was part of something special. We're connected to our ancestors and our descendants, and this is for them—to give future generations a remnant of their culture to look upon and celebrate their own language in the way we've tried to portray them."
Authenticity ripples through Chief of War, from handcrafted kapa garments and feathered capes to the precise recreation of 18th-century Hawaiian villages. The commitment to accuracy extended to collaboration with Hawaiian cultural practitioners and language supervisors on set. As Morrison says, "It all goes back to the script. It's written with care, and it's our job to interpret it with as much integrity as possible."
Moses Goods, who portrays Moku—Kamehameha's adviser and father to Ka'ahumanu—says that the depth of cultural nuance in the storytelling only enriched his performance. "That's what an actor wants, right? Roles that are complex and layered, full of conflicting emotions," he says. "Moku is navigating the new world coming to them while trying to balance that with their gods and traditions. At the same time, he's marrying off his daughter. It's all of these things kind of jumbled up inside of me. That just makes for a much more interesting and complex character to watch and portray."
That dynamic plays out powerfully in one of Ka'ahumanu's most pivotal moments: her encounter with the prophetess who reveals a heavy destiny. For Luciane Buchanan, who plays the future queen, this doesn't just shape her path—it deepens her connection to her father. "It creates a secret between them that carries through the series," Buchanan says. "How they're going to make it work, they don't know, but they know they'll face it together."
Te Ao o Hinepehinga, who plays Kupuohi, described the cultural advisers on the production as the voices of the characters.
Te Ao o Hinepehinga, who plays Kupuohi, described the cultural advisers on the production as the voices of the characters.
Nicola Dove/AppleTV
Buchanan's portrayal captures the weight of inherited responsibility and the quiet resilience of women navigating a world of powerful men. The shared sense of Pacific connection was palpable across the production, particularly among the women. Buchanan and Te Ao o Hinepehinga, who portrays Kupuohi, both spoke of the strength they drew from the women guiding them, both on set and in spirit.
"We're very privileged in Polynesia to be raised by strong women," Hinepehinga says. "My greatest inspiration was my language coach. She and the other cultural advisors weren't just teaching us the language—they were the voices of these characters. We were just the mouthpieces." Buchanan agrees. "They really helped, but they didn't override our performances. They would ask, 'How do you want to do it?' It felt collaborative, empowering." Her connection to Ka'ahumanu deepened with a pilgrimage to the queen's birthplace in Maui before filming. "It was a very beautiful moment. It kind of set me up to bring that intention, to physically see a place where she had been. Those moments are rare in this industry."
Both actresses emphasized the unique challenge and reward of portraying women whose power isn't always wielded through physical strength, but through strategy, influence and quiet resilience. "These women aren't just strong; they're the silent leaders, the unsung heroes," says Hinepehinga. "The show shines a light on that. I hope women watching feel empowered to continue that work."
Deep Connections
That spirit of unity extends beyond the screen. Goods reflects on how Chief of War subtly reframes our understanding of Polynesia itself. "We call it the blue continent. The water isn't a barrier—it's a highway that connected us. There was a time when we traveled freely between islands and our languages, our customs, our stories were shared. This show reminds us of that connection."
It's a connection Momoa felt deeply. "When people come from far and wide to Hawai'i, they fall in love with it because there's something special—it's an umbilical cord to the center of the Earth," he says. "But many people have no idea of our history." With Chief of War, that history has been given the platform it deserves: one paddled forward not just by its creators, but by generations who came before and those still to come.