All About Chief of War: Jason Momoa’s Hawaiian Historical Epic
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Chief of War: The Epic Hulu of Hawaiʻi’s Unification Premiering August 2025
Apple TV+’s historical drama Chief of War makes a powerful entry on August 1, 2025, inviting global audiences into a pivotal period of Hawaiian history. Co-created by Thomas Paʻa Sibbett and Jason Momoa, who also stars as the warrior-chief Kaʻiana, the series represents a cultural milestone and cinematic epic steeped in Hawaiian language, lore, and perspective.
Premier & How to Watch
Chief of War premiered globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, August 1, 2025, with the first two episodes available immediately. New episodes drop weekly on Fridays through September 19, culminating in a total of nine episodes.
A lavish world premiere event took place on July 18 on Oʻahu, featuring Hawaiian music, hula performance, and cultural ceremonies at Ko Olina Beach Park.
Check out the Bits of Aloha King Kamehameha I t-shirt here.
Behind the Scenes: Creators & Cultural Roots
The concept emerged from Momoa and Sibbett, longtime collaborators, who envisioned telling the story of King Kamehameha I through a fresh and layered lens—choosing Kaʻiana, the first Hawaiian chief to travel abroad and later an ally-turned-adversary in the wars of unification.
The project became a “huliau” (turning point) in Native Hawaiian storytelling: the first major series written by Hawaiians about Hawaiians on an epic scale. Cultural authenticity was prioritized—Hawaiian-language dialogue, cultural advisors on every department, and historical waka (war canoes) constructed using traditional materials.
All-Polynesian Cast & Key Players
At its core Chief of War features a predominantly Polynesian cast, chosen from across these islands—not merely actors, but cultural representatives.
- Jason Momoa stars as Kaʻiana, the charismatic aliʻi who returns home to a world at war and must navigate loyalty, identity, and alliances. Momoa also co-wrote the scripts, executive produced, and directed the finale episode.
- Kaina Makua, a Native Hawaiian educator, portrays Kamehameha I—the unexpectedly crowned monarch destined to unite the islands.
- Luciane Buchanan plays Kaʻahumanu, a powerful consort and influencer in the royal court.
- Temuera Morrison portrays King Kahekili of Maui, Kamehameha’s cunning rival.
- Cliff Curtis appears as Keōua, an obstacle in the struggle for power.
- Others include Māori actors Te Kohe Tuhaka, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Siua Ikaleʻo, and Moses Goods, representing the families of Kaʻiana and the royal nobility.
Story & Time Period: From 1782 to 1810
Set in the deafening clash of Hawaiian chiefdoms in the late 18th century, Chief of War unfolds over the Wars of Hawaiian Unification (1782–1810).
Beginning with Kaʻiana’s exile and international voyage, the story touches on key events including:
- The Battle of Moku‘ōhai (1782)
- The well-known Battle of Kepaniwai in Maui’s Iao Valley
- The climactic confrontation at Nuʻuanu Valley, Oʻahu
The narrative explores how Hawaiian aliʻi navigated foreign influence, land rivalry, spiritual tradition, and Western pressures—especially muskets, disease, and colonial trading interests. Kamehameha’s vision: unify the islands to preserve Hawaiian culture and resist colonization.
Production Scope & Cinematic Detail
The scale of Chief of War is comparable to fantasy epics. The production:
- Built traditional war vessels and double-hulled canoes
- Filmed battle sequences in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands and Hawaiʻi’s Kalapana lava fields
- During production, both Mauna Loa and Kīlauea volcanoes erupted, an occurrence Momoa and Sibbett felt was spiritually symbolic to the narrative.
The musical score is composed by Hans Zimmer and James Everingham—giving the series a sweeping, cinematic sound.
Jason Momoa: Cast, Creator, Cultural Ambassador
This is Momoa’s most personal project to date. Born in Honolulu, with Native Hawaiian lineage, he has described Chief of War as “destiny”—a way to share ancestral stories from his childhood shores.
Beyond lead acting, Momoa co-wrote every script with Sibbett, executive-produced alongside key figures like Doug Jung and Peter Chernin, and directed the emotional final episode.
What the Series Means for Hawaiian Representation
Chief of War has been widely described as a turning point for indigenous storytelling, offering a Hawaiian narrative on a Hollywood scale—and told with aloha and cultural authenticity.
It brings visibility not only to Hawaiian history, but to Polynesian actors and perspectives—reaching across the Pacific and uniting representation.
The use of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi dialogue, tribal language advisement, and portrayal of oral histories all elevate the series beyond conventional drama—into cultural reclamation.
Episode Schedule & What to Expect
Chief of War is structured over nine episodes, each dropping on Fridays:
- Episodes 1 & 2: August 1
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Episodes 3-9: August 8, 15, 22... continuing through Episode 9: September 19, 2025.
Expect intense battle scenes, political intrigue, emotional betrayals, and the larger arc of unification and cultural survival. Critics and media compare its scale and tone to Game of Thrones and Shōgun, framed within Hawaiian history.
Final Thoughts: An Epic Told from the Island Perspective
Chief of War isn’t just another historical drama—it’s a deliberate, heartfelt reclamation of Hawaiʻi’s story, told by Hawaiians, for Hawaiians, and shared with the world. It redefines how Indigenous history can be portrayed in primetime, blending spectacle with tradition.
Whether you are drawn to Jason Momoa’s passion project, the emotional resonance of Kaʻiana’s arc, or the sweeping trajectory toward unification under Kamehameha, Chief of War promises to be both education and entertainment.
Experience the uniting wars, the politics, the personal stakes—and above all, the beauty and complexity of Hawaiʻi in one landmark series.