Apple TV+’s Riveting Hawaiian Epic Chief of War is Part Shogun, Part Game of Thrones, and All Jason Momoa

When most people think of Hawaiʻi they picture pristine beaches, palm trees swaying in the breeze, surfboards slicing through turquoise waves, leis draped over sunburned shoulders, and sitting at a luau with an unlucky pig that died eating an apple. Toss in a few mai tais and a ukulele, and you’ve got the version of paradise sold to tourists everywhere. You probably also recall that Hawaiʻi is the 50th U.S. state, it was the site of the Pearl Harbor attack, and its flag is the only state banner to feature the Union Jack, a nod to its long relationship with England. For many Americans, that’s where their knowledge of Hawaiian history ends. But the real story of Hawaiʻi is far more layered and compelling. 

The islands are shaped by a rich indigenous culture, a legacy of resistance, and centuries of geopolitical upheaval. It’s this deeper, often-overlooked chapter—the unification of Hawaiʻi told from a native perspective—that Apple TV+’s Chief of War brings to the screen with cinematic intensity and cultural authenticity. The historical drama opens with the steely stare of Jason Momoa, and from the first frame makes clear this isn’t the Hawaiʻi you see in postcards.

When we first meet Kaʻiana (Momoa), he’s in a canoe off the coast of Kauaʻi hunting sharks. It’s the late 18th century, and he’s the leader of a small, close-knit family. A skilled warrior, Kaʻiana has turned his back on the violence of his home island, Maui, in search of peace. Naturally, what little he’s managed to find doesn’t last. 

He’s soon summoned by Maui’s ruler, King Kahekili (Temuera Morrison), who needs his particular set of skills. A high priest is manipulating the young king of Oʻahu, and Kahekili wants to strike before Maui becomes a target. According to an ancient oral legend known as the Prophecy of Kapihie, Kaʻiana is destined to play a key role in uniting the islands. It’s a detail that looms large throughout Chief of War, even if the show mostly refers to it simply as “The Prophecy.”

In the late 1700s, Hawaiʻi was divided into four often-warring kingdoms—Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi—and Chief of War taps into this volatile era. Kahekili believes he’s the ruler foretold by the prophecy and sees Oʻahu as the next piece in his power grab. But Kaʻiana soon realizes Kahekili is unhinged and manipulating him. Fearing for his family, he flees to the Big Island, where a struggle between rival chiefs Keōua (Cliff Curtis) and Kamehameha (Kaina Makua) is already brewing.

At this point, you might be thinking: “That’s a lot of history (and apostrophes and letter K’s) to unpack.” And you’d be right. Chief of War is steeped in Hawaiian history, but thanks to co-creators Momoa and Thomas Paʻa Sibbett, it’s also loaded with cinematic style and big-budget drama. Think Game of Thrones by way of Shōgun, with spears instead of swords and a lot more lava.