Is ‘Chief of War’ Based on a True Story? Inside the Real-Life Events

Chief of War is a personal project for Jason Momoa.

Not only does the Honolulu-born actor star in Apple TV+’s new historical war epic, but he is also the series’ co-creator, co-writer, executive producer and director of the finale.

In Chief of War, Momoa plays Kaʻiana, a legendary figure in Hawaiian history. He was the first chief to travel beyond the islands and lived during the turbulent time when Kamehameha the Great fought to unify the Hawaiian islands under his rule.

Kaʻiana fought alongside Kamehameha before eventually turning on him, with Kaʻiana ultimately not living to see the unification. When he died at age 40, Kaʻiana was the “most famous Hawaiian in the world,” according to History.com.

At a Chief of War premiere event in July 2025, Momoa told PEOPLE how he feels like “this whole thing has chosen me in a way, like this is my destiny.”

“I have no idea how I got to all this, but we’re here, and I’m very grateful,” he continued. “I’m living my dream doing what I love to do. To play my ancestors is such a responsibility. It’s scary and exciting.”

Chief of War is a dramatic and bloody epic, but is it a true story? Here’s everything to know about the historical events Chief of War is based on.

Is Chief of War based on a true story?

Yes, Chief of War is inspired by real historical events.

The show takes place at the end of the 18th century, when the four kingdoms of the Hawaiian islands — Hawaiʻi, Maui, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi — were at war with one another, as Kamehameha attempted to unify them under his rule.

During the same period, explorers began encroaching on the islands, including Captain James Cook and British fur trader John Meares, whose arrival is depicted in episode 2.

Was the Chief of War character Kaʻiana a real person?

Yes, Kaʻiana was a real person.

Kaʻiana was chief of Kauaʻi and the first Hawaiian leader to leave the islands. In 1787, he accompanied British fur trader Meares on a trip to China, the Philippines and the Alaskan coast, according to History.com.

Meares described Kaʻiana’s appearance, writing, “He was near six feet five inches in stature, and the muscular form of his limbs was of an Herculean appearance.”

Kaʻiana returned home in 1788, sharing his worldly tales with the other Hawaiians, including Kamehameha.

While researching for the series, Momoa discovered he is a descendant of Kaʻiana. “That was something we came upon, so it was wonderful that it just kind of fell into place,” co-creator Thomas Paʻa Sibbett told Ka Wai Ola in August 2025.

What happened to Kaʻiana from Chief of War?

In real life, Kaʻiana was killed at about age 40 in 1795, during the Battle of Nuʻuanu, in which Kamehameha invaded O‘ahu.

Kaʻiana was one of Kamehameha’s most noble warriors, but they eventually saw each other as enemies. According to History.com, there are different accounts about why they parted ways, including Kaʻiana being excluded from a war council and switching sides to join his cousin, Kalanikūpule.

Kaʻiana fought against Kamehameha, and according to Biography’s website, Kaʻiana died early in the conflict. Still, Kamehameha was victorious, and his triumph would lead to the unification of the islands 15 years later.

What language is spoken in Chief of War?

The dialogue in Chief of War is mostly spoken in ʻOlelo Hawai‘i, the indigenous language of the islands.

When discussing the decision to have the characters speak in ‘Olelo Hawai‘i, Sibbett told TIME, “The truth is, to hear and to know someone’s language is to know the people and the way they think.”

“It was integral,” he added.

Momoa joked that he was “probably the worst” at speaking it, “but we worked really hard.”