On Screen: “Chief of War”
Chief of War
In the Northeast, it’s all about the 13 original colonies and how they grew into the United States. In the South, Civil War history abounds. Then there’s Manifest Destiny, the Louisiana Purchase and how the West was won.
But — until Honolulu-born Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett’s nine-hour limited series “Chief of War” — there’s never been a historical drama about the unification of the nations that comprise the Hawaiian Islands.
In the 18th century, four unstable kingdoms were in conflict: Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. Yet there was an ancient prophecy: “A Star with a Feathered Cape will signal the rise of a great King who will unite the Islands and end the age of war.”
Born on Maui, Ka’iana (Jason Momoa) is a renowned warrior chief who lives peacefully in exile on Hawaii with his wife, Kupuohi (Te Ao o Hinepehinga) and two brothers — until he’s summoned by his uncle, Maui’s King Kahekili (Temuera Morison), in response to a seer’s prediction of an invasion from Oahu.
But is there really going to be an attack? Will it justify the inevitable bloodshed of a massacre? Or is it Kahekili’s maneuver to validate an assault on Oahu? Even his son, Prince Kupule (Brandon Finn), wonders.
Meditative Ka’iana’s doubts lead to desertion, boarding a ‘Paleskins’ merchant ship where he befriends Tony (James Udom), a Black crewman, and witnessing the effects of colonization.
Meanwhile, Ka’ahumanu (Luciane Buchanan) leads Ka’iana’s family to safety from Kahekili’s men; she’s betrothed to King Kalani’opu’u’s idealistic nephew, Kamehameha (Kaina Makus), who will eventually fulfill the prophecy.
Admittedly, the unfamiliar names of the kings, chiefs and kingdoms are confusing, particularly since the early episodes are entirely in the native Olelo Hawaiian language with English subtitles.
To compensate, authenticity abounds from an indigenous perspective and a nearly all-Polynesian cast. Epic in scope and scale like “Shogun,” the cinematography is dazzling and the fast-paced, ultra-violent battle scenes are spectacular.
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “Chief of War” is a stunning, intense 8, streaming on Apple TV+ with a new chapter added each Friday.
Susan Granger is a product of Hollywood. Her natural father, S. Sylvan Simon, was a director and producer at M.G.M. and Columbia Pictures. Her adoptive father, Armand Deutsch, produced movies at M.G.M.
As a child, Susan appeared in movies with Abbott & Costello, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Margaret O’Brien, and Lassie. She attended Mills College in California, studying journalism with Pierre Salinger, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in journalism.