Chief of War Episode 3 recap: Kahekili's brutality, Ka'iana's gun quest and Ka'ahumanu keeps a secret from Kamehameha

Chief of War Episode 3, titled "City of Flowers," picks up months later from the events of the premiere episode. Set in the late 1700s, the series depicts a time when the Hawaiian Islands were divided into four separate kingdoms: Maui, Hawai'i, O'ahu, and Kaua'i.

Previously, we saw how King Kahekili manipulated Ka'iana, a war chief, into believing that the kingdom of O'ahu was a threat to Maui. Ka'iana, who had left the island and moved to Kaua'i with his family, was forced to return and join the war. When Maui's forces attacked O'ahu and killed their young king, Hahana, Ka'iana decided to part ways with the king. King Kahekili sent forces to kill Ka'iana and his family. After a brutal fight and a chase through the forests of Maui, Ka'iana jumped off a cliff and woke up on a boat surrounded by foreigners. Meanwhile, Ka'ahumanu helped his family, and they sailed to Hawai'i.

Chief of War Episode 3 picks up months after Ka'iana's dramatic rescue and departure from the islands. A lot has changed since then: alliances have shifted, rulers have become bolder, and threats have multiplied. The episode begins with Tony instructing Ka'iana on how to use a musket. The scene then shifts to the snow-capped mountains of Alaska, where Ka'iana finally learns to hunt with the gun.

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Chief of War Episode 3 recap: Kahekili's ruthless grip tightens

On O'ahu, King Kahekili's rule darkens. His conquest has stalled but remains strong. Chiefs who oppose him are isolated and defeated. A failed poisoning attempt against him ends violently, and Kahekili forces the chief's wife to drink the poison meant for him to send a message. Even though the war chief pledges loyalty and begs,

"Please, not my family. I pledge to you my loyalty, my King."

At this point, it's no longer about strategy; it's about sadism. For Hawai'i, the danger is obvious. Their aging chief has ignored his own son, Keoua, in favor of his nephew and the warrior Kamehameha. This choice sets the stage for future conflicts, but it's also a move rooted in survival. Kamehameha recognizes that the biggest threats won't just be Kahekili's warriors but also the shortage of food during war. He utters,

"I would increase our food storage. In the battle of Kamokuhi, Hawai'i forces attacked a post in Lana'i with no food, and the warriors were forced to eat wild roots of kupala, bringing a great sickness of loose bowels. Hawai'i lost not for the lack for warriors or spears but lack of food."

It turns out he's already stocking provisions in huts near the sacred sites in the Kohala district, a sign of a true leader who plans ahead.

Elsewhere, in 'Chief of War Episode 3,' Ka'ahumanu takes lessons from John Young, the British sailor she rescued. They are suddenly interrupted by her father, Moku, who isn't too pleased with his presence. He sternly asks John to leave and informs Ka'ahumanu that she will be married the same night. As Moku puts it,

"We wait no more."

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Chief of War Episode 3 recap: A marriage written in Prophecy

Moku, Ka'ahumanu's father, has pledged her to Kamehameha. It's not just a political match, but he believes in the Prophecy that Kamehameha will unite the islands and be the ruler. On the other hand, Ka'ahumanu is in a dilemma since Taula, the prophetess, told her she would never bear an heir.

In the Chief of War Episode 3, Moku urges her to keep this a secret. He sees a different destiny for his daughter where her influence shapes Kamehameha's reign beyond bloodlines. The wedding takes place under the moon of Mahealani, a ceremonial lifting of kapu laws, binding their fates. Whether Ka'ahumanu believes in the Prophecy or not, she's now tied to the man who may lead Hawai'i into the most decisive war.

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Chief of War Episode 3 recap: Ka'iana's hunt for guns turns risky

Far from home, Ka'iana lands in Zamboanga, a Spanish port in the East Indies. He's learned English and mastered the musket with the help of Tony, a fellow outcast. But Ka'iana's fascination with firearms isn't for survival abroad-it's for the fight he plans to bring back to Hawai'i.

His quest leads him to Vai, a Hawaiian woman who has adopted the colonizers' hunger for profit. She offers guns in exchange for help exploiting Hawai'i's sandalwood trade. Ka'iana resists, but her deal might be the only way forward.

In the shadows, danger brews. Marley, a bigoted crewman, hatches a plan with Captain Metcalfe to seize the Pacific Island for trade dominance. When Tony overhears, Marley attacks and sedates him, Ka'iana, unaware, may soon be walking into a trap that could bring both foreign greed and Kahekili's wrath to his shores.

From Kamehameha's food stores to Ka'iana's desperate gun hunt- each move in Chief of War Episode 3 is laying the groundwork for the battles to come. The Prophecy might guide destiny, but survival will depend on alliances and the courage to defy fate when the time comes.

Chief of War Episode 3 is available to stream on Apple TV+.

Also read: Chief of War Episode 1 and 2 recap: Ka'iana feels betrayed, Ka'ahumanu emerges, and the British arrive in Maui.

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