Chief of War Episode 8 recap: Nāhi’s brutal murder makes Kamehameha realize his mistake

Apple TV+'s historical fiction Chief of War starring Jason Momoa is racing toward the finale week. Chief of War Episode 8, titled The Sacred Niu Grove, dropped on September 12, 2025, and the penultimate chapter sets the stage for a thrilling finale.

Previously, in the Chief of War, Captain Metcalfe attacked an outer Hawaiian village, killing numerous innocent people. Ka'iana, who already warned Kamehameha about the Britishers' ill intentions, was burning with rage when he saw the uncountable bodies on the beach. Earlier, Kamehameha refused to heed Ka'iana's warnings and remained adamant about seeking peace and applying the Mamalahoe laws that protected human life on the island. However, the results were deadly. Kamehameha's Kohala district was now facing an internal threat from Keoua and King Kahekili, and an external one from the greedy foreigners as well.

Continue reading to know what happened in Chief of War Episode 8

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Chief of War Episode 8: Kamehameha refuses to listen to Ka'iana, and Moku blames Ka'iana for the attack

Episode 8 of Chief of War opens with a chilling scene: lifeless bodies and desperate cries for help. Heke, Namake, Kupouhi, Ka'iana, and Nahi help the victims of the attack. Meanwhile, Ka'iana finds Vai's dead body and her child crying. He consoles him. When Kamehameha, along with Moku and Ka'ahumanu, gets to the site, Ka'iana races towards Kamehameha in anger, but Kupouhi stops him. Kamehameha analyzes the situation, and his eyes are filled with tears.

In the council, Ka'iana tells Kamehameha that two hundred and forty-eight innocent lives are gone, and many more are injured. He blames Kamehameha for his inaction despite his stern warnings. Moku sides with Kamehameha and asks Ka'iana not to blame Kamehameha. Moku blames Ka'iana for the attack. He tells him that the massacre was due to Ka'iana hijacking Captain Metcalfe and the ship.

Out of anger and separation, Ka'iana attacks Moku and holds him against a pillar while Moku pokes a knife against his chest. Kamehameha instructs them to stop. Ka'iana leaves the council, and his brothers follow. Ka'ahumanu leaves and follows Ka'iana. She tries to make Ka'iana understand that Kamehameha needs his help and counsel, but Ka'iana seems determined.

At night, Kamehameha asks Ka'ahumanu whether he was wrong by not paying heed to Ka'iana's warnings. Kamehameha consoles and motivates him. Meanwhile, Ka'iana tells his family they must leave for Kaua'i. Surprisingly, Nahi and Heke do not agree with his stance. Nahi tells him that in Kaua'i, they were simply outcasts and refugees from the Maua'i kingdom. Heke leaves, and Nahi tells Ka'aian,

"I have always followed you because you fear nothing. No weapon, no chief. I thought the outside world opened your eyes. But you see nothing but fear. I will stay here and face what is coming."

Back in the hut, Kupouhi asks for Ka'iana's forgiveness for not siding with him, but with Kamehameha. She realizes that if Kamehameha had listened to Ka'iana, the people would have been alive. It was Kupouhi who alerted Kamehameha about Ka'iana's secret mission to hijack the ship and kill Captain Metcalfe. Kupouhi consoles him as Ka'iana breaks down.

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Chief of War Episode 8 recap: King Kahekili's madness continues, and Keoua kills Nāhi

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Oahu, Kupule and another chief (Lima) discuss the brutalities of King Kahekili. It seems like Kupule is finally trying to face his father and usurp him from the throne. Kupule tags Kahekili as a 'mad and lost king,' and the chief tells him that he would be a just ruler. Later in the sacred bones hut, Kupule confronts his father, Kahekili, and he pulls a makeshift knife to attack him. However, Kahekili stabs him and then calls in healers.

Elsewhere, Heke plants a coconut sapling in a grove to honor the ones who have died. Nāhi’and Heke's emotional conversation ends with a passionate kiss as he says,

"A warrior's end is death. I cannot fight knowing my death will bring you sadness."

Meanwhile, Keoua and Opunui take over the sacred Niu grove in the Kohala district of Hawaii and capture the overseer priest who warns Keoua. Keoua orders his men to ax down the sacred trees. Nearby, Heke and Nāhi’ who were resting under a tree, were startled by the sounds of trees being chopped down. When they reach the location, they see Keoua and his men cutting down the trees. The Maui warriors and Opunui surround Nāhi and Heke. Nāhi asks Heke to run while he attacks Keoua. After a brutal showdown, Keoua humiliates Nāhi and hits him repeatedly. He wraps him around his neck and twists Nāhi's neck.

Keoua strolls away from Nāhi, who lies on his back. Keoua picks up a jagged rock, and Opunui brings back Heke. Heke cries for help as Keoua brutally thrashes the rock on Nāhi, killing him. Then he comes near Heke, who screams at him, and he tells Heke to give Kohala the message of war. Opunui takes away Heke, and his intentions are pure evil. In the next scene, we see Heke crying and washing her body in a stream, which proves that Opunui had abused her.

When Heke reaches near the hut, she collapses after giving scanty information about Keoua and Nāhi.

Namake and Ka'iana run to the grove where they find Nāhi's lifeless body. Ka'iana removes the rock crushing Nāhi's head, and the brothers share a last hug.

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Chief of War Episode 8 recap: Kamehameha finally joins hands with Ka'iana

Meanwhile, Keoua kills the overseer priest and pushes him into a volcanic pit. In the Kohala district, Moku tells Kamehameha that Keoua had sent a message of war and killed the priest and Nahi. Kamehameha finally takes a stand and instructs his council to get ready for war. When Ka'ahumanu tells him to take help from Ka'iana, who has a better knowledge of Maui's army, Ka'mehameha shuts her down. Kamehameha walks off. At the beach, Moku confronts her daughter and tells her to side with Kamehameha and not Ka'iana.

At the end of the episode, Ka'iana and Kamehameha come to an understanding (with Kupuohi and Ka'ahaumanu's interference). Kupouhi tells Kamehameha that he needs the red mouth weapons to win the battle against Keoua and Maua'i warriors.

Stream Chief of War Episode 8 on Apple TV+.

Also read: Chief of War Episode 7 recap: Ka'iana's warnings come true as the British strike without mercy

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