Did Namake confess his feelings for Kupouhi to Ka'iana? Details from Chief of War finale revealed

Apple TV+'s historical fiction Chief of War, starring Jason Momoa, wrapped up with its ninth episode on September 19, 2025.

Episode 9 of Chief of War, titled The Black Desert plunged the viewers into the battle for power in Hawai'i between Kamehameha and Keoua. Tensions reached a melting point, culminating in Keoua's death and Kamehameha's rise to power. Kamehameha would not have won the war so easily if Ka'iana hadn't helped him with the red-mouth weapons or muskets, along with his insane leadership and fighting skills.

In between all the chaos, the confusing feelings that the characters harboured towards each other remained constant throughout the episode. But what shocked the viewers was that Namake confessed his feelings for Kupouhi to Ka'iana.

Continue reading to know more.

Chief of War Episode 9: Did Namake confess his feelings for Kupouhi to Ka'iana?

Just the day before the final battle, when Ka'iana was sharpening the tools, Namake confessed that he had feelings for Kupouhi. In a quiet yet tense moment, he said,

"I found comfort with Kupouhi, and she with me. It's the shame of my life. But I love her. I betrayed you Ka'iana."

Namake also pointed out that they thought he was dead. Ka'iana took a sharp object and slowly approached Namake. Quite surprisingly, he gave his hand forward (as a sign of forgiveness), and Namake hugged him. Ka'iana consoled him,

"You did no wrong to a dead brother. But I am here now, and I cannot face Keoua without my family."

Ka'iana, played by Jason Momoa, was originally a chief who was separated from his family when King Kahekili's men chased them. While his family was rescued by Ka'ahumanu and taken to Hawai'i, he took refuge in a foreign boat and toured for several months to procure red mouth weapons. His motive? To put an end to King Kahekili's brutalities.

During his absence, his wife Kupouhi and his brother Namake grew closer, as he often consoled her. They thought that he was dead, and thus their bond grew stronger until the day Ka'iana arrived on the shores of Hawai'i. Even though Namake was happy to see his brother, he was heartbroken because he had to part ways with Kupouhi.

Kupouhi and Namake still harboured feelings for each other, but they did not confess it to Ka'iana. Namake even broke the necklace (a symbol of his bond with Kupouhi) and took a dip in the ocean, trying to cleanse his thoughts and get over Kupouhi. But are feelings so easily washed away?

Namake's confession to Ka'iana in the finale episode of Chief of War proved otherwise. He confessed that he loves Kupouhi. And if this wasn't enough proof, the battleground where Kupouhi got struck by a spear, and Namake carefully pulled it out as she wailed in pain. Kupouhi held on to Namake as she shivered in pain. The episode ended with a teary-eyed Namake holding Kupouhi in his arms.

Why did Ka'iana not react angrily to Namake's confession in Chief of War?

When Namake confessed about his feelings for Kupouhi to Ka'iana, he did not act angrily. Instead, he consoled Namake and said that he did the right thing. However, it did feel weird when Ka'iana said that he would need his family together to fight against Keoua. So, is this a temporary reaction to Namake and Kupouhi's affair for the sake of the war? Or did Ka'iana really forgive his brother?

What's even more interesting is that Ka'iana and Ka'ahumanu's growing closeness, and most importantly, their emotional dependency, is quite noticeable in the finale episode of Chief of War. When the volcanic lava burst out and left Ka'iana unconscious, Ka'ahumanu went to him and sobbed her heart out until he gained consciousness. They shared a warm and long hug, which made Moku a bit uncomfortable.

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

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Also read: Chief of War Episode 9 (finale) recap and ending explained: Kamehameha's bloodiest battle yet

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