How is Ka’iana secretly making sure that Kamehameha’s interest is protected in Chief of War? Details explored

In Chief of War, Ka'iana secretly protects Kamehameha's interests in episode 7 of season 1 by telling him not to trust the foreign traders, as they consider Hawaiians as nothing but some mindless, savage people. He also goes rogue and tries to prevent the traders from selling weapons to Kamehameha's rivals, Keōua.

Having travelled the world, Ka'iana knows foreigners' true nature. He understands how manipulative these traders could be, while their greed to make more profit surpasses every value. They only want to exploit islanders for profit by starting more wars. Therefore, Ka'iana sees them as a greater threat.

Read on to know more.

Here is how Ka’iana is secretly making sure that Kamehameha’s interest is protected in the Chief of War?

In Chief of War episode 7, Ka'iana sabotages the arms deal by questioning the foreign trader's character and revealing their willingness to deal with anyone for money. He doesn't declare his support for Kamehameha openly but manages things in his favour behind the scenes. He begins by convincing Ekeli to oppose the traders, he prevented them from arming Keōua, which would have put Kamehameha at a disadvantage.

Ka'iana has had personal tensions with Kamehameha, but the island's greater good and unity are above all for him. He understands that Keōua with foreign weapons would spell disaster for the islands. He remained suspicious of the traders like Marley and Metcalfe, while Kamehameha extended trust. Ka'iana warns the kingdom against naively welcoming them, as they consider Islanders as savages who once killed their captain and sent back his bones, sending a brutal message that no one will control this island.

In Hawaiian tradition, bones are considered sacred; therefore, when James Cook was killed, the then king gave his bones to his friends as a symbol of respect, while the Europeans took it as some savages ripping off the flesh from their captain's bones. They don't see Hawaiians as humans. Ka'iana further tells Kamehameha that he needs to do what his uncle did at the time. But the king cannot just break a law he made for peace so early by killing the white men.

Ka'iana takes some unauthorised steps, bypassing Kamehameha's order when he recognized some looming threats. He, along with a few more warriors, secretly boards Metcalfe's ship to confront the foreign invaders directly. By the end, however, Kamehameha discovers the plan and stops them before they can cause any bloodshed. It revealed Ka‘iana's willingness to act decisively on behalf of the kingdom, despite sidelining official counsel. But Kamehameha was disappointed to see that his orders were not being obeyed by his best warriors.

However, Ka'iana was proven right to sense the threat as Metcalfe doesn't leave the island peacefully but loads his cannons and attacks the innocent villagers in the nearby Bay, in Chief of War.

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Chief of War, Episode 7 dropped on Apple TV on September 5, 2025 and proved that all this while the Island was fighting internally; however, this time the threat is even greater, colonial, external and powerful. This indeed raises the stakes as the show moves towards its season finale.

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