Kaina Makua was Kamehameha from Chief of War in Jason Momoa’s mind long before he was cast for the role

When Hollywood casting is concerned, shock picks are the ones that make the biggest waves, and Apple TV+'s period drama Chief of War is no different! According to Hawaii.edu, Kaina Makua, a taro farmer and canoe coach, was always Jason Momoa's first choice to play King Kamehameha, a role which is at the center of the plot of Chief of War.

Besides starring in Chief of War, Momoa is involved in the show as a writer and executive producer, and has also directed an episode so far. He first met Makua at a 2019 paddling regatta and told him he would one day portray Kamehameha.

Incidentally, prior to the incident, Momoa had casually snapped Makua's photo while he was on a Kaua'i beach and forwarded it to the director as a casting recommendation. Later, during the formal casting, it was discovered that the man in that beach photograph was indeed Kaina Makua! As per Hawaii.edu, Makua said,

"Three years later in 2022 he [Jason Momoa] called me up and said, ‘I told you, I told you,’ and I was like, ‘What did you tell me?’”

Makua added,

“He said, ‘I told you you are going to play Kamehameha.’”

Although Makua was initially reluctant, he was on board when Chief of War went into production. A casual remark became one of the series' most iconic casting decisions.

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Jason Momoa's early vision of Chief of War

Jason Momoa and the creators of Chief of War were looking for someone who carried cultural weight and authenticity, for the role of Kamehameha, and Kaina Makua stood out. Despite Makua’s lack of acting experience, Momoa saw in him the qualities he believed were necessary to bring Hawaii’s unifier to the screen.

According to Townandcountrymag.com, Momoa's reaction, on seeing Makua on the beach of Kaua‘i, was instantaneous.

"I literally hit my cousin,” he recalls, “I was like, ‘Who the hell is that? I need to know him.’ When I got to know him, it was just unbelievable. He’s perfect. He was born to play this role. And I mean, that’s crazy!”

Makua has recalled that Momoa casually approached him at the competition for canoe paddling and told him that he was meant to play Kamehameha in Chief of War. Makua thought that the actor was saying so in jest. Three years down the line, however, Momoa called again, this time offering the opportunity as real.

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Kaina Makua’s reluctance and acceptance

Initially, Kaina Makua did not want to play such a key role in Chief of War. He was never a professional actor, and his life was rooted in his community, taro farming, teaching Hawaiian language, and canoe paddling. Portraying Kamehameha meant attempting a historical role, one with great responsibilities.

After meeting with cultural advisors and revered elders, Makua changed his mind. He realized playing Kamehameha wasn't just a job as an actor but a chance to share Hawaiian history with global audiences.

His subsequent on-set experience was a learning process.

“It’s all everyday emotions for all of us. I mean we all get that. We go up and down. We go left and right. We spin around in circles,” Makua said. “Being around other actors and watching them made my job feel way easier to settle into.”

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The significance of Kamehameha in Chief of War

Apple TV+'s Chief of War is a series that takes off in the late 18th-century, and is based on true events. The focus is on Kaʻiana, portrayed by Jason Momoa, but Kamehameha is a significant character since he leads the consolidation of the Hawaiian Islands.

Makua's casting as Kamehameha in Chief of War marks his acting debut, made forthe sake of authenticity and cultural accuracy.

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Cultural resonance of the casting

While training for Chief of War, Makua developed a wider perspective for the slice of history that the show depicted, as well as his character. He understood how Kamehameha united the islands and brought stability in the midst of turmoil, and he used the realization to try and add depth to his performance.

For the people of Hawaii, the casting of Kaina Makua would be culturally important, as it is an effort to depict history through local performers. According to Hawaii.edu, Makua said:

“I hope that Indigenous populations that we have across the world understand this is a foot in the door. It’s not going to end here. I hope they understand that it’s not just for Hawaiʻi, this for all Indigenous people because we all get moʻolelo (stories). This is how we all can share.”

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Production choices and historical detail

Originally designed as a film focusing on just Kamehameha, Chief of War, was reworked into a nine-episode series told from Kaʻiana's point of view. However, Kamehameha, played by Makua, remains a cornerstone for the series.

The production prioritized authenticity. Hawaiian-language dialogue was incorporated throughout the series, war canoes were built for shooting, and cultural consultants were roped in.

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Why Kaina Makua's casting matters

The casting of Kaina Makua as Kamehameha in Chief of War emphasizes representation. Jason Momoa's spontaneous act of photographing Makua on the beach and sending the picture to the sahow's makers adds another interesting trivia about Chief of War, as the casting process took place. In hindsight, Momoa's reaction during the canoe regatta was more than a throwaway line. It signaled one of the most innovative casting stories in recent times.

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For, Kaina Makua's being cast as Kamehameha in Chief of War was not an outcome of a conventional audition or Hollywood practice. Hesitant at the beginning, Makua gradually became convinced about the role once he understood how big an opportunity it was culturally, and how much of Hawaiian history could be imparted to the world through his performance.

In the end, the show Chief of War not only dramatizes true history to depict the unification of Hawaii, but also highlights the importance of representational casting, with the selection of Kaina Makua for the role of Kamehameha.

Also read: These 7 moments from Chief of War reflect the potential of the show