“It’s a huge honor”: Chief of War cast reacts as they head to Hawaii for the Apple TV+ series' premiere 

It’s a huge day for the cast of Chief of War, and they’re soaking in every second. As the highly anticipated Apple T+ series gears up for its red carpet debut in Hawaii, stars like Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, and series co-creator Thomas Pa‘a Sibbett are reflecting on the deep cultural and historical weight of the project.

Rooted in 18th-century Hawaiian history, Chief of War follows the unification of the Hawaiian islands under the legendary chief Ka’iana, played by Momoa himself, who also co-created the series. Now, with the premiere just days away, the cast is headed back to the islands, not just to celebrate the series but to honor the heritage and land that shaped its story. The mood? Grateful, proud, and more than a little emotional.

As reported by Hawaii News, all the stars opened up about their happy feelings at being back in the state. Jason Momoa, who's leading the show as Ka’iana, an alii of Kauai, said,

“It’s a huge honor and I’m doing it with my best friends, and I’m doing it with Native Hawaiians, and I hope everyone can experience something like this where you work so hard for a very long time to have a moment like this.”

Mainei Kinimaka, who plays Heke on the show, said,

“I feel amazing. It’s really incredible to be here and be with all of the ohana, the cast, and finally get to celebrate this show."

More details on Chief Of War

Chief of War is a nine‑episode Apple TV+ historical drama set to debut on August 1, 2025, with new episodes releasing weekly through September 19. Created and co‑written by Jason Momoa and Thomas Paʻa Sibbett, the series marks a deeply personal, indigenous-driven narrative exploring Hawai‘i’s late‑18th‑century unification and the looming threat of Western colonization.

Momoa stars as Kaʻiana, a legendary Hawaiian warrior-noble from Kauaʻi. The storyline follows his return from travels abroad to wage war in hopes of uniting the four warring islands to preserve sovereignty before ultimately rebelling against Kamehameha’s unification efforts.

Talking about the series' idea and its execution, Sibbett has told GQ.

“Jason and I, we actually had this idea a good 10 years ago. But we knew that in order to pull off something like this, Jason needed to bring his star power up, and I needed to prove myself as a writer/creator as well. So we stayed together, we worked on all kinds of projects together, but in the end, it was all to get us to this place where we could tell this story.”

The cast is anchored by Polynesian talent: Temuera Morrison portrays Chief Kahekili of Maui; Luciane Buchanan plays Kaʻahumanu; Kaina Makua is Kamehameha I, with Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Moses Goods, Siua Ikaleʻo, Cliff Curtis, and others rounding out a richly diverse ensemble.

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Filmed across Hawai‘i and New Zealand from late 2022 through early 2023, the production emphasizes cultural authenticity: language coaching, traditional canoe construction, woven costumes, and guidance from over 15 cultural advisors, including collaboration with experts from Awaiaulu.

Chief of War will be available to stream on Apple TV from 1 August.

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