Why Chief of War sounds different and why that matters

Chief of War is the latest offering from Apple TV+ and it has garnered rave reviews for its decision to make the characters of the show speak the native language of Hawaii and portray authentic representation. Created by Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, the historical drama series premiered on August 1, 2025 and features Momoa, Luciane Buchanan, Brandon Finn, and others.

The show is set at the end of the 18th century and showcases the events that led to the unification of the four major kingdoms of the Hawaiian Islands, who were in a state of war. These four kingdoms are Hawai’i, Maui, O’ahu, and Kaua’i. The show’s protagonist is Ka’iana, who is a warrior chief and travels outside the islands, returns home, and joins the war. In the show, while Kamehameha I wants the unification of Hawai’I from the time period of 1782 to 1810, Kaua’I is against it and rebels.

The show is a passion project for Momoa, who has Hawaiian roots and therefore, accurate cultural representation is of utmost importance in Chief of War. In an interview with The Wrap, Momoa stated that, “This is our heritage. I’m not playing a fictitious character or a superhero...These are my ancestors." Therefore, the show literally sounds different, as the characters don’t speak English and instead, speak in the native tongues of the islands.

The language that the characters in Chief of War are speaking

Instead of English, characters in Chief of War speak a language that is more attuned to the story and the setting. As the series focuses on the history of the Hawaiian islands, the show explores how the four island nations work on their conflicts and must protect their land and culture from the threat of colonization by the English.

Therefore, the characters speaking in English would have been counterintuitive and the creators of the show made sure that the series felt authentic to the region’s history and was accurately presented. On Apple TV+, English subtitles are available but the show is spoken in the languages of the Hawaii.

In Chief of War, the characters speak Ōlelo Hawai’i, which is the language of the unified Kingdom of Hawai’I before the United States government invaded and overthrew it. However, the language was brought back in 1978 and the Hawaiian people worked tirelessly to revive the nearly-extinct language and preserve its history. In the interview to The Wrap, Momoa states that, “I’ve done a bunch of different languages and played different cultures. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done".

Therefore, with such an important history, it is especially meaningful that Chief of War uses Ōlelo Hawai’i. The entire show reeks of authenticity and it is one of the few shows that not only tells a story, but also wants to educate people about the history of a region. With the characters speaking the native tongue and the enemies speaking English, the Momoa-starrer show makes a clear division.

Other subtitle options for Chief of War

Viewers need not fret as Chief of War also includes English subtitles onscreen when the characters speak in the native tongue. Further, the show also has considerable English dialogue as more members of the island nation begin to interact with the outsiders.

Additionally, the show has the option for viewers to view the series in 42 different languages through the subtitles. Interestingly the streaming platform also offers subtitles in Ōlelo Hawai’I, which is a rare choice. The show also has audio description in nine languages, therefore, the series will be accessible for a diverse range of viewers and will also highlight the Hawaiian culture and language.

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Chief of War is available on Apple TV+.

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