Why was Ka'iana not welcomed by Moku on his return in Chief of War Episode 5? Details explored 

In Chief of War Episode 5 (“The Race of the Gods"), Ka'iana sails back to Hawai’i with the expectation that there will be a reunion and a seat for him at the table.

However, he is not greeted with cheers, but rather confronted by Moku, the flinty gatekeeper of Kamehameha’s council, who welcomes him with a cold stare and a long memory of bitterness. Why the frost? It is not pettiness; it is politics, history, and survival all intertwined.

Ka‘iana returns with new friends, new weapons, and a complex history, and Moku has to choose whether Ka'iana is an asset to the island or a tornado that could destroy it.

This episode of Chief of War turns into a war of trust, with Ka'iana trying to unite against Kahekili and the increasing menace of foreigners, while Moku is singularly focused on defending Kohala against temporary allies and the intrusion of outsiders and false promises.

Ka'iana vs. Moku in Chief of War Episode 5

In Episode 5 of Chief of War, Moku is not just mistrusting Ka’iana out of sheer enmity; he has his reasons. To him, Ka‘iana is the man who once stood with King Kahekili, participated in the massacre in O‘ahu, and fled when things went wrong. That does not sound like loyalty; rather, it is someone who cannot be trusted to remain.

When Ka'iana walks back into Kohala asking for people’s solidarity, all Moku hears is Ka'iana trying to manipulate his men again, not save them. He prolifically labels him as a traitor on the shoreline and reminds everyone that it is the council of Kamehameha, and not nostalgia, which decides who stays and who goes.

From Moku's perspective, Ka’iana’s history indicates that he moves behind power, rather than principles. Until Ka’iana changes his ways, Moku does not see it wise to allow him back; it will be like inviting a fox into the dwelling. Kai'ana might mean well now, but Moku still has memories of the killings, the betrayal, and the risk of letting charisma overshadow responsibility.

How Ka'iana wins over Kamehameha in Chief of War Episode 5

The political impasse in Chief of War Episode 5 is finally resolved with an old Hawai’ian contest, “he‘e holua,” the dangerous sled race down the volcano. Kamehameha challenges Ka’iana with simple rules: win and you get a say in the state's affairs, fail and you remain silent.

Ka'iana barely wins at it, but this small triumph means a lot for him as he gains a bit of people's trust again. The courage of this man is so well appreciated by Kamehameha that they takes him to be a part of the council. Moku remains cynical, but he goes along with it.

Even after the race, Moku keeps Ka`iana under his close observation, what he says, who he sides with, and whether the new guns will help Hawai`i or end up controlling their land.

Other factors that make Ka’iana’s return unpleasant in Chief of War Episode 5

Going beyond politics and arms, Chief of War Episode 5 is boiling over with drama as Kaʻiana comes home. He wishes for a loving reunion, but finds out that his wife, Kupuohi, is involved with his half-brother, Namake. That personal triangle is not only strange, it's a ticking relational time bomb.

The timing of Ka’iana’s return is even more ominous: Keōua is already gearing up for a counterattack, and even one unreliable ally can threaten their entire defense from within. Moku is cautious of Kaiana because Hawaii is surrounded by dangers. Keōua is leading a revolt on the inside, Kahekili is plotting to invade on the outside, and foreign “paleskins" are beginning to encroach from the mainland. The islands are not only split apart, but they are also at war on three sides.

Kaianaʻs reappearance is not just personal, but also a new element that may shift the balance of an already fragile, conflicted land.

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