Will romance spark between Ka'ahumanu and John Young in Chief of War? Speculations explored

Apple TV+'s Hawaiian historical drama series, Chief of War, starring Jason Momoa and Luciane Buchanan, dropped on August 1, 2025. Since its release, the series has already garnered positive reviews and consistently topped the streaming charts, making it one of the most successful shows of 2025.

Inspired by true events, this series is set in the late 18th century, when the Hawaiian Islands were divided into four kingdoms: Maui, Hawai'i, O'ahu, and Kaua'i. It delves into the life of an isolated warrior chief, Ka'iana, Kamehameha I, and Ka'ahumanu, key figures who played crucial roles during the unification of Hawai'i.

Chief of War debuted with two episodes, where we saw Ka'iana being chased by King Kahekili's men after disagreeing with his brutalities. When he was injured during the chase, Ka'ahumanu took care of his wounds. At the end of the premiere episode, we saw Ka'iana being rescued by British sailors after the dramatic fall from the cliff. On the other hand, his family and Ka'ahumanu rescued a lost boatswain, John Young.

Ka'ahumanu was instructed by her father, Moku, to relocate to Hawaii before the war started, since he had promised her hand to a local chief. Turns out it was none other than Kamehameha I, a fearless warrior and the nephew aging King of Hawai'i.

In Episode 3 of Chief of War, Ka'ahumanu became John Young's student and took lessons from him, learning from his travel experiences. They conversed in English so that Ka'ahumanu could grasp the language well. Their exchanges were filled with curiosity and mutual respect, and not romance.

However, when her father interrupted the lesson to inform Ka'ahumanu that her marriage was to be held that night, it was quite shocking. Moku wasn't quite elated about John Young giving lessons to his daughter. He firmly asked him to go away, even though Ka'ahumanu resisted initially. Young respected Moku's commands and walked away. Later in the episode, Ka'ahumanu agreed to the union, and she was eventually married to Kamehameha.

Although Ka'ahumanu kept a secret that she could not give an heir to the chief, as foreseen by the prophetess Taula. Despite that, historical records show that Ka'ahumanu would go on to become one of Kamehameha's favorite wives, playing a key role in shaping his political alliances.

So, will there be any romantic spark between Ka'ahumanu and John Young in the later episodes? Continue reading to know more.

Will there be romance between Ka'ahumanu and John Young, in Chief of War?

Since Ka'ahumanu got married to Kamehameha I in Chief of War Episode 3, City of Flowers, there is hardly any chance for a romance between her and John Young. Additionally, Ka'ahumanu sees Young as her teacher and guide, and not some romantic interest.

According to history, John Young was a trusted advisor to Kamehameha I. He was also granted a chiefly status and served as a governor of Hawaii Island. He was married to Ka'ahumanu's niece Ka'oana'eha; the union solidified his position on the island. Eventually, he also taught Kamehameha's warriors how to use muskets and cannons. His presence helped Kamehameha and later Ka'ahumanu to interact with foreign traders.

The showrunner might take creative liberties to tweak the storyline, but the romantic spark between Ka'ahumanu and John Young seems highly unlikely.

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