Is ‘Chief of War’ on Apple TV+ Based on a True Story?

Leading man Jason Momoa (Aquaman, Game of Thrones) may be the initial draw to Chief of War, a brand-new series from Apple TV+. But the drama’s real staying power is entwined in its historical roots — specifically, the gripping tale of the Hawaiian islands’ unification under King Kamehameha.

The show, which began releasing episodes on August 1, 2025, begins during the Wars of Hawaiian Unification of the late 18th century (1782-1810), when the four major Hawaiian kingdoms (Hawaiʻi, Maui, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi) battled for power over the archipelago.

First imagined as a feature film centered around Kamehameha, who conquered and united the islands after 28 years of battle, creators Thomas Paʻakaiokahonua “Paʻa” Sibbett and Momoa decided the conqueror was too controversial and potentially problematic to elevate, despite his commercial appeal. The idea transformed into a miniseries from the perspective of Kaʻiana, a well-travelled high chief whose complex story makes a compelling protagonist.

Between Sibbett and Momoa, the mostly Hawaiian-language script was written over the course of a decade. Ka Wai Ola reported that the show is a “turning point for Native Hawaiian storytelling,” marking the first time a story written by Hawaiians about Hawaiians has been financed on such a scale. The entirety of the show’s first two episodes are in Hawaiian, and the rest still contain mostly Hawaiian dialogue — a feat that Momoa and Sibbett rallied for.

Yes! Apple TV+’s Chief of War is based on a true story, following Ka’iana, a high chief who returned to the islands after travelling internationally during the Wars of Unification. Ka’iana is played by Momoa, a Native Hawaiian himself, who also co-wrote and produced the series.

Te Ao o Hinepehinga, who plays Kupuohi, Ka’iana’s wife, in the show, told Town & Country that getting the story right is “the most important thing.”

“That’s why it’s so important to have Kanaka (Native Hawaiians) in the leadership roles when we are telling this show,” Hinepehinga said. “I’m so grateful to Thomas Pa‘a Sibbett and Jason Momoa for making sure that [historical accuracy] was the most important thing when walking into this production with Apple TV+ and making sure that everyone who was making these decisions were the people who truly knew the story, who truly represented Kanaka Maoli.”

Plus, by centering the story on a lesser-known figure, Momoa and Sibbett found an even more compelling angle on Hawaiʻi’s unification that simultaneously offered greater narrative flexibility.

“The best way to tell this story is with a character that you can dirty up a little bit. A character that you can run through the mud, expose his flaws, vilify and redeem,” Sibbett told Ka Wai Ola. “We can do anything with a character like that and still tell the story of unification.”

Consequently, it’s important to note that Chief of War is not a wholly straightforward historical account.

“This is television, this is Hollywood,” Moses Goods, who plays Moku, father of Ka’ahumanu, in the show, told Town&Country. “This show takes artistic license… But what we’re trying to do in this show, and what I think the show accomplishes, is what actors do: We bring out the human part of who these [people] were. You can read about them in a history book; we delve into their lives as human beings. This is not a history lesson.”

Chief of War is now available to stream on Apple TV+.