Chief of War star Jason Momoa recently revealed that most of the series is in Hawaiian, with English appearing gradually in later episodes. Following the show’s release on Apple TV+, Momoa explained that he and co-creator Thomas Paʻa Sibbett insisted on using ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi to preserve cultural and historical authenticity, a choice fully supported by Apple.
Why Chief of War is majorly in Hawaiian and not English
In an interview with The Globe and Mail, he explained, “Brother, that was the deal-breaker for us. We wouldn’t have been able to go home if we did this in English. Like, we can’t.”
Apple TV+ backed the language decision, and the show’s creator, Thomas Paʻa Sibbett, also emphasized the importance of authenticity. Speaking to The Wrap, he stated, “If you remove the language, you remove the reality.” Sibbett added that this approach demonstrated the “dedication being put in by the studio and creators” to lead “with authenticity and culture.”
Momoa noted that while most characters speak ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, some will begin speaking English as the series progresses. “Some characters would learn English, like Ka’iana, as any chief of war would. You have to know the enemy’s language,” he said in the same Globe and Mail interview. This evolution in language use reflects historical accuracy, as Hawaiian leaders would have learned English for diplomacy and warfare.
Subtitles are provided automatically during Hawaiian-language scenes, but English dialogue does not feature subtitles by default. Viewers can activate subtitles in their settings to see English translations if needed. Apple supported the format, citing growing audience comfort with subtitles.
In a separate TIME interview, Sibbett said that using the native language was essential. “To hear and to know someone’s language is to know the people and the way they think. It was integral.” Momoa also admitted in that interview that learning the language was a challenge: “I was probably the worst. But I worked really hard.”
The first two episodes of Chief of War premiered on Apple TV+ on August 1, 2025. New episodes are released weekly through September 19.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on ComingSoon.
