Mana wāhine: Warrior women of ‘Chief of War’

Pasifika warrior women are the heart and fire of the upcoming Apple TV+ series, Chief of War.

From role preparation to storytelling choice, actors Luciane Buchanan (The Night Agent, Lea Tupu'anga/Mother Tongue) and Te Ao o Hinepehinga Rauna (Head High, Breakwater) have brought a distinctly wahine lens to a series set in 18th-century Hawai’i.

The series marks an unprecedented telling of Kanaka history from an indigenous perspective.

“We relied on the Polynesian women in our life,” Buchanan explains in an interview with Niu Fm’s The Morning Shack.

Buchanan takes on the leading role as Queen Ka’ahumanu, portraying her early years before she became Kuhina Nui, the queen consort of Hawai’i and wife of King Kamehameha.

“We’d look at the script and we’re like, we know someone like this - that’s my mom, that’s my grandma, that’s my auntie,” she says.

Rauna, who plays the fierce warrior chieftainess Kupuohi, says the series is a testament to the power and resilience of Pacific people.

“The heart of Hawai‘i is the same as the heart of the rest of Polynesia,” Rauna says.

“This show really reminded me how deeply connected we are as Polynesians.”

History retold

Chief of War, an historical epic co-created by Hawaiian film icons Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, unfolds across the lush landscapes of Hawai’i.

Inspired by true events, the nine-part series follows Hawaiian noble and great warrior Ka’iana - played by Momoa - as he fights alongside King Kamehameha to unify warring islands on the eve of Western colonisation.

With only fragments of written history to draw from, the cast of Chief of War approached their characters as a living archive.

“We didn't have any source material of who these women were,” Buchanan says.

“‘Cause it was a long time ago and history was shared orally, there's a lot that's missing.

“For our characters, there's only like two paragraphs in a history book of Kamehameha, and we're like, okay, that's all we got.”

Luciane Buchanan as Ka'ahumanu. Photo/Supplied

Duty of care to authenticity

That same commitment to wahine-driven storytelling extended to a deep sense of responsibility around authenticity.

Both actors emphasise the weight of portraying Kanaka Māoli kūpuna (ancestors) and ‘ōlelo Hawai’i (Hawaiian language) on screen.

“Every night, at least one, two hours with our ‘ōlelo coaches, drilling like crazy, just making sure everything was perfect,” Rauna recalls, reading countless books and working closely with cultural advisors pre-filming.

Buchanan admits coming into the project “not knowing a single thing about Hawaiian history”.

Embraced by the indigenous cast and crew and with a commitment to enhance the mana of the people, land, and culture, these ancient stories are revived.

“I jumped around the islands of where she was born... We were so supported by the Kanaka Māoli, the consultants, crew members just being like, ‘You’re making us proud’,” Buchanan says.

Te Ao o Hinepehinga Rauna as Kupuohi. Photo/Supplied

“Having that acceptance from the people themselves really pushed us to go harder and harder.”

“I think a lot of us kind of went, what are we doing here? We’re not Kanaka,” Rauna adds.

“To be welcomed so warmly by our cousins over here... it was so special.”

A pan-Pacific production

Chief of War brings a stellar ensemble including Māori and Pacific Hollywood heavyweights such as Temuera Morrison, Cliff Curtis, and Brandon Finn.

Along with some recognisable names Mainei Kinimaka, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Moses Goods, Siua Ikale’o, and Roimata Fox.

The spirit of connection was felt beyond Kanaka communities drawing together actors from across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.

Even with such a strong Pacific presence, the casting has sparked conversations around the nuances of cultural representation.

In an interview with Te Ao Māori News, Morrison acknowledges representation concerns and shares he initially hesitated to take the role due to doubts of his ‘ōlelo Hawai’i.

Morrison also anticipated backlash.

“We’re going to get that…‘What are you Māori doing playing Hawaiian roles?’

“And Jason said to me…‘tāua, tāua! We’re the same people’.

“And I think, ‘that’s right…that’s right’.”

Temuera Morrison takes on the role of King Kahekili, believed to be the father of King Kamehameha. Photo/Supplied

Morrison adds we all descend from Kahiki.

“One went to the north, some of us, we headed south.

“Some, the Rapanui, went east.

“In the beginning, eh, we’re the same people.”

Rauna says solidarity was felt everyday.

“There were so many people who wanted to [help], and that wasn’t just in Aotearoa, it was in Hawai‘i as well,” Rauna says.

“So many of our Polynesian brothers and sisters just came together to support the kaupapa because that’s who we are as a people.

“We tautoko each other at every point of the journey.”

Chief of War streams in New Zealand exclusively on Apple TV+ from August 1, 2025.