Hawaiian history is celebrated through Jason Momoa's portrayal of a warrior chief in the film titled 'Chief of War'.
In the heart of Hawaii, the highly anticipated Apple TV+ miniseries, "Chief of War," is being brought to life. Moses Goods, a prominent actor, portrays Moku, a Hawaii chief who is one of Kamehameha's closest allies and the father of Ka'ahumanu. However, the series, which honours Hawaiian history and aims to film more on location, is facing challenges due to the current infrastructure of government support for film and television production in Hawaii.
The government support for the local film industry is limited, a situation that has been criticised as it provides tax revenue and jobs to locals. Unlike states like California, Hawaii does not have a strong or newly enhanced film and TV production incentive program. This lack of substantial government incentives makes it harder for productions like "Chief of War" to fully film in Hawaii, pushing them to shoot in other locations.
Sen. Lynn DeCoite introduced Senate Bill 732 this year to create the Island Film and Media Production Investment Fund, promote tax credits, and expand tax incentives for hiring local workers and extend support to streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu. However, the bill died in conference, leaving the industry without the necessary support.
Despite these challenges, "Chief of War" has become a rallying cry for some of the leaders of the Hawaii Film Alliance. Vince Keala Lucero, a Native Hawaiian filmmaker, joined the alliance due to the slump in shooting feature films and major television series in Hawaii, including "Chief of War."
The series, a nine-part miniseries set during Hawaii's wars of unification in the last decades of the 18th century, features a predominantly Polynesian cast, including Temuera Morrison, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Cliff Curtis, and newcomer Kaina Makua. Jason Momoa stars as Ka'iana, the titular "chief of war" who finds himself entangled in an unjust war and becomes the first alii to see the larger non-Hawaiian world.
The team behind "Chief of War" has been committed to maintaining cultural accuracy. They have communicated constantly with the Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation and Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole to ensure authenticity in the series.
As "Chief of War" begins streaming on Apple TV+ this Friday, Jason Momoa hopes the success of the series will lead to Apple TV+ extending the miniseries for additional seasons and increase government support for film and television production in Hawaii.
Meanwhile, Kenneth Smith, a teamster with Local 996, has been without steady union transportation work since March 2024 due to the decline in Hawaii's film industry. The first two episodes of "Chief of War" will air on Friday, with new episodes following each Friday through Sept. 19.
Thomas Pa'a Sibbett, another Hawaiian creative, shares credits with Momoa and emphasizes the commitment to cultural authenticity in the project. The series aims to generate interest in Hawaiian history and culture by presenting authentic and researchable stories.
DeCoite plans to introduce film industry legislation next year, hoping to create a more supportive environment for productions like "Chief of War" to film extensively in Hawaii. Jimmy Tokioka, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, said Gov. Josh Green is putting additional efforts into supporting the industry, including funding for the Hawai'i Tourism Authority for film production tourism support.
DeCoite visited the set of "Chief of War" while it was shooting on Hawaii island and in New Zealand, and recounted a chicken-skin moment from Hawaii island that illustrates the importance of keeping local productions here. Despite the challenges, the spirit of "Chief of War" remains undeterred, as it continues to bring Hawaiian history and culture to the forefront.
The lack of substantial government incentives for film and television production in Hawaii is a concern, as it hinders productions like "Chief of War" from filming more on location. Sen. Lynn DeCoite's proposed bill, aimed at creating the Island Film and Media Production Investment Fund and promoting tax credits, could have provided necessary support.
Jason Momoa, star of "Chief of War," hopes the series' success will lead to Apple TV+ extending the miniseries for additional seasons and increased government support for film and television production in Hawaii.
