Inspired by the real facts, the leader of the war places viewers in the heart of the Hawaiian Islands in the late 18th century. We follow Kaʻiana Warrior (Jason Momoa), while he tries to unite different clans in the face of increasing danger, under Western colonization. Basically, by the Polynesian actor, this historical drama is the first to say Aboriginal, far from Hollywood paternalistic accounts. A real fresh wind.
Jason Momoa, who has been performing this project for more than a decade, has invested in the body and in the soul. At the same time, co-creator, co-author, producer, chief actor, and even the director of the final episode, has formed a series that he calls his father. Along with him, the impressive Temuela Morrison (Boba Fetty) portrays the main cake, the bloodthirsty antagonist, whose vision of unification is massacre.
Do they really have to learn Hawaiian?
The answer is yes! And this is one of the most remarkable, radical and impressive aspects of the series. If you decide to look at it in the original version, you will find that the first two episodes are almost completely in ʻlelo hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). The first for American production of this scale and this is a major challenge for all actors, even for Polynesian origin.
In contrast, what you might think, language was not achievement. As Jason Momoa himself indicates: “This is not their language. They didn’t know. You can’t make this assumption. This is not because you are a Maori that you know how to talk to ʻlelo and be Hawaiian.“
This demand for authenticity has undergone significant pressure on the shoulders of the actors who knew about wearing history and culture – rarely brought on screen – on a global scale. “It was very dangerous to tell the truth. I don’t think we understood the weight of our characters by getting a role“, Says Lucian Buchanan (Kaʻahumanu).”It was only here that historians told us, “Do you know who you are playing?” No pressure!“He said laugh.
Efforts that concerned the whole distribution, including the project star as it revealed the future king Kamehameha, Kaina Makua: “At all levels, even Jason had to work hard to speak his own language.“
But this challenge was, first and foremost, a mission. More than just performance, Hawaii’s talk was a means of return and transfer to inheritance. For actor Moses, who depicts Chef Moke, this linguistic choice exceeds the simple framework of fiction: “We can speak in our own language, in Hawaiian language, to respect our ancestors and our future generations.“
Kristina Ibanes Interview on July 18, 2025.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
