The characters in Jason Momoa’s newest project,Chief of War, don’t speak English, opting for a language that connects to the heart of the story. Thepassion project of Hawaiian actor and creator Jason Momoahas finally debuted on Apple TV+ after a decade of development, allowing audiences to experience the story of Hawaiʻi’s unification across the islands.
Chief of Waris based on a true story, and the events take place across multiple decades. The story explores a time of war between the four kingdoms of Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi. Despite their conflicts, they must work together against thethreat of colonization by the English.
Historical accuracy and cultural representation are integral toChief of War, soaudiences will quickly learn that the characters don’t speak English. Instead, they speak the native language of Hawaiʻi, while English subtitles appear onscreen.
Characters Are Speaking ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi In Chief Of War
The Hawaiian Language Is Essential For Authenticity
In the Jason Momoa TV showChief of War, the characters speak the language ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, which was the language of the unified Kingdom of Hawaiʻi before the United States government invaded and overthrew it. What started as a spoken language became a written language, leading to an impressive 90% literacy rate (viaNational Marine Sanctuary Foundation).
Sadly, the United States banned ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, forcing governmental agencies and educational institutions to use English exclusively. By the time the government added ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi as an official state language in 1978 and revoked the teaching ban in 1986, the language was nearly extinct. However,the Hawaiian people worked tirelessly to revive the languageand preserve the history and culture attached.
Jason Momoa worked hard to speak ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi for his role as the legendary warrior Kaʻiana inChief of War, enlisting the help of a language coach (viaTIME).
Due to the suppression of the language,it feels especially meaningful thatChief of Waruses ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. The entire project is infused with authenticity and love for native Hawaiʻi, no matter what. It’s clear they put time into researching and creating the historical drama.
It would have felt wrong if they did the show entirely in English, considering that it wasn’t the language of Hawaiʻi. Plus, by having thecharacters inChief of Warspeak ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, there’s more of a division between the kingdom, who speak the language, and their enemies, who speak English.
Chief Of War’s Subtitle Options Explained
Chief of War Is Accessible To People All Over The World
SinceChief of Warwas released to a primarily English-speaking audience, the show includes English subtitles onscreen when the characters speak ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. However, later in the series, episodes will incorporate more English, as members of the kingdom learn some of the enemies’ language. During those parts, there won’t be onscreen subtitles.
Luckily,the show has the option to turn on subtitles in 42 different languages, including SDH for English and Hawaiianand closed captions for English. The ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi subtitles are particularly noteworthy because that’s often not a choice for TV shows.
The show also has Audio Description available in nine different languages, including English. This will makeChief of Waraccessible to a broad audience who can watch the show and appreciate the Hawaiian language and culture.
