Luciane Buchanan portrays the real historical figure, Ka’ahumanu, inChief of War, raising many questions about her character’s historical accuracy.Epic historical dramas likeChief of Waroften take significant creative liberties because their sole motive is not to serve as a strict documentary, but to craft a compelling drama that has some elements of realism.
Owing to this, even though many real historical figures play key roles in theoriginal Apple TV+ show’s overarching drama and several others, likeCaptain James Cook, are also mentioned in passing,Chief of Wardoes not promise to provide an accurate retelling of documented history.
Instead, to serve its themes of power, conflict, prophecy, and cultural change, the series blends real history with several fictionalized elements. This approach taken by the series makes it hard not to look into the real history behind Luciane Buchanan’sChief of Warcharacter, Ka’ahumanu.
Luciane Buchanan’s Chief Of War Character, Kaʻahumanu, Was A Key Figure In Hawaii In The Early 19th Century
She Remained A Leading Figure In The Kingdom For Three Generations
Kaʻahumanu was King Kamehameha I’s favorite wife when he served as the founder and first ruler of the unified Kingdom of Hawaii. After Kamehameha I passed away in 1819, she took over as Kuhina Nui and worked as one of the leading figures of the kingdom alongside Kamehameha I’s successor, Kamehamaha II.
As real documented history suggests, Kaʻahumanu, played a crucial role in abolishing Hawaii’skapu(taboo) religious system and helped introduce several educational reforms in the region. She even encouraged political modernization in Hawaii, which eventually paved the way for the kingdom’s early governance.
Kaʻahumanu remained a strong political force in the Hawaiin Kingdom until her death in 1832 and served as a powerful co-ruler even when Kamehameha I’s two generations of successors reigned supreme. She and King Kamehameha III also negotiated the kingdom’s first treaty with the Americans, which granted American ships access to Hawaiian ports and gave them economic benefits from the kingdom.
Chief Of War’s Focuses Primarily On Kaʻahumanu’s Life Before She Rose To Prominence
Most Historical Facts About Her Reveal Her Life After Kamehameha I’s Death
Chief of portrayal reimagines younger versions of Kamehameha I and Kaʻahumanu and portrays Kaʻahumanu as a strong agent in the era of Hawaii’s unification. There are hardly any real historical accounts of how Kaʻahumanu may have influenced political or military events during Kamehameha’s early rise, but the show fills the gap with its fictionalized mythic framing.
For instance,Chief of Warestablishes that she is prophesized to “break this world,” which is the show’s interplay of historical inspiration and mythic storytelling. Put simply, even thoughChief of Warunfolds somewhere between 1782 and 1810, which was decades before Kaʻahumanu’s real-life political ascendancy, it attempts to weave elements of her later influence and legacy into her younger self.
How Luciane Buchanan Prepared Herself To Play Kaʻahumanu In Chief Of War
She Drew Inspiration From Many Intriguing Sources
Buchanan herself is not Native Hawaiian. She was raised in Aotearoa, New Zealand and is of Tongan descent. The show’s co-creator, Thomas Paʻa Sibbett, understood that her Polynesian roots would play a crucial role in helping her understand her character. To prepare for the role, the actress flew to Hawai‘i to visit Ka‘ahumanu’s birthplace (viaTowns & County Mag).
She enjoyed reading the real history of the kingdom but noticed how most of it was written from the “lens of men,” with little information on Kaʻahumanu. Therefore, she took it upon herself to map out a family tree and read more about Kaʻahumanu’s parents.
As she herself revealed, the inspiration for herChief of Warcharacter also came from unlikely sources. For instance, the song “Alien Superstar” from Beyoncé’sRenaissancealbum often helped her get in the right mindset to portray the character.
Chief of War
Chief of War (2025) follows the journey of the fierce warrior Kaʻiana, who sets out on a mission to unite Hawaii’s four divided kingdoms amidst warfare. As internal conflicts rage, an impending external threat looms, challenging Kaʻiana’s efforts to bring peace to his people.
