Aahana Swrup
In episode 9 of ‘Chief of War,’ the armies of Ka’u and Kohala districts finally find themselves entering a battlefield to determine the fate of the kingdom of Hawai’i. Ever since his coronation as the new Chief Keoua, he has held a terrible grudge against his cousin, Kamehameha, who inherited the guardianship over the kingdom’s God of War. As a result, despite the mounting threat of Maui’s King Kahekili’s mission of conquest, the ruler of Hawai’i finds himself engaged in a political spat with the other Chief, splitting the kingdom in half. As a result, a battle between them remains inevitable. Yet, Keoua knows his cousin has an advantage with war chief Ka’iana and his red-mouthed weapons. Therefore, he ends up securing a dangerous weapon of his own: Kahekili’s deadly warrior, ‘Opunui, and his army. Even so, despite their bigger numbers, as the two men walk into the battlefield of the Black Desert, their lives remain in the hands of fate. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Heke Avenges Nahi’s Death by Killing ‘Opunui
‘Opunui enters the story in the latter half as one of the biggest weapons in Kahekili’s arsenal. After taking control of O’ahu, the Maui King has been busy stabilizing things among his own ranks. Meanwhile, the conflict between Keoua and Kamehameha has reached the point of unavoidable war. Still, it’s surprising when the former reaches out to Kahekili, a known enemy of his late father. The need for revenge has blinded the Chief with rage, compelling him to strike a deal that could very well spell out his own doom. He borrows an army of warriors from the King to strengthen his own numbers and win over all the districts of Hawai’i, as well as the God of War for himself. Naturally, Kahekili sees the opportunity for what it is and ends up assigning his deadliest warrior, ‘Opunui, for the job.
However, unbeknownst to Keoua, the warrior has instructions to kill him once his army defeats Kamehameha, Kahekili’s only other prominent challenger. Yet, a different future unravels for the army of Ka’u. Kohala district’s access to the red-mouthed weapons, courtesy of Ka’iana, earns them a significant advantage on the battlefield. Meanwhile, ‘Opunui finds himself coming across a familiar face: Heke. Earlier, the warrior had brutally murdered Nahi, the latter’s lover and Ka’iana’s brother. Thus, the woman has entered the battlefield to take her revenge on him. Even though his brute strength and experience initially give him an upper hand, he soon loses it after Ka’ahumanu helps Heke by shooting her enemy in the leg. As such, the young woman is able to kill the warrior, administering venom into his body and smashing his skull into the ground.
Keoua’s Defeat is Certain, But His Demise is Left Ambiguous
The battle between Keoua and Kamehameha remains well-matched, but with the latter’s leadership and Ka’iana’s weapons, there’s bound to be a clear winner. At the end of a harrowing day, full of death and destruction, the war chief manages to confront the Ka’u district Chief one-on-one. Clocking his gun, Ka’iana has a clear shot at Keoua, promising his demise. Yet, at the last second, a small volcanic eruption interrupts the execution, sending both men flying backward. In the aftermath, while Ka’iana emerges with his life, the same cannot be said for Keoua, whose body lay nearby, charred and burned in places. Yet, even though the people celebrate his defeat and declare Kamehameha’s victory, the death in itself isn’t definitive.
‘Chief of War’ is a historical retelling of the events that unfolded in the late 18th century, leading to the unification of the Hawai’i Islands. Therefore, the show tends to stick to historical realism and accuracy throughout its narrative. As such, most of the characters, including Keoua, are interpretations of real-life historical figures. Historically, the real-life Keoua does not meet his demise in the aftermath of such a confrontation with his cousin, Kamehameha I. Instead, his death comes years later. Therefore, depending on the show’s future, there’s a possibility Keoua’s character will return, confirming he survived the fateful battle. Inversely, the show has previously killed off a main character at the cost of diverging from historical records. In the story, Nahi’s character faces a premature, historically inaccurate death in the service of the overall narrative of season 1. As such, the possibility remains for Keoua to share a similar fate on-screen.
Read More: Does Sisa Grey’s Vai Die in Chief of War?
