Chief of War follows the struggles of a Hawaiian chief to unite the conflicted islands to save them from colonization. With the series’ recent premiere, fans have been instantly drawn to its engaging storytelling. Additionally, they wish to know about the language spoken in the show. So, which language do the Chief of War characters speak, and are the subtitles available?
Here is everything you need to know about the language and subtitles of the historical drama series.
Which language do Chief of War’s characters speak?
Chief of War’s characters speak ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.
The series is set in 1700s Hawaii, showcasing the unification of the state between 1782 and 1810, involving some epic battles for identity. ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi was the language of the Kingdom of Hawaii. However, the United States eventually invaded and overthrew the traditional language. This led to governmental agencies and educational institutions being forced to adopt English as the exclusive language.
Nonetheless, the government later succeeded in revoking the ban, but ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi had already gone extinct by that time. However, the people of Hawaii decided to preserve the language to stay rooted in their culture. Chief of War also took the initiative to showcase authenticity in its content by using ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. While the series is not primarily shot in Hawaii due to difficulties in its film industry, using the old language provided a raw touch in the screenplay.
What are the subtitle options for Chief of War?
Chief of War offers subtitles in 42 different languages.
Despite showcasing ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, the makers offer subtitles in English and other languages for audiences across the world. Additionally, it has Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for English and Hawaiian, and closed captions for English. The audio description is also available in nine languages, including English. In the later episodes, the show starts including more English as the kingdom’s members begin learning the enemy’s language, and it stops displaying subtitles.
Chief of War is streaming on Apple TV+.
