Episode 2 of "Chief of War" unfurls amidst the majestic landscape of the Kingdom of Maui, along the enchanting Kaupo Coast. Here, we are introduced to Ka’ahumanu, a woman of fiery spirit, resolved to transcend conventional boundaries and forge her own unique path in life. From the precipice of a cliff, she gazes at the starlit sky, her heart yearning to be recognized with the gravity and respect afforded to men.
Ka’ahumanu’s curiosity about the vast, uncharted world beyond Hawaii’s shores burns brightly within her. However, upon her return home, she discovers an unexpected visitor—her father, who brings grim tidings of a massacre on O’ahu, orchestrated by Kahekili in an unprovoked assault.
With war looming on the horizon, Ka’ahumanu is instructed by her father to accompany him to the Kingdom of Hawaii. He fears that Maui’s shores will soon be sealed off, and this could be their last chance to see each other. Additionally, preparations are underway for her arranged marriage to a chief, a prospect that fills her with little joy.
Ka’ahumanu stands her ground firmly, refusing to be coerced into a union she views as a sentence to misery. Intriguingly, the enigmatic Prophetess Taula appears before her, revealing a solitary path to freedom—but cautioning that she must await the arrival of a guardian. However, Taula’s demeanor is tinged with fear, as she believes the gods tremble before Ka’ahumanu, sensing her potential to reshape the world itself.
Meanwhile, in O’ahu, Kahekili brushes aside Prince Kupule’s inquiries about the impending war with casual disregard. Among those deeply affected by this resentment is Ka’iana. Summoned to the Temple alongside the King, he defiantly turns his back on Maui, choosing instead to defy royal authority.
Convinced that Ka’iana has sailed for Maui, the King dispatches his troops to apprehend him. Kahekili, driven by an almost manic obsession, cares little whether Ka’iana is brought back alive. He believes the mana—a mystical power—he seeks resides within the man’s very bones, giving his men orders to retrieve him—dead or alive.
The race intensifies as Ka’iana, after a nightlong voyage, returns to Maui only to discover Heke has ventured further into the valley's depths. Yet, fate has other plans. Ka’iana and his companions are no longer in solitude, as the King's soldiers unexpectedly appear, ambushing them from all sides. Despite Ka’iana's prowess in felling one foe, the numerous soldiers force him into a harried retreat, leading them away from his companions. He strains to outpace them, but their numbers prove too overwhelming, and they soon close in.
Meanwhile, the others manage to reach Heke, alerting her to the impending peril, while a battered and bleeding Ka’iana employs a piglet as a clever ruse, its squeals masking the sound of his escape. His aimless wandering leads him straight into the very cave where Ka’ahumanu is concealing herself.
A bond forms between them, forged by their mutual disdain for Kahekili. Ka’ahumanu proposes that he flee with her family to find sanctuary in the kingdom of Hawai’i. Just as things seem to be settling, an unforeseen twist enters the narrative: the British arrive on Maui's shores, armed with guns and equipment far superior to that of the tribal warriors. Known to the locals as "Paleskins" due to prior encounters, they make quite a racket and are there to replenish their supplies. However, it isn't long before the Captain and his men cross paths with Ka’iana and Ka’ahumanu.
Tragedy nearly strikes when one of the British soldiers, Marley, panics and fires his gun. Fortunately, the shot is not directed at Ka’iana, but the noise attracts Kahekili's men. Fed up with the natives, the English soon depart, leaving Ka’ahumanu to rejoin Heke and the others, who are amidst a heated debate over whether to await Ka’iana's return.
Both groups eventually set sail, leaving the shores of Maui, though not without their share of losses. A stranded British soldier, seeking refuge, approaches Heke, Kupuohi, and the others for a ride. Initially hesitant, they eventually relent and grant him passage.
As for Ka’iana, he leads Kahekili's soldiers to the cliff's edge, where he finds himself outnumbered and cornered. With nowhere left to turn, he takes a leap of faith, plunging into the ocean below. When he awakens, he discovers himself aboard the British ship, sailing away from the islands he holds dear.
