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Hello there, Te. Thank you for joining us on ReVamp! How are you doing, and how has 2025 been for you so far?

Kia ora from Aotearoa! Thanks for having me. I am overwhelmed. If I'm being honest, I knew this show was incredible when I first read the script, but seeing the love and excitement from the world as they watch this story unfold has filled me with so much emotion and pride; I don't know what to do with myself.

2025 has been a year to remember. I also recently got a puppy, so that's probably contributing to the overwhelming emotions. This four-legged creature is a handful, but I love him.

Beginning this interview, can you walk me through your overall audition process for your role in Apple TV+'s "CHIEF OF WAR" as well as what your own first impressions were of Kupuohi when you were initially offered the script?

I fell in love with Kupuohi the moment I read her. I was very fortunate to obtain the first episode script, and although I was initially asked to audition for Ka'ahumanu, it was something about Kupuohi that drew me in.

Truthfully, I didn't think there was any chance I would get a role on this show, but I was willing to be a coffee runner if it meant I could support this project. So I put down a self-tape, sent it off, and hoped that they would come to Aotearoa for part of the filming, so I could work behind the scenes and get to watch my Hawaiian cousins make history. Little did I know... when I got the call back, I was SHOCKED. I made around seven callbacks through Zoom over the course of five months. It was between the fifth and sixth audition that Thomas Pa'a Sibbett called me and said that Jason had seen my tape and said, "That's my wife, that's Kupuohi." 

I had to laugh because the first thing I thought was, "Aren't I a bit young for you, bro?". Kupuohi was actually older than Ka'iana, historically, so I wasn't sure how this would work. However, I was thrilled to try to embody this incredible woman whom I loved reading about so much. I just said "thank you" and went for it! Even now, I'm still a little shocked that I'm here, that I get to be part of such a decisive moment in Hawaiian history; it has been the role of a lifetime.

Do you remember your first day on the set of the project? What was that experience like, and what was it like getting to work with your on-screen husband, Jason Momoa? 

My first day on set was actually a half-day shoot of Kupuohi and Ka'iana having an intimate moment in a waterfall, which I think I'll never forget—an interesting way to get to know your on-screen husband properly for the first time. Starting the day at 3 am and working half naked in a waterfall together, speaking a language neither of you actually speaks naturally, with a couple of cameras pointed at you and Justin Chon yelling directions over the noise of a massive waterfall. It was memorable. 

I was nervous as can be, but it was an enjoyable and amusing day of getting to know each other in a stunning location on Maui. And it turned out to be really helpful; I got to see the man behind the celebrity, away from the madness of a big set (intimacy scenes require a closed set with only necessary personnel), and every day working together was easy after that. After that shoot day together, I no longer saw him as Jason Momoa, but simply a man who loves his people and wanted to do something grand for them, putting their stories and language on screen. It was a mission I was more than ready to fight for alongside him, and it was the perfect spark to help me connect to his character and play his wife.

Were there any standout scenes in which Kupuohi’s perspective provided you a unique lens on the brutal realities of colonisation, and how did you work with the writers or directors to emphasise these moments? 

The aftermath of "A Day of Spilled Brains" was gut-wrenching to film. I had to sort of remove myself from the moment so I could do my job, but it was impossible not to see the faces of Hawai'i's people in the massacre, knowing it really happened in history.  Seeing the devastation that these people endured, that many indigenous people endured, my own included, it broke my heart. I've had the privilege of learning about my people's history, but knowing it and seeing it are two very different things; that fact never felt truer than when we filmed that day.

 We were very lucky, though, in that Pa'a, Jason, and Brian Mendoza approached this moment with intention and care, which allowed me to trust the process and ride the emotions churning inside me, using them to sink into the moment. Watching it back, I still cry, hearing the pain and seeing the blood stain the shore break.

What was your creative process like for the role? Did learning and performing in ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi enrich your portrayal of Kupuohi in any manner?

Learning and performing in 'olele was crucial in my process. There is so much of a culture that can only be felt and heard in its language, words, and feelings that can only be explained in the native tongue. And in that, working with my language coach, Kalei Kawa'a, was where I found most of my inspiration. I spent a lot of time scouring the internet for any piece of information I could find about Kupuohi, and unfortunately, there wasn't much. 

Still, as part of the production, we were assigned a language coach to work with on our 'olelo scenes, and it was through that I found Kupuohi. Kalei poured so much of her heart and mind into our sessions, learning the script and language, she helped to fill the gaps in my knowledge of the female Hawaiian experience. 

In many ways, she helped shape the Kupuohi people that the audience sees on screen; much of my interpretation of Kupuohi was informed by my time with Kalei, and I am grateful to her for all that she shared with me in the process.

Did you ever affiliate Kupuohi’s story to your own experience as a Maori woman, particularly regarding intricate themes like indigenous resistance and cultural identity?

As an indigenous woman, there is a lot to connect to when you learn the history behind this show. The shared ancestry of Kanaka Maoli and Māori is so deeply woven into their culture and language that learning and experiencing the reconnection was a profoundly personal experience, and I am grateful to have been given the gift of telling this story. 

It was almost a coming home of sorts, like I had found another family in learning the history of Hawai’i, reuniting with my Polynesian brothers and sisters. Their liberation and reclamation of their history is a win for all of us, “The tip of the spear,” as Kaina Makua would say. 

Being part of such an epic cast, what did you learn from working alongside performers who were themselves deeply rooted in diverse cultures, such as Jason Momoa and Cliff Curtis?

It’s so inspiring to witness the success of fellow Polynesian artists, Rena Owen, Keala Settle, and Taika Waititi. Many of our people have found and established themselves as artists to watch, and it’s truly inspiring.

But to stand across from a legend like Cliff Curtis? 

To work with him and take a peek into the mind of an artist like him… I’m not joking when I said I was shaking the first time I met him.
This man helped to define what indigenous storytelling looked like in Aotearoa; he trained under the great Merata Mita. It was a once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.

The show contains several physically and emotionally intense sequences. Pertaining to that, were there ever any moments on set that strengthened your bond with fellow actors or evolved you as an artist?

Oh, it’s so hard to pick a moment. Everyone came into this project with the intention of protecting, caring for, and uplifting the people of Hawai’i and their story. That commitment to the show and supporting each other on that journey built a connection that’s hard to put into words. We became a family in the process; it was seamless. I don’t think the show would be the same had that not been the case.

What do you hope audiences, especially young indigenous viewers, take away from Kupuohi’s journey and her role in this historical epic?

I hope they find strength in seeing this show. I hope the keiki, the Hawaiian kids, feel empowered when they hear their language and their people fill their TV screens. This show is for Hawaii; this is their moment, and I hope they enjoy every second of it.

Ending Note:- Thank you for joining us on this lovely interview, Te! Wishing you the absolute best on CHIEF OF WAR! Thanks for giving this show its flowers! It’s a joy to share this story with the world! 

Lastly, I'd love to know, what's next for you, Te? As well as any message you wish to convey to your fans and supporters currently reading this interview? 

Thank you to everyone who has watched the show! Binge it, tell your friends about it, spread the word! It’s an incredible story filled with so much talent and artistry; every single person involved in this project is truly outstanding and deserves to be celebrated.  As for me, I’m cooking up some things on my side of the world, here in little old Aotearoa. So, if you find yourself scrolling, check out some NZ content! You might find me there. If not, I promise you’ll find some awesome stories! 

Chief of War is streaming on AppleTV+