@waezi2: Well, you don't actually fight them, they're in charge of the trials you have to go through in order to complete the Island Challenge (although, each one ends in a fight with a Totem Pokemon, taking the place of Gym Leader battles, which are apparently raised and trained by the Trial Captains, but actually fight on their own instead of being told what to do by a trainer), and in completing it one becomes an Island Champion. Although, you do have to fight the four Kahunas (probably should've asked about them too, especially since they fit the Gym Leader bill far better), of which there is one per island, who you must also defeat in order to progress to the next island and its Trials. After you beat all the Trials and the Kahunas, you become an Island Champion. Also, beating each island earns you a stamp on your Trainer Passport, which seems similar to Badges; although, you also earn stamps for other things. Interestingly, (spoilers) Alola didn't even have a Pokemon League or an Elite Four until just after you become Island, and when they finally do get one it seems that only those who have become Island Champions are invited to take the challenge to become the Alolan Pokemon League Champion, so it seems that one must defeat all the Trials and Kahunas just like how one must defeat all the Gym Leaders to fight the other Leagues.
TL;DR: They've got similarities, but they aren't the same thing.
Log in to comment