Play Kōnane

Peahea ka hoʻonanenane? Want to test your wits? A game of strategy and wits, kōnane was more than a game of leisure, it was also a political tool, often used to settle disputes. Test your wits and try a game today! Play a game of kōnane on the shores of Hōnaunau Bay with your ʻohana (family). This game can be learned in minutes, but may take a lifetime to master. Set Up Fill all the holes in the papamū (playing surface) alternately with light and dark pebbles. To check to see if the papamū is set up correctly, look across the papamū from one corner to the opposite. Each diagonal row should be the same color. How to Play Take a seat across from your opponent with the papamū in the middle. Select Your Color: One player puts a pebble in each hand, one black and one white, then puts both hands behind their back. Present closed hands to your opponent, who selects a hand, thereby choosing which color pebble they will be playing with. Place the two pieces back onto the papamū. The player with the black pebbles goes first. Remove one piece from the board: "Black" begins by removing one black pebble from anywhere on the board. "White" then removes one white pebble from the board. Begin game play: "Black" jumps one of the white pieces and removes it. "White" jumps one of the black pieces and removes it; players continue to take turns. Rules: In any move, a player moves only one pebble, jumping in any direction EXCEPT diagonally. You may choose to make multiple jumps, but you don't have to. You cannot move in more than one direction in a turn (no "L" shaped moves). Winning: As the game continues there will be fewer pebbles on the papamū and fewer chances to jump. The player who makes the last jump wins.