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Kōnane

Ancient Hawaiians regarded Kōnane as more than just a game. The strategic and analytical skills required to be a successful Konane player were useful in both times of war and peace. Consequently, some of Hawaii's most prominent ali'i, such as Kamehameha the Great, were also talented Kōnane players.​​

 

The ancient Hawaiians played Konane on the papamū (game board), which was a large rock with shallow holes chipped into it forming a “grid”.  In these holes are little black and white pebbles or ili ili used as playing pieces.  These “grids” could come in different configurations so every papamū could be and would be a different challenge for the player. 

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The Rules

  1. All pieces are laid out in alternating order

  2. Black player starts—must remove one piece at the board center

  3. White player then removes one piece next to the missing black piece

  4. Black then moves and so on

  5. All moves are in a straight line, NO diagonals

  6. You can NOT change direction during a move—straight line only

  7. In each turn you MUST huli [hop over] at least one of your opponent’s pieces—which is then removed.  You DO NOT have to make multiple huli if you don’t want to

  8. You cannot move through empty spaces, nor can you jump over your own pieces

  9. The 1st player who can’t huli looses [immobilized]

  10. White below still has several moves (huli) possible, black does not–black has lost

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