Overview

Konane (ko-nah-nay) is a traditional Hawaiian strategy game played on a board called a papamu. Two players take turns jumping and capturing opponent pieces, similar to checkers but played orthogonally (not diagonally). The player who makes the last jump wins.

Components

• 1 game board (papamu) with holes arranged in a grid pattern
• Dark-colored game pieces (lava stones traditionally)
• Light-colored game pieces (coral or seashells traditionally)

Setup

1. Fill all holes alternately with light and dark pieces in a checkerboard pattern.
2. To verify correct placement: each diagonal row from corner to corner should be all one color.
3. Players sit across from each other.
4. Determine colors: one player places a dark piece in one hand and a light piece in the other, holds hands behind back, then presents closed fists. The opponent picks a hand to choose their color.

Turn Structure

1. Opening moves: The player with dark pieces removes any one dark stone from the board. Then the player with light pieces removes any one light stone from the board.
2. Regular play: Starting with the dark player, players alternate turns. On each turn, a player jumps one or more opponent pieces with a single piece.

Actions

Jumping

• Move one piece by jumping over an adjacent opponent’s piece and landing in the empty space beyond it.
• Jumps are orthogonal only (horizontal or vertical) — no diagonal jumps allowed.
• After jumping, the captured (jumped-over) piece is removed from the board.
• Multiple jumps: A piece may continue jumping in the same direction on a single turn, but you are not required to make all possible jumps.
• Cannot change direction: All jumps in a single turn must be in the same direction (you cannot turn corners).

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The player who makes the last jump wins. When a player cannot make any legal jump on their turn, they lose.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Only one piece is moved per turn.
• Jumping is the only legal move — pieces cannot simply slide to adjacent empty spaces.
• Multiple jumps in a single turn must continue in the same straight line.
• Players may choose to stop making multiple jumps before exhausting all possibilities.
• As the game progresses, fewer pieces remain, making jumps increasingly scarce.
• King Kamehameha was reportedly an exceptional konane player, sometimes winning in a single move.

Player Reference

Setup: Fill board in alternating pattern → Each player removes one of their own pieces

Movement: Jump orthogonally over opponent’s piece → Remove captured piece → May continue jumping in same direction

Win: Last player to make a legal jump wins. Cannot jump = you lose.