LIHU‘E — The knowledge and skills learned from the ancient Hawaiian game of konane is kept alive through the efforts of the Kaua‘i Museum. If you want to learn how to play, take the workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 1
LIHU‘E — The knowledge and skills learned from the ancient Hawaiian game of konane is kept alive through the efforts of the Kaua‘i Museum.
If you want to learn how to play, take the workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Kaua‘i Museum.
A tournament will be held Oct. 6 to allow players to compete with others who share the pride of preserving an important part of their heritage and culture.
“(Saturday’s konane workshop) is the second of three part series we are holding here,” said La‘a Almeida, the education/docent coordinator at the Kaua‘i Museum. “The instructor, John Kaohelauli‘i, has been pivotal in bringing konane to forefront and reviving a lost game.”
Kaohelauli‘i crafts his own boards. The museum has artifacts that include a centuries-old konane board made of stone.
Konane is known as Hawaiian checkers, and Almeida said players jump and remove an opponent’s pieces. The difference is that the objective is not to take the most pieces but to be the player who is able to make the last move.
“It’s a great mind game that teaches strategy,” she said. Ancient Hawaiians regarded konane as more than just a game, according to Kaohelauli‘i’s materials.
He said the strategic and analytical skills learned in the game helped make successful leaders, farmers or warriors. “Consequently, some of Hawai‘i’s most prominent ali‘i, such as Kamehameha the great, were also talented konane players,” he states. “Easy to learn, but difficult to master.”
The event is co-sponsored by Hawaiiancheckers.com, Sole Mates and Work It Out. Call the Kaua‘i Museum for information and to register at 245-6931.
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