Uncle John's Kōnane School: How John Kaʻohelauliʻi is reviving tradition one game at a time
Uncle John Kaʻohelauliʻi is on a mission to restore Kōnane, once a favorite strategy game of aliʻi and makaʻāinana across Hawaiʻi.
Anahola, Kauaʻi
Source: Rolling Stone
Kōnane, a game beloved by both aliʻi and makaʻāinana, was played widely across Hawaiʻi as a test of patience, foresight, and strategy. Today, Uncle John Kaʻohelauliʻi has taken up the kuleana of reviving the game, introducing it to classrooms, tournaments, and new audiences who may have never encountered it before.
His work, HawaiianCheckers.com, highlights not only the fun and challenge of kōnane, but also its role as a vessel for ʻike Hawaiʻi and a bridge to ancestral ways of thinking. Because after all, isn't everything kōnane?
💭 When was the last time you played kōnane?
ʻŌiwi News aggregates news stories, shares short summaries for context and always links to the original article. Please support the full reporting by visiting the source.
