Kōnane is a traditional Hawaiian strategy board game played between two people that is similar in concept to checkers but built around jump captures and strategic blocking. Winning isn’t determined by the total number of pieces removed, but by the player who manages their pieces wisely, protecting mobility on the board, and ultimately secures the final move. It is one of Hawaiʻi’s most celebrated strategy systems and is the foundation of this podcast.
The Papamū Podcast weaves the rules, language, and mental frameworks of Kōnane into wider conversations about leadership, education, identity, pilina, and aloha ʻāina. Each episode invites listeners to look beyond the board and recognize the game as a mirror of Hawaiian ways of being — keen observation, intentional movement, adaptability, patience, and strategic decision-making rooted in cultural values. Through a Hawaiian lens, this podcast shifts the narrative around indigenous gameplay, positioning Kōnane as both an ancestral innovation and a modern mindset for empowerment.
The mission of Papamū is to activate a “Papa Kōnane state of mind” in every listener. From curious beginners to seasoned players, this podcast encourages communities to play with purpose, learn ʻōlelo through terminology, and draw real-world strategy lessons from this timeless Hawaiian game. By blending moʻolelo, language revitalization, and gameplay strategy, the Papamū podcast exists to cultivate leadership that stays grounded in culture while boldly imagining the future of ʻŌiwi innovation.
What is Kōnane?
In this inaugural episode of the Papamū Podcast, host Kimo Chun sits down with Uncle John Kaohelaulii, author of The Black Book of Kōnane, and Keiki Kaopua, cultural specialist with Kamehameha Schools, to explore the foundational question: What is Kōnane?
Together, they discuss the rules of the game, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi vocabulary used in gameplay, key strategies, and historical moʻolelo that anchor Kōnane in Hawaiian culture. This episode also highlights online resources for learners and the collective hopes for revitalizing Kōnane across schools, families, and communities.
- Kimo Chun
Host & Papamū Podcast Strategy Consultant - Uncle John Kaohelaulii
Kōnane Expert & Author of The Black Book of Kōnane - Keiki Kaopua
Cultural Specialist, Kamehameha Schools
The Black Book of Kōnane
In Episode 2 of the Papamū Podcast, host Kimo Chun continues the conversation with Uncle John Kaʻohelauliʻi, focusing on The Black Book of Kōnane and the resources that support the teaching, learning, and perpetuation of Kōnane today.
This episode highlights Uncle John’s journey in documenting Kōnane knowledge, the importance of preserving ʻike kūpuna, and how accessible resources—such as Papa Mū, standardized rules, and online materials—can help educators, ʻohana, and communities sustain Kōnane as a living practice. Listeners gain deeper insight into the manaʻo behind the book, the stories it carries, and the hopes for how these resources will support future generations of players.
- Kimo Chun
Host & Papamū Podcast Strategy Consultant - Uncle John Kaohelaulii
Kōnane Expert & Author of The Black Book of Kōnane
Kōnane: The Next Generation
In this episode of the Papamū Podcast, host Uncle John Kaohelaulii sits down with emerging Kōnane player Angel Ibanez to explore Kōnane: The Next Generation. Through gameplay, storytelling, and reflection, Angel shares his personal Kōnane journey—from first learning the game at school to competing in tournaments and carrying his papamū wherever he goes.
Together, they discuss how Kōnane shapes decision-making, kuleana, humility in both winning and losing, and the importance of teaching others. This episode highlights youth leadership, intergenerational learning, board design inspired by mahina and ʻāina-based practice in collaboration with Akau Boards, and how Kōnane continues to grow as a living mindset connecting culture, strategy, and community.
- Uncle John Kaohelaulii
Kōnane Expert & Author of The Black Book of Kōnane - Angel Ibanez
- Kōnane Enthusiast,
- Current Leeward Community College Student
- 2025 Kamaile Academy Graduate
Additional Resources
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Papamū: The World on a Kōnane Board – A short-format video about kōnane and the 2025 Kōnane Invitational Tournament on Kauaʻi.
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HawaiianCheckers.com – A cultural based educational company that uses the ancient Hawaiian strategy game of Kōnane as a training tool to teach leadership and management skills.
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– A Kula Hawaiʻi Teacher Resource Site. This site provides additional kōnane resources. (Registration required)
- Print Materials – Resources for kumu, haumāna, and ʻohana to print and explore.
- Konane Gear – One stop shop for all things kōnane.