Bishop Museum to host first statewide kōnane tournament in modern history

The first statewide Hawaiian checkers tournament in modern history will take place this week on O‘ahu.

The inaugural Ka Makou Kōnane Invitational Tournament Finals will be held at Bishop Museum, the State of Hawai‘i Museum of Natural and Cultural History, on Friday from 4-10 p.m. The event will feature representatives from Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi and Oʻahu.

Qualifying matches have been held across the islands over the past month. Representing the Big Island in the finals are Jonathan Jay and Yuna Inoue.

“Kōnane is one of the greatest achievements of our kūpuna (ancestors),” said Kapena Baptista, founder of Pā Kōnane, a kōnane advocacy and players association, and one of the principal organizers of the Tournament. “To me, it’s more than a game, it’s a teaching tool, a mindset, a portal into the world of our ancestors.”

Baptista said that the rules of kōnane — played on stone or wooden boards with black lava and white coral pieces — are simple: Set up the board in alternating black and white pieces, then remove the two pieces from the very center of the board. Starting with black, each color will then jump over its opponent into an empty square until one of the colors is not able to jump anymore. If one color can no longer jump, or ‘ai (eat) another piece, they lose.

Multiple jumps are allowed but only in one direction, and taking multiple pieces is not obligatory.

“Take only what you need, and you’ll likely win. Take too much, and you may lose, said Baptista. “Kōnane is one of the most accessible aspects of our Hawaiian culture due to how easy it is to learn how to play, but so profoundly deep that it would take a lifetime to become a true master. On its surface it’s a game, but below that is a whole ocean of meaning, philosophy, and mathematical complexity.”

During the finals, the eight winning competitors from around the state (first and second from each representing island) will play in single-elimination matches until the final two are determined. For the championship match, the competitors will play on a historic kūpuna papamū (board) made of koa wood from Bishop Museum’s cultural collection.

This board was donated to the Museum by Princess Elizabeth Kahanu, wife of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, as part of the Kalanianaʻole-Kapiʻolani Collection. Its connection to the Kalākaua family is notable; according to former Bishop Museum Director William Tufts Brigham, both Queen Kapiʻolani and King Kalākaua were expert players of kōnane.

“It’s unknown when the kūpuna papamū was last played before its accession into our collection in 1923,” said Kayla Fernandez, Bishop Museum Ethnology collection manager. “The Ka Makou Kōnane Invitational Tournament will mark the first time this board has been played on in more than 100 years, a revival meant to inspire a new generation.”

The tournament’s Grand Champion will be awarded a hand-crafted replica of the board, gifted by Akau Boards — also historic in that it will be the first replica of its kind.

“What makes Hawai’i unique among places is our connection to culture passed down from countless generations,” shares Baptista. “For a very lucky few, this means interacting directly with mea (objects) that are of kūpuna make and origin. It’s a huge privilege and an honor for the two players that make it to the very top. Getting to that point isn’t easy and being able to touch and play on the same board as our kūpuna, is something profoundly meaningful to us as Hawaiians. The fact that the kūpuna papamū hasn’t been played on in over 100 years means that it deserves a beautiful awakening with a game between two highly skilled players. I think the board would enjoy that very much.”

The tournament is a partnership between the museum, Pā Kōnane, Ka Hale Hoaka, Kaʻūpūlehu Cultural Center, HawaiianCheckers.com, and Akau Boards, and uplifts a resurgence of interest in the Native Hawaiian game of strategy.

Purchase tickets, view schedule, and learn more at BishopMuseum.org/Konane2026.