What is Kōnane?

Moʻolelo & Moʻomeheu Kōnane

Available with Hawaiian and English subtitles on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpnK1i2YXHo]. Ma kēia pukana o ka Papamū Podcast, kamaʻilio pū ka mea hoʻokipa, ʻo Kuanoni Kaniaupio-Crozier, me kekahi loea moʻomeheu, ʻo ʻAnakala Keiki Kaʻōpua, i ka waiwai o ka “Moʻolelo & Moʻomeheu Kōnane.” Kūkākūkā lāua i ka ʻike, ka hoʻolālā, a me nā moʻolelo o kēia hana kūpuna o ke kōnane ʻana. ʻIke pū ʻia ka pilina o ʻAnakala Keiki me kēia pāʻani, a kālailai pū ʻia ka hohonu o ka moʻomeheu o ke kōnane ʻana ma mua o ka pāʻani leʻaleʻa wale nō.Ma o nā moʻolelo o Lonoikamakahiki, Kahekili, and Kamehameha, ʻike ʻia nā haʻawina o ka hoʻolālā, ka hoʻoneʻe ʻana, ka ʻōlelo, ke ola ʻana, ke alakaʻi ʻana, a me ka waiwai o ka mālama ʻana i nā koho he nui. Kālailai pū ʻia ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi e hoʻohana ai i ka pāʻani ʻana, ka waiwai o ka heluhelu ʻana i nā nūpepa a me nā kumu ʻike ʻē aʻe, a me ka waiwai o kēia mau haʻawina i kēia wā, i ko kākou hoʻomau a hoʻili ʻana i ke kōnane i nā keiki, nā ʻohana, a me ka lāhui.In this episode of the Papamū Podcast, host Kuanoni Kaniaupio-Crozier sits down with cultural specialist Uncle Keiki Kaʻōpua for a rich conversation on “Moʻolelo & Moʻomeheu Kōnane” where they discuss kōnane as an ancestral practice rooted in ʻike, strategy, and Hawaiian moʻolelo. Together, they reflect on Uncle Keiki’s lifelong connection to the game and explore how Kōnane carries deeper cultural meaning beyond being simply a pastime.Through stories of Lonoikamakahiki, Kahekili, and Kamehameha, this episode highlights how Kōnane can reveal lessons about planning, movement, language, survival, leadership, and the importance of keeping many options open. The conversation also explores the ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi used in gameplay, the value of studying nūpepa and older sources, and why these teachings still matter today as we continue to pass Kōnane forward to keiki, ʻohana, and the lāhui.Host:Kuanoni Kaniaupio-CrozierHost & Kōnane Enthusiast Guest:Keiki KaopuaCultural Specialist, Kamehameha SchoolsCredits:Podcast Planning Team: Leimaile Barret, Kimo Chun, John Kaohelaulii, Keiki Kaopua, Kaipo Kī`aha, Tina Kinimaka, Tevairangi Lopez, Leinani Makekau-WhitakerPodcast Production: Leimaile Barret, James Hall, Kaipo Kī`ahaLogo Development: Kaipo Kī`ahaMahalo to our cultural practitioners who keep Kōnane connected to moʻolelo, values, and ʻŌiwi leadership pathways.

All About the Papamū

In this episode of the Papamū Podcast, host John Kaʻohelauliʻi is joined by Kōnane researcher and advocate Kapena Baptista for a conversation entitled All About the Papamū. Together, they explore why the papamū—the board itself—is not just a playing surface, but a cultural object layered with history, values, and ʻike kūpuna.Kapena shares his research on traditional mauka–makai board configurations, the significance of an odd-even layout that creates a piko, and what we can learn from the remaining kūpuna boards—especially those held at Bishop Museum. The episode also reflects on community response to seeing these boards in public, the deeper strategy of pattern recognition and memory in Kōnane, and a powerful vision for the future: more people playing, playing well, and bringing life back into our kūpuna materials through leagues, gatherings, and tournaments rooted in place and purpose.Host:Uncle John Kaohelaulii Author, The Black Book of Kōnane; Kōnane ExpertGuest:Kapena BaptistaCultural Anthropologist, Community Organizer, Kōnane PractitionerCredits:Podcast Planning Team: Leimaile Barret, Kimo Chun, John Kaohelaulii, Keiki Kaopua, Kaipo Kī`aha, Tina Kinimaka, Tevairangi Lopez, Leinani Makekau-WhitakerPodcast Production: Leimaile Barret, James Hall, Kaipo Kī`ahaLogo Development: Kaipo Kī`ahaMahalo to our cultural practitioners who keep Kōnane connected to moʻolelo, values, and ʻŌiwi leadership pathways. Also, special thanks to Akau Additional Information:– Rules of Kōnane– Glossary of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Kōnane Terminology– Strategies & gameplay mindset– Online resources (Papa Mū, rules, start-a-club templates)– Hopes for the future of Kōnane as a cultural and educational practice

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. Host: Uncle John Kaohelaulii – Author, The Black Book of Kōnane; Kōnane ExpertGuest:Angel Ibanez – Kōnane Enthusiast, Current Leeward Community College Student, 2025 Kamaile Academy GraduateCredits:Podcast Planning Team: Leimaile Barret, Kimo Chun, John Kaohelaulii, Keiki Kaopua, Kaipo Kī`aha, Tina Kinimaka, Tevairangi Lopez, Leinani Makekau-WhitakerPodcast Production: Leimaile Barret, James Hall, Kaipo Kī`ahaLogo Development: Kaipo Kī`ahaMahalo to our cultural practitioners who keep Kōnane connected to moʻolelo, values, and ʻŌiwi leadership pathways. Also, special thanks to Akau Additional Information: * Rules of Kōnane * Glossary of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Kōnane Terminology * Strategies & gameplay mindset * Online resources [https://sites.google.com/view/konane-connect/resource-links] (Papa Mū, rules, start-a-club templates) * Hopes for the future of Kōnane as a cultural and educational practice * Akau Boards [https://www.akauboards.com/]

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. Host name and Title: Kimo Chun – Host, Papamū Podcast  Strategy Consultant Guest(s) Name and Title: Uncle John Kaohelaulii – Author, The Black Book of Kōnane; Kōnane Expert ʻ Podcast Planning Team: Leimaile Barret, Kimo Chun, John Kaohelaulii, Keiki Kaopua, Kaipo Kī`aha, Tina Kinimaka, Tevairangi Lopez, Leinani Makekau-Whitaker Podcast Production: Leimaile Barret, James Hall, Kaipo Kī`aha Logo Development: Kaipo Kī`aha Mahalo to our cultural practitioners who keep Kōnane connected to moʻolelo, values, and ʻŌiwi leadership pathways. Episode Focus Areas: * The Black Book of Kōnane – purpose, development, and legacy * Uncle John’s moʻolelo and personal journey with Kōnane * Online resources [https://sites.google.com/view/konane-connect/resource-links] (Papa Mū, rules, start-a-club templates) * Hopes for sustaining Kōnane across generations and regions Resources for Listeners: * The Black Book of Kōnane * Online resources [https://sites.google.com/view/konane-connect/resource-links] (Papa Mū, rules, start-a-club templates)

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. Host: * Kimo Chun – Host, Papamū Podcast Strategy Consultant Guests: * Uncle John Kaohelaulii – Author, The Black Book of Kōnane; Kōnane Expert * Keiki Kaopua – Cultural Specialist, Kamehameha Schools Credits Podcast Planning Team: Leimaile Barret, Kimo Chun, John Kaohelaulii, Keiki Kaopua, Kaipo Kī`aha, Tina Kinimaka, Tevairangi Lopez, Leinani Makekau-Whitaker Podcast Production: Leimaile Barret, James Hall, Kaipo Kī`aha Logo Development: Kaipo Kī`aha Mahalo to our cultural practitioners who keep Kōnane connected to moʻolelo, values, and ʻŌiwi leadership pathways. Additional Episode Information: * Rules of Kōnane * Glossary of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Kōnane Terminology * Strategies & gameplay mindset * Historical references and moʻolelo (e.g., Lonoikamakahiki) * Online resources [https://sites.google.com/view/konane-connect/resource-links] (Papa Mū, rules, start-a-club templates) * Hopes for the future of Kōnane as a cultural and educational practice