March, 2014 – Megan Miln

Kahuna Boardgame

Last weekend, we got to try the boardgame Kahuna, after one of my students kindly lent it to me. It was the French version, but a quick search turned up the rules in English.

Kahuna box
Kahuna box

My quick summary of Kahuna: fun, strategic, very competitive, and easy to learn.

Kahuna is set amongst islands of the South Pacific. You build bridges between islands to gain control of those islands. At the beginning of the game, it is fairly easy; there is lots of empty space on the board to place your bridges. As the game progresses, it becomes more about protecting the islands you control, and trying to win control of islands from the other person.

Kahuna after our first round
Kahuna after our first round

Kahuna is designed specifically for two players. And unlike our other games (Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne), it quickly brought us into more direct competition. I guess because our other games accommodate more players, there is more space on the board. We can each dominate a different section of the board, rather than competing for the same resources.

Kahuna cards and pieces. The cards are sturdy, and the pieces are made of wood.
Kahuna cards and pieces. The cards are sturdy, and the pieces are made of wood.