{"id":238057,"date":"2026-07-27T14:33:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T00:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=238057"},"modified":"2026-07-29T00:21:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T10:21:51","slug":"windward-student-launches-online-traditional-konane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/27\/windward-student-launches-online-traditional-konane\/","title":{"rendered":"Windward CC<\/abbr> student launches online home for traditional Hawaiian k\u014dnane"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Castro
Castro with a traditional k\u014dnane board and his online platform, Lik\u014dnane<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Andrew “Keahi” Castro, a Windward Community College student, has created Lik\u014dnane, a free online platform dedicated to the Hawaiian strategy game k\u014dnane, which was traditionally played with black and white stones. Inspired by his desire to reconnect with his heritage, Castro aims to bring the game into the digital age.<\/p>\n

Play Lik\u014dnane<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

“I wanted to make sure a Hawaiian game had just as much intentionality and respect as chess,” Castro said. “I wanted everyone in the world to be able to play it.”<\/p>\n

Using his background in mathematics and statistics, Castro spent years building Lik\u014dnane<\/a>. The platform features live multiplayer games, tournaments, puzzles and an artificial intelligence opponent named Lopako. Unlike many gaming sites, it is completely free and ad-free.<\/p>\n

Connecting to culture<\/h2>\n
\"Screencap
Lik\u014dnane allows users to play, learn and explore the traditional Hawaiian strategy game k\u014dnane<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Castro developed the platform as a student in Windward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s fully online program in Hawaiian studies called Â鶹´«Ã½loa<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

His grandparents moved from Oʻahu<\/span> to California in the 1950s. Raised in California and now living in Washington, Castro found the Â鶹´«Ã½loa<\/span> program an essential bridge to his roots.
\n“I\u2019ve always wanted to learn more about Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and my culture,” Castro said. “Â鶹´«Ã½loa<\/span> seemed like a great opportunity for it.”<\/p>\n

Despite the distance, the Â鶹´«Ã½loa<\/span> program fostered a strong sense of community, and Castro is on track to earn an associate degree in Hawaiian studies in the fall.<\/p>\n

“The online classes have been great,” he said. “The classmates I\u2019ve worked with have been great, and I\u2019ve made some great connections. Even being far away, it\u2019s helped me feel connected.”<\/p>\n

For future generations<\/h2>\n

Castro is integrating ʻ\u014clelo Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> (Hawaiian language) throughout the site, including support for specialized characters in chat and usernames. He hopes to eventually offer an Hawaiian-language version.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, he hopes the platform will preserve the game for future generations.<\/p>\n

“Everyone was playing it,” Castro said. “It can be played all the time again.”<\/p>\n

—By Nakoa Camvel<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An innovative digital platform is helping to preserve an ancient Hawaiian game for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":238058,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[33,1500,71,66],"class_list":["post-238057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-hawaiian","tag-hawaiian-studies","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t