Hawaii (2011) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Hawaii is a board game designed by Greg Daigle and released in 2011 by the publisher Hans im Glück. The game is set in the Polynesian islands and players take on the roles of chiefs competing to build the most prosperous villages. With a focus on farming and territory building, Hawaii offers a unique gaming experience with its blend of worker placement and tile placement mechanics.

Game Components of Hawaii

Player boards: Each player has a board representing their kingdom with up to five villages.

Tiles: Various tiles for buildings, islands, and special abilities.

Resources: Shells, feet (for movement), and boats.

Pricing tokens: Determine the cost of tiles each round.

Wooden meeples and resources: Meticulously shaped and painted.

God tiles and Tiki tiles: Special tiles for scoring and village length adjustments.

How To Setup Hawaii

Setting up Hawaii involves placing the purchasable tiles in their respective areas and shuffling the pricing tokens to determine the tile prices for each of the five rounds. The board is set up with each player’s kingdom, and the tiles are arranged according to the game’s rules. Notably, setting up the pricing tokens can be tedious, especially for those with larger fingers, as they are small and easily knocked over.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker-placement: Players place their chieftains to interact with the board.

Tile-placement: Players add tiles to their villages to gain resources and scoring opportunities.

Resource management: Manage shells, feet, and boats to construct buildings and visit islands.

Objective: Build the most prominent village(s) by strategically placing tiles and leveraging special abilities to earn victory points.

Player Experience

In Hawaii, players must balance resource gathering, tile placement, and strategic planning to build and expand their villages. The game requires careful management of resources and actions, as the prices of tiles change each round, and players must adapt their strategies accordingly. The game is highly strategic with minimal luck, making it challenging but rewarding for players who can effectively synergize their moves.

Pros

Strategic depth: Offers excellent strategic and tactical options.

Adaptability: Requires constant adaptation as the game situation changes.

High replayability: Different pricing tokens and tile placements ensure varied gameplay each time.

Beautiful components: Meticulously crafted wooden meeples and resources.

Cons

Complex rulebook: The rules can be difficult to understand initially.

Tedious setup: Setting up the pricing tokens can be frustrating and time-consuming.

No luck element: Can be challenging for players who rely on luck or need a comeback mechanism.

Personal Thoughts on Hawaii

Hawaii is ideal for experienced board game enthusiasts who enjoy strategic games with deep mechanics. It is not for casual players or those who prefer games with a significant luck element. The game’s complexity and need for constant adaptation make it a great choice for players looking to engage in a challenging and rewarding experience. However, the tedious setup and complex rulebook may deter some players from diving in immediately.

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