Hanapua

Hanapua is a localised edition of Hanafuda (designed by Ken Kudo), whose subtitle 'Hawaii Flower Card Game' suggests it having been devised with the purpose of reviving the interest of Hawaiian players for Hanafuda. On the Pacific chain of Islands live the descendants of many Japanese post Second World War expatriates who gradually lost interest in the traditional game. Sets printed on regular cardstock with Japanese flower names translated into English were manufactured for some time but Hanafuda games kept losing ground to Western ones all the same.

This Hanapua edition goes back to the roots as it is printed on traditionally sized cards but the twelve suits have been completely changed, choosing not only flowers, but also other local features (e.g. petroglyphs). The design of each subject was adapted to the new suits, without a strict relation to the traditional ones, yet maintaining the classic graphic style of Hanafuda illustrations.

The suits are as follows:

• Bamboo
• Vanna
• Plumeria
• Monstera
• Orchid
• Anthurium
• Hibiscus
• Bird of Paradise
• Pineapple
• Taro
• Palm Tree
• Petroglyph

Among the noticeable features is the well-known greeting ALOHA, spelt on the red vertical ribbons and upside down along the 'Curtain card'.

Bright and Junk card from Pineapple suit

Animal and Junk card from Petroglyph suit

Bright and Ribbon card from Palm suit

Ribbon Orchid card