140 year of Shriners

140 year of Shriners

Monday, September 8, 2008

New Game Donated to SHC Hawaii

Spreading the aloha

Oceanside woman leaves biotech career to create Hawaiian-themed board games

By Leah Masterson | leah.masterson@tlnews.net

In the 1970s, Tupman lived in Hawaii and studied tropical agriculture at the University of Hawaii. She worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture soil conservation service in Hilo helping local farmers conserve their resources.

“I really fell in love with the culture and the people,” said Tupman, adding that at one time Hawaiians were jailed for practicing their own religion, chanting and doing the hula.

“Even back then the culture was being lost. People don’t understand that history, but their own culture was being outlawed. I said some day I really want to do something to keep the culture alive.”

Her solution: a board game.

She began researching and four years ago started Akamai Games. She created a basic idea for two games: Pele’s Perils, for ages 4 and older, and ’Ohana Mana for ages 8 and older. Both are based on board games that have lasted the test of time: Parcheesi and Chutes and Ladders.

“We’re planning to donate games to Kapi’olani (Medical Center), Shriners Hospital (For Children) and Ronald McDonald House Charities in Hawaii,” said Tupman. “We’re basically spreading the aloha.”

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