Official Latice Hawaii Rules
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Objective: Be the first player to use all your tiles, becoming the champion of Hawaii!
Components:
Set of Latice Hawaii tiles: These double-sided tiles depict various animals and Hawaiian elements (e.g., fish, volcano, wave).
Game board (optional, depending on the version)
Stone tokens (optional, depending on the version)
Setup:
Tile Shuffle:Â Shuffle the Latice Hawaii tiles face down and place them in a central pool.
Starting Hand:Â Each player draws 5 tiles from the pool and keeps them face down in their hand (called a rack).
Center Tile Placement (Optional): If playing with a game board, place a starting tile face up in the center space.  (In some versions, the center tile is drawn from the pool and placed).
Gameplay:
The game is played in turns, with the youngest player going first. Turns proceed clockwise.
On Your Turn:
Play a Tile: You must play one tile from your hand onto the board, following these placement rules:
Match the Animal or Element: The tile you play must match the animal or element on at least one adjacent tile (diagonally does not count) already on the board. It can match by either color or symbol.
Earning Stones (Optional):  If your played tile matches the animal or element on more than one adjacent tile, you earn "stones" as a reward (depending on the version):
Two Matches:Â Earn half a stone (represented by a special token).
Three Matches:Â Earn one full stone.
Four Matches (Latice):Â Earn two full stones (a rare and valuable play).
Draw a Tile: After playing your tile and collecting any earned stones (if applicable), draw a new tile from the pool to refill your hand to 5 tiles.
Special Tiles (Optional):
Some versions might include special Wind Tiles that allow you to rotate existing tiles on the board to create new matching opportunities.
Using Stones (Optional):
Stones can be used for various purposes depending on the specific version of the game:
Extra Turns: Spend stones to play additional tiles during your turn, allowing you to clear your hand faster.
Special Actions:Â Â Certain versions might allow using stones for special actions like swapping tiles from your hand with your opponent.
Ending Your Turn:
Your turn ends after you play a tile, collect any earned stones (if applicable), and draw a new tile to refill your hand.
Winning the Game:
The first player to use all their tiles from their hand and rack wins the game and is declared the champion of Hawaii!
Additional Notes:
Latice Hawaii is a simple yet strategic game that is easy to learn but offers a challenge to master.
Planning ahead and strategically placing your tiles to maximize matches and stone collection is key to winning.
The game can be played with or without the game board (depending on the version).
LATICE HAWAII combines simple rules with evolving complexity for a unique game that’s easy to learn, quick to play, with strategic potential to last a lifetime. Enjoy!