Are you the kind of person that enjoys a bit of good, friendly competition? Do you rub it in when you destroy your friends at Scrabble? Don’t worry – you’re not alone. Competition is human nature. But have you ever wished you could put all that food knowledge you have to work (and then rub it in when you whoop your friends at it)?
GBO Hawaii, a sustainability-themed board game, showcases an economy in transition. It’s set in the beautiful island state of Hawaii, which just so happens to be the most unsustainable state in the U.S. Ninety percent of Hawaii’s electricity comes from burning foreign oil, on which the state spends $8 billion a year. But that’s just the beginning. Hawaii’s great weather and rich soils mean that the state could produce all the food it needs locally. With 2500 miles separating Hawaii from the nearest port, you’d think that local food production would be at a maximum.
Unfortunately, 90 percent of Hawaii’s food is imported, and most of it is processed, unhealthy, and/or genetically modified, while most of Hawaii’s agricultural land is used for export crops. It used to be sugar cane and pineapple, but now it’s mostly a testbed for Monsanto, Syngenta, and Pioneer to create GMO seeds and export them.
Crazy? Without a doubt. But here’s where it gets good! The opportunity and the political will are growing in Hawaii to transition the economy to one of self-sufficiency. With ample sun, plentiful geothermal activity, consistent tradewinds, and the aforementioned great soils and perfect climate, the state has the opportunity to become a hotspot for global sustainability.
GBO Hawaii encapsulates all this and more. In the game, you’re an investor, kind of like Monopoly. In Monopoly, of course, you build at all costs, drive everyone else bankruptcy, and spend time in white collar prison, where you lose none of your assets and end up bribing your way out. Right…and we wonder why we ended up in the financial mess of 2008?
Conversely, GBO Hawaii is the first game that quantifies a triple bottom line (people, planet, profit) return on your investments in the game. By investing in an organic farm or a community supported agriculture (CSA) business, for instance, you not only make a small dividend, you create green collar jobs, and help the state reduce its dependence on imported food. (Or “FOOD”, as it is called in the game). In other words, Monopoly = the old way. GBO Hawaii = the new, better way.
At the end of the game, you add up how many green jobs you’ve created, how much money you’ve made, and your eco-credits for offsetting barrels of oil, dumptrucks of waste, and cans of processed “FOOD”. Whoever gets the best triple bottom line return on investment wins…and may proceed to dance around the room lauding their sustainable food expertise.
Have friends who are into other aspects of sustainability, and also have a little bit of a fun competitive side? Check out the clean tech, investment, and ecotourism angles of GBO Hawaii.
GBO Hawaii is for ages 13+, 2-4 players, and is 2-games-in-1. It can easily be modified to be played as a card game, then if you want a longer and more complex game, you can quickly shift to the board game.
