There are four types of cards in E Lele!
72 BIRDS (36 Pairs) - 20 species with wahine (♀) and kane (♂) of each pair*
23 HABITAT cards - 8 Habitat types with capacity from 2-4 nesting pairs
11 THREAT cards - 10 Threats
16 PROTECTION cards - 12 Protections
Bird cards have their ‘Ōlelo name down the left side, with a yellow section on top with English and Linnean names, and gender on the left and point value on the right.
Bird cards also have an orange section on the bottom showing the Habitat icon for which habitat(s) they can nest in, corresponding to the top of the Habitat cards.
The birds’ conservation status determines the number of cards in the deck and the point value.
*Note: Mōlī (Laysan albatross) colonies within the main Hawaiian Islands typically have a skewed sex-ratio with more female albatross than males. This is because Laysan albatross have female biased immigration. In other words, females are more likely than males to immigrate from outer islands to new colonies on the main Hawaiian Islands. In a population with fewer males than females, same-sex pairing among female mōlī has been observed for decades in Hawai‘i and has proved to be an adaptive reproductive strategy. Every breeding season, female birds in same-sex partnerships successfully nest, incubate eggs, and raise their chick together. To reflect this ecological adaptation, the deck contains 3 ♀ and 1 ♂ mōlī cards, and one nesting pair is ♀♀. (Hob Osterland)
Habitat cards have their ‘ōlelo name down the left side, and an orange section on top with the English name, habitat icon on the left, and the colony capacity number on the right.
Each Habitat card has a capacity that allows it to hold more than one breeding pair, so once you play the habitat card you can play breeding pairs (of birds that nest in that habitat) up to its capacity. (Note that Habitat capacity is not a point value; only Bird cards count for points.)
Islet habitat cards are each an actual offshore islet in Hawaii (which are in real life protected as seabird sanctuaries).
This table shows the 20 bird species and which habitats they can each nest in, with the total number of birds species that can nest in each habitat at the bottom.
The IUCN status relates to the number of birds in the deck and the point value of the birds. Two endangered (EN) birds are
Threat cards have their ‘ōlelo name down the left side, a red section on top with the Threat icon and the English name, and an orange section on the bottom showing the Habitat icon they can affect, corresponding to the top of the Habitat card.
Threat cards are played on the colonies that have been laid down by other players.
Most threat cards affect a bird pair, but Habitat Loss affects an entire habitat.
Sea Level Rise is a special card that affects all players.
Threat Cards Types
Bird Pair Level:
Mongoose - Manakuke
Cat - Pōpoki
Rat - ‘Iole
Pig - Pua‘a
Goat - Kao
Barn Owl - Pueo Kahiki
Plastic - ‘Ea
Light Pollution - Haumia kukui uila
Habitat Level:
Habitat Loss - Nohona Nalowale
Game Level (affects all players):
Sea Level Rise - Pi‘ina Kai
Small Predators, Rodents, Ungulates, Barn Owl, Plastic and Light Pollution cards are placed on top of another player’s bird pair that have been laid down. The bottom of each threat card shows the habitats it can affect, and can only be played on a bird pair in one of those habitats. For example, a Mongoose card could be played on a nesting pair in Dune and Grassland habitats, but not on Islet or Sea Cliffs habitat.
Any Bird pairs with a Threat card on them at the end of the game are discarded and not counted for points.
Habitat Loss threat card is played on top of an entire Habitat, and cancels all the nesting pairs in it. No additional pairs can be placed in that Habitat, and at the end of the game all Bird cards in the affected Habitat are discarded and not counted for points (unless a Habitat Restoration or Bird Sanctuary card has removed the Habitat Loss card).
Sea Level Rise reduces by one the capacity of all vulnerable Habitats (Islet, Sea Cliff, Dune and Coastal Grassland) for all players. To play, place the card in the center of the table. Any vulnerable Habitats that are at full capacity lose one Bird pair (player can choose which pair to remove). Birds removed from Habitats can go back into the players’ hands and move to a new Habitat during a player’s turns (although bird pair may be vulnerable to another player taking that pair). It may be useful to organize the Habitats so they are laid out on the table with those for each player vulnerable to Sea Level Rise in one row or area. Sea Level Rise cannot be played if Carbon Reduction has already been played.
Protection cards have their ‘ōlelo name down the left side, a green section on top with protection name, and a red or orange section on the bottom showing the Threat or Habitat they can affect, corresponding to the top of the Threat or Habitat card.
Protection Card types
Bird Level:
Rodent Trap - Pahele ‘Iole
Small Trap - Pahele Iki
Ungulate Snare Trap - Pahele Hei
Owl Hunter - Hahai Pueo
Beach Cleanup - Ho'oma'e Kahakai
Dark Skies - Lani Pōuli
Bird Recovery - Ho'ōla Manu
Translocation - Ho‘ololi Wahi
Habitat Level:
Habitat Restoration - Hoʻi Nohona
Bird Sanctuary - Wahi Kanaaho Manu
Social Attraction - Hoʻohihi
Game Level:
Carbon Reduction - Hō‘emi Kalapona
Protection cards can be used to remove or prevent threat cards, as follows:
Small Trap, Rodent Traip, Snare, Owl Hunt, Beach Cleanup or Dark Skies card can be played to remove a corresponding Threat card. Both cards are discarded.
Bird Recovery cards are like wild cards, and can be played to remove any one Rat, Cat, Mongoose, Pig, Goat, Barn Owl, Plastic or Light Pollution card. Both cards are discarded.
Habitat Restoration card can be played to remove a Habitat Loss card, so the pairs in that Habitat can again be counted and the Habitat used. Both cards are discarded.
Bird Sanctuary cards can be played to protect an entire Habitat, to prevent and remove any threats played against that Habitat – except Sea Level Rise. Tuck the Bird Sanctuary card behind the Habitat card so the green header is showing.
Social Attraction card can be played to increase the capacity of any habitat by 1. Tuck the Social Attraction card behind the Habitat card so the green header is showing.
Translocation card can be played to “copy” a pair of birds (that doesn’t have a Threat on it) from one habitat to another suitable habitat. It can be played on any player including one’s own habitats. One card of the pair is moved to the new habitat (placed down along with the Translocation card), and each single card counts as if it is a pair.
Carbon Reduction card can only be played preventatively, and prevents Sea Level Rise from being played by any player. Place in the center of the table. Once Sea Level Rise has been played, it’s too late to play Carbon Reduction.