Isolated Isles wins Rep. Ed Case’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Hawaii’s First District

When asked what inspired the creation of Isolated Isles, the students said, “Our inspiration for creating Isolated Isles stemmed from a desire to bring awareness to a significant problem for Hawaii in a way that would resonate and would be fun and engaging. While brainstorming, we explored various topics, but we wanted to choose something that truly stood out and reflected the challenges we face as residents of Hawaii. We also knew we wanted to make a management game, because this would be the most time effective. A shared experience among us was the vulnerability we felt during events like hurricane warnings and the COVID-19 pandemic, which showed just how precarious of a situation Hawaii would be in if we stopped receiving imports. The growing threat of climate change, which increases the frequency and severity of natural disasters, makes this issue even more urgent. It is not a question of ‘if,’ but rather ‘when,’  a major crisis will hit, leaving our islands isolated and struggling to maintain its resources. We have frequently heard the advice to grow food at home or maintain a 14-day supply of food, but this message is easy to not take seriously, especially amongst young people. It is not an issue you see every day, as most of the time, the grocery stores are full of food. However, many still fail to grasp the true scale of Hawaii’s reliance on imports and the need for self-sufficiency.
 

We wanted to create a game that could bring this issue to life, making the seriousness of our situation more tangible. By putting the player in the role of a leader responsible for managing resources during a crisis, Isolated Isles allows players to manage the challenges of keeping a community safe and stable. Through this game, we hope to deepen players’ understanding of the need for resilience and preparedness in the face of growing environmental risks.”