The Post-Apocalyptic Roadmap/Hawaii

Part of the Post-Apocalyptic Roadmap Project.

Now we are truly alone.

When the attack came Hawaii was hit early and badly. As the focal point of military force projection into Asia the islands were subjected to a a nuclear barrage that nearly ended all life. The blasts themselves and their resulting fallout were damaging, but it was only when the ships stopped coming that the true measure of the disaster set in. By the time the rioting and starvation had abated what was once was a state of over a million people had been reduced to a few thousand huddled survivors trying to eek out a living in the shattered remains of paradise.

Factions

Hawaii was completely cut off from the outside world after the attacks. In the early days when large scale movement was still possible many people undertook mass exoduses, gathering together at evacuation points to decide what came next.

Military Remnants

Most of the military forces on Hawaii were destroyed in the initial conflagration, but as expected some survived. The remaining forces quickly rallied and centered their operations at the Barking Sands missile base on Kauaʻi. Their overriding goal is to maintain a chain of command with the vain hope that the mainland will reestablish communications soon. To this end they have put Kauaʻi under martial law, refusing to recognize the vestigial remains of the civil authority occupying the other islands. More recently they have taken to sending out teams to Oahu and other islands, scavenging technology from the ruins of Oahu and extracting provisions from the uncooperative locals of other islands.

ʻOhana

What remained of the political institutions in Hawaii folded into a new local government based on Maui and began trying to pick up the pieces. While they are officially the Hawaiian Islands Civil Authority (HICA) most people simply refer to them as the ʻohana due to their democratic and collaborative nature. Despite early setbacks the ʻohana has flourished, with settlements on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi. They produce the majority of the state's remaining food supply and have used their agricultural clout to play the other two sides against the middle.

Hawaiian Kingdom

There had always been latent ethnic and political tensions in Hawaii, and the events leading up to the attack had only inflamed Hawaii's many sovereignty groups. After the attack an extreme isolationist movement seized control on Big Island. Blaming the United States for drawing them into war the Kingdom has declared itself the sovereign and rightful government of the islands, operating under a constitutional monarchy. Unlike the other factions the Kingdom wants to avoid contact with the outside world, and especially with the imperialistic US. For now they are content to enforce their claim on the island of Hawaiʻi, but many await the day when they can revive the ancient dream of a unified Hawaiian nation.

Locales

The state of Hawaii is comprised of 8 islands: Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and Hawaiʻi. While they all suffer from some level of damage and fallout the extent of the devastation varies greatly.

Niʻihau

A privately owned island set aside for native Hawaiians, Niʻihau came out of the apocalypse little the worse for wear. Since most of its 130 residents relied on subsistence agriculture and hunting even before the blast life continued on with little interruption or turmoil.

Kauaʻi

Due to a successful activation of the island's missile defense systems Kauaʻi was spared much of the ruin that was inflicted on Oahu. Most of its remaining population have been gathered under the aegis of the military, and large portions of the island are surreal suburban ghost towns.

Oʻahu

As the primary commercial and military center of Hawaii Oʻahu was devastated in the opening salvos of the attack. Due to the abundance of military installations on the island few areas were spared and what isn't completely destroyed is blanketed in radioactive fallout. Most survivors fled inland away from the cities and bases towards the mountains, fearing further bombings or perhaps even invasion.

Molokaʻi

Another of Hawaii's minor islands, Molokaʻi is split into two sections. The west is barren and dry, while the west is lush and forested.

Lānaʻi

Yet another of Hawaii's smaller major islands. There is a settlement here at Lānaʻi City that serves as a secondary trading hub. Recently there has been a string of disappearances across the island. Rumors claim its the man eating spirits which the ancient Hawaiians believed to have lived here, but the truth is unknown.

Kahoʻolawe

A long uninhabited Island used as an ordnance testing ground during WWII. Ironically Kahoʻolawe is looking relatively good these days due to extensive cleanup efforts before the attack, and its craters and unexploded ordinance no longer bother the locals like they used to.

Maui

With no military installations and a great deal of unspoiled arable land Maui took on a new significance after the attacks. The civilian government evacuated as many survivors as they could to the island and set up a thriving colony there.

Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi was the second hardest hit island, and the nuclear weapons used there wreaked havoc on large portions of the island surrounding its bases. Despite this its large size gave inhabitants places to hide, and portions of the island are still more or less suitable for human life.

Possible Scenarios

The Longest Road

You are a tourist group who got stuck on the island during the attack. By hook or by crook you'll need to get home. But this could be a daunting task in a place where gasoline is a precious commodity, let alone a working vehicle and someone to pilot it.

Kamehameha's Legacy

The other factions can no longer be trusted. There must be unity among the islands, whatever the cost.