Moolah Beach

Did You Know?

• The Hula idol contained the $25,000 grand prize.
• J.D. Roth, the host, also served as producer and knew from the beginning which idol hid the money.
• The show was filmed on Pilaa Beach near Hanalei on the island of Kauai's North Shore.
• A second season was announced for summer 2002 but never materialized.

Show format

The game began with twelve kids paired into six male-female teams, determined by a challenge where the winner selected their partner. J.D. Roth presented the Idol Village, containing thirteen idols each representing a Hawaiian god; one idol held the $25,000 grand prize. Two types of challenges occurred: Makahiki Missions, typically based on physical strength or endurance, and Kahuna Missions, which were games of skill. Winning a Makahiki Mission allowed a team to claim two unclaimed idols and receive a clue indicating an idol without the grand prize; four such clues existed.

In Kahuna Missions, teams earned offerings (colored markers) to keep them on the beach, with the first-place team earning ten offerings, second place five, and each subsequent team one fewer than the team before. After a Kahuna Mission, teams presented their offerings to the Great Kahuna, who shuffled and drew one offering; the team whose offering was drawn remained, and their remaining offerings were removed. This continued until one team remained and was eliminated.

If the eliminated team owned any idols, they chose which team inherited them. When only two teams remained and all thirteen idols were split between them, J.D. offered the team with the majority of idols a bribe to give up some idols to the other team, adding prizes until either five prizes were offered or the leading team accepted. If the leading team refused, the trailing team received the same offer, possibly with more prizes added and fewer idols to surrender. The team accepting the bribe kept the prizes regardless of winning the $25,000.

Episode guide

During the Pakana Ball mission, Xavier grabbed the first idol and chose Chasati as his partner (blue team); Drew chose Nancy (red); A.J. chose Brittany (yellow); Summer chose Clark (purple); Kyle chose Shari (green); Jacob and Chloe became partners by default (orange). In the first Makahiki Mission, Pig Spit, teams hung onto a rotating pole while sprayed with water; Kyle lasted longest, making the Green Team winners. Kyle and Shari chose the Warrior and Strength idols. The Kahuna Mission, Rock the Boat, saw the Blue Team finish last, and the Great Kahuna exiled Chasati and Xavier. In the Makahiki Mission X Marks the Spot, teams climbed a rope bridge over water; the Purple Team won and chose Hurricane and Sun idols, giving them four total. Drew and Nancy expected elimination, but the Great Kahuna exiled the Yellow Team instead.