Hawaii High: Mystery of the Tiki

Lore & Background

Hawaii High: Mystery of the Tiki was written by American cartoonist Trina Robbins. Robbins had wanted to write a comic for girls and particularly loved Hawaii, but her idea was rejected due to the view that girls do not read comics. She then proposed her idea to the gaming industry and was noticed by Sanctuary Woods. Robbins said the game was inspired by Nancy Drew mysteries, which are popular among younger girls, and emphasized adventure and problem-solving. She described the development as 'easygoing' but complained about some elements developed by the team, such as a three-dimensional maze, which she found 'impossible' and argued would annoy any player, especially girls.

Reader's Guide

Hawaii High: Mystery of the Tiki holds significance as the first video game explicitly designed for a female audience, a milestone in an industry then dominated by male-centric titles. Though it failed commercially and did not immediately shift industry views, commentators noted that its features—character-based plots, issues of friendship and social relationships, and graphics—were later adopted by other games targeting girls. The game received mixed reception: The Los Angeles Times called it 'dreadful,' while Wired praised it for teaching Hawaiian culture and language. Some press criticized its dress-up game and a character's pink attire as sexist, but Robbins defended these elements, stating that girls do wear pink and like dress-up games. The game's legacy lies in its pioneering attempt to create content for girls, influencing later titles despite its own lack of success.

Did You Know?

• Hawaii High: Mystery of the Tiki is often cited as an early example of a game marketed toward girls, though it was not the first.
• The game was written by American cartoonist Trina Robbins, who originally wanted to write a comic for girls.
• Robbins complained that a three-dimensional maze puzzle, proposed by male programmers, would annoy players and was likely disliked by girls.