Podagee Horseshoes is a game that was created by Portuguese immigrants in Hawaii who were told they couldn’t play regular horseshoes in county parks. In Hawaii to translate “Portuguese” is “Podagee”.
The Podagee Horseshoe box is typically around 16″x16″ on the top, 6″ high, with a 6″ backboard and a 3.5″ hole in the center. There are many different ways to design a box in Hawaii, so if you ask around, you’ll probably get many variations of different answers. The objective of the game is to toss the washers into the hole or onto the box. Here are the rules:
Rules:
- Two boxes should be facing each other, about 15 ft. apart.
- Each team throws 3 washers per round.
- Opponents stand next to each other to play teams, alternating throws. The team that scored the most in the previous round throws first.
- Both feet must be behind the box during throws. Scoring:
- 1 point is awarded for a washer on the board.
- 2 points are awarded if the washer is hanging over the hole and you can see through the washer into the hole.
- 2 points are awarded for a leaner against the backboard.
- 3 points are awarded for a washer in the hole.
- The first team to reach 21 points wins, but they must win by a margin of 2 points.
- If a washer lands on top of the backboard, the game is over.
- Covers:
- If your washer lands on top of your opponent’s washer, you cancel their points for that washer.
- If your opponent gets a washer in the puka, you can only cover/cancel on the consecutive throw.
- All other washers count as normal.