Description
The compound spans roughly eighty by sixty feet and includes three to five dwellings surrounding a central courtyard. The main house, home to the family elders, serves as the social and administrative heart, while smaller dwellings provide space for married children or dependent relatives. Covered walkways connect every structure, shielding residents from rain and sun while linking daily life together. Each building is built in the familiar Vaitafe style, with wooden floors, woven flax walls, and steep thatched roofs unified by coordinated carvings that represent shared ancestry.
At the center lies the communal courtyard, a paved gathering space used for meals, play, and family ceremonies. Along one side stands the open-air kitchen and dining area, complete with multiple fire and hangi pits, large wooden work surfaces, and smoke racks for fish and meat. Nearby are the communal storage house and workshop, where tools, food, and craft materials are kept safe and organized. Together, these spaces form the heart of compound life, where work, teaching, and celebration flow naturally from one activity to the next.
Additional shared areas include a bathing platform screened for privacy, rainwater storage vessels positioned throughout the compound, and outdoor workspaces dedicated to fishing, weaving, or carving. Children have room to play or learn crafts under the watchful eyes of their elders, while gardens and low fences mark the compound’s symbolic boundaries. Every corner of the Kainga supports daily interaction and cooperation, ensuring the extended family thrives as a cohesive unit without losing personal identity.
Life in a Kainga emphasizes shared responsibility and collective wisdom. Elders guide decisions, younger adults provide labor, and children learn through observation and practice. Maintenance, from repairing roofs to tending the communal kitchen, is performed together as both duty and tradition. The Extended Family Kainga embodies the belief that true strength lies in connection, offering protection, continuity, and belonging to those who call it home.
Benefits
Each Extended Family Kainga the Duke builds generates 3 Prestige, as maintaining traditional extended family structures demonstrates the settlement's commitment to cultural preservation and family values. The compound comfortably houses 12 to 20 people across multiple generations, providing them with both communal spaces and private areas that contribute to family cohesion and community stability. Residents can purchase a Kainga for themselves or lease one through Haven.