Those who live in Hawaii or visit often, have probably experienced that hair-raising, skin-tingling sensation, known elsewhere as goose bumps. In Hawaii, it's called "chicken skin". What made you tingle may have been something from another world, something you can never explain, a strange encounter, or maybe it was simply the Legends of Hawaii.  

    It was about seven or eight o'clock in the evening. He was on his way when he suddenly saw a long line of marchers in the distance coming toward him. As they appeared closer, he climbed over a stone wall and sat very still. They walked four abreast and were about seven feet tall and they did not touch the ground. One of the marchers stepped out of the line and walked back and forth on the other side of the wall behind where he crouched as if to protect him from the others. As each filed past he heard a voice call out "STRIKE!" and his protector answered, "NO! NO! HE IS MINE!" The man wasn't afraid as he watched the marchers closely. After all had passed, his protector joined his fellow marchers.....

         The Night Marchers also known as Huaka'i Po. Described as a silvery cloud or shimmering vapor... It is easy to recognize them for they pound drums, carry torches, chant and their feet don't touch the ground. Night Marchers tend to be large groups of ghosts, roaming entire coasts of the island chain, usually spotted from afar by their ghostly torches, bobbing along in a row.  They march after seven in the evening when the sun has actually set, and dissapear  just before dawn breaks.

              Hawaiian legend has it that City Marchers take route on the 28th day of the month of a new moon, the Night of Kane descends, and with it an eerie procession of ghosts courses through the city's streets on their sacred march toward the heiau on Diamond Head. Described as a silvery cloud or shimmering vapor, the Night Marchers' procession is accompanied by a ghostly drumbeat and the unearthly chanting of Ancient Hawaiian emanating from the spectral shades. Many witnesses, Hawaiian and Haole, have recounted tales of seeing the Night Marchers' journey -- and fortunate are they if they did. The legend continues that if a Night Marcher catches wind of a living person nearby, a cry of "Oia" (Kill him!) will usher from its ghostly form. Then it's, "Aloha, Wai-lua!" as the hapless human is forced to join the Marchers' ranks forever.

             Another place where the Night Marchers march is along the Pali Highway, a steep highway which runs along the Koolau Mountain range where the famous Kamehameha battle was fought....(King Kamehameha had defeated the Cheiftain of O'ahu and threw down the warriors of his enemy, hundreds of feet to where there now is a freeway). The old saying is to never go across the Pali Highway at night or else you will experience some weird things such as hearing drums or Hawaiian chanting in your car.

 - Laura Picard  Source: Norman, Michael & Scott, Beth. 'Haunted America.' Tour Books, 1994
 

             KAAAWA VALLEY
             Kaaawa (Windward Oahu)  Secret Burial Caves and Night Marchers
The remains of more than four hundred chiefs are said to be buried in the caves above Kualoa Ranch. Night marchers have been seen here, chiefs and warriors in huge ghostly processions, marching from their burial caves high in the mountains to the sea. Some of the many road accidents in the area have been attributed to these sightings.

               Gateway to the Gods  (Leaping Place of Souls)

A trip to the end of the road along the leeward coast is mostly a coastal drive with the dry Waianae Range to the right and the dark blue Pacific on the left. But get to the end of the road and the elements of sun, sea and sky fill your senses. This easy shoreline hike will take you around the point where dolphins and seabirds and honus, (green turtles) will treat you with fanciful glimpses into their lives.

— Lottie Tagupa
                Desolate Kaena Point was known as a place from which souls departed from the earth. Here, the souls of the dead, or near dead, wandered. Here they leaped into the night. Good souls moved to the right when leaping; those who moved to the left fell into "the pit of endless night."
                Any visitor to Kaena Point, on the west coast of Oahu, could tell you it's a place where land, sea and sky meet to form a beautiful vista. But what few know is that at Kaena Point, land, sea and sky also reportedly are merged into space and time as a jumping-off point to another dimension. Some say it's a gateway to Po, the home of the gods. It can best be described as a combination of heaven and hell, light and darkness and reality and the unknown. Witnesses have said they've heard thousands of voices drifting over from another dimension. South Point on Hawaii also is reportedly a gate to Po.

 - Daniel Rivkin 

 Source: Hauck, Dennis William. 'Haunted Places: The National Directory.' Penguin Books, 2002.
 Kaena Point State Park
 Farrington Rd.
 Honolulu, HI 96817

                  The Menehunes on Punchbowl Hill ...marching on the beaches of Oahu, bathed in a strange, dim light. More than 20,000 American servicemen are buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, located in the center of Honolulu. But some say the Menehunes, a race of mischievous dwarves, live in the volcanic crater at the top the sacred ground on Punchbowl Hill. Some have seen the Menehunes marching on the beaches of Oahu, bathed in a strange, dim light.  It's been said this industrious race once built a series of guesthouses for the queen 'in the motion of an eye.'' Some believe the Menehunes were an advanced race that predated the Hawaiian natives.

 - Daniel Rivkin

Source: Hauck, Dennis William. 'Haunted Places:

The National Directory.' Penguin Books, 2002.

                 Menehunes.....

                  An old Hawaiian legend reveals the story of the Menehune, or Hawaiian Elf. They are thought to be very small, from 3" to 12" tall, with pointed ears and stocky bodies. To keep from being seen they only come out at night. During the day they live underground in lava tubes or holes dug into the earth. The Hawaiian goddess Ra`i Ra`i was chosen to watch over the little Menehune folk, she knew that they loved to play and make mischief. She would urge them to do their work first and this was when they would be helpful to people in need. It was this way that rock walls and fish ponds appeared miraculously overnight, without anyone seeing or hearing them at work. The only way anyone knew they were there is because they would find tiny little footprints left behind. Sometimes people have found mysterious little red marks on their skin, which some believe is where a mischievous Menehune has pinched them.
                               

What are Menehunes? They are tiny, shy magical creatures that were believed to be the first inhabitants of Hawaii. (me-ne-hu-nees) Legendary menehunes, delightful elves of Hawai`i, have been part of local folklore for centuries. They are friendly and strong, but at times mischievous. Menehunes care for and nurture all living things in this beautiful paradise, and live today as the spirit of aloha.
                It is said that all the trees and plants of Hawaii were to have been planted by the Menehunes. They are jolly little people who use seagulls to fly around the island. You cannot see them unless they offer you a special juice. They are also said to be protectors of Hawaii and its inhabitants. Hawaii has many legends, myths, and fables that make it a very mystical place. For more than 150 years the Hawaiians have been telling us that the Menehunes simply went away one day. According to legends, they pulled up stakes and disappeared into one of the valleys along the Na Pali Coast. The Hawaiians say they may be living there still.

                     Another legend most talked about would be about the Menehunes or Night Marchers. There are many legends of the little people and the good they do at night. It mostly consists of building and finishing jobs before dawn. When dawn appears, they all stop what they were doing, and crawl into a tree or cave or small hiding place, where they will sleep until the following night.

                Finally the Legend of the Hawaiian Gods.

                The Hawaiians believed in many gods. The four main gods were Kane, Ku, Lono and Kanaloa. Demi-gods included Pele and many others. Kane was the god of sunlight, fresh water, and natural life. Ku was the god of war and the male generating power. Lono was the god of peace, fertility, winds, rain and sports. Kanaloa was god of the ocean. Pele is the goddess of fire. The complexities of the relationships between all Hawaiian gods are explained in many legends

                  The Legends of Hawaii are many and mystical. But best of all the "Chicken Skin" can be with you everyday, not just on Halloween!

HAWAIIAN HAUNTED HOTSPOTS

LISTEN TO GHOST OF THE MISSING HEART  read by Alton Chung

***

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Exploring Lost Hawaii

Places of Power, History, Mystery & Magic

Written & Illustrated by Ellie and William Crowe

Chicken Skin: True Spooky Stories of Hawai’I, Rick Carroll

Ghostly Tales for Over the Pali:

An Audio Tour through Hawaii’s Supernatural Glen Grant

Hawaii’s Best Spooky Tales, True Local Spine-tinglers, Rick Carroll

   MORE HAUNTINGS; HAUNTED PIKES MARKET PLACE IN SEATTLE

Halloween Festivities:

27|FRIDAY

√ Easter Seals Hawai'i Haunted House, with face painting, games, arts and crafts, and tour, 6-11 p.m., Easter Seals Ewa, 911251 Renton Road; repeats Saturday; $4*. 681-0747.

√ Pumpkin Patch Festival, with pumpkin picking, hay rides, jumpers, food, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Aloun Farms, Kapolei; $3 parking fee, plus price of pumpkins; repeats 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 29. 677-9516.

√ Halloween Cat Show, with costume contest, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Beach Park; $4*. 531-4891.

√ Easter Seals Hawai'i Haunted House, with face painting, games, arts and crafts, and tour, 6-11 p.m., Easter Seals Ewa, 91-1251 Renton Road; $4*. 681-0747.

√ Pumpkin Patch Festival, with pumpkin picking, hay rides, jumpers, food, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Aloun Farms, Kapolei; $3 parking fee, plus price of pumpkins. 677-9516.

√ Howl-O-Ween Canine Costume Contest, with jewelry trunk show, for pet lovers, 11 a.m., Ward Warehouse amphitheater; free. 521-7297.

√ Treat Street, with contests, story telling, games and food, 5:30-8 p.m., Bishop Museum's Great Lawn; free, donations accepted. 847-3511.

Halloween High Steppin', with three rooms of music, costume contest and performance by Eddie Bo, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Hyatt Regency Waikiki hotel; $30*. 923-1234.

Shock House

Shock House is said to be the scariest haunted house on Hawaii. It has 10 horror filled rooms including a vertigo asylum, a "Saw" room, and a clown room. No matter what your fears are, you're sure to find them here. Tickets are $7.50 and Shock House will run Friday, October 31^st and Saturday, November 1^st at the Neil Blaisdell center.

Haunted Lagoon Canoe Ride

The Polynesian Cultural Center is hosting a twilight canoe ride through the center for those who want to shake up their Halloween a bit. There will be two versions of the canoe ride; a child friendly one and a more frightening one for those who can handle it. The canoe ride will run from October 24^th to October 31^st from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $8.00 for adults 16 and older, and $5.00 for children ages 5-15 years. Annual Passes are available.

Haunted Hay Ride

Gunstock Ranch is ready to give you a good scare with their haunted hay ride. It will run from October 27^th through October 31^st from 7 to 10 p.m. The hay ride costs $5.00 per person. Food can be bought at the ranch and you can even watch a movie while you wait for your turn. This ride can be scary for young visitors so parental discretion is advised.

Tours

"Orbs of Oahu" Graveyard Shift Tour

Come join this four hour tour on Halloween night from 11:15p.m. to 4a.m. in the morning. Be prepared to be taken to some of the most haunted spots on the island, including Morgan's Corner. This is an adults only tour and is limited to 34 people. It picks up in Waikiki and is $66.00. A t-shirt is included in the price.

Spookapalooza Train Ride

This spooky train ride takes place on October 31^st and November 1^st, as it goes through old Ewa. There will be stories and a snack bar. Ride times are 7:00p.m., 7:45p.m., 8:30p.m., and 9:15p.m. and it costs $5:00 per person to get on board.

Halloween fun comes back to Hilo 

The Hilo Community Players bring a beloved cult classic to life this Halloween.
'The Rocky Horror Show,' has been a Halloween staple since it premiered in London in 1973. The show is a spoof of the late night picture shows that were popular in movie theaters

Show is Oct. 30 in Waimea at the Parker School Theater. All show times are at 7:30 pm. A special midnight showing Oct. 31 will take place at the Naniloa Crown Room.
 

Ghost Ship, Halloween Night, Oct. 31th

Master Storyteller Jeff Gere (winner of the "Oracle Award for Storytelling Service ") hosts our 5th annual Wild Dolphin Foundation "Ghost Ship" fundraiser. Three hours of true, local, supernatural tales rooted in Hawaiian culture and other chilling stories, mixing humor with horror - on the water - in the dark.

Set sail into the sunset at 5:30 for three hours of "chicken skin" goose-bump experiences, non-alcoholic drinks (BYO witch's brew), and heavy pupus included. $99 per person.

Want to do something even scarier? After the charter, join a group of us up the Makaha Golf Resort, spending the night in the haunted wing. If interested in the overnighter, contact us at Reservations@SailHawaii.com, if you dare.

What's sizzlin' on the Big Island
Big Island Event Calendar

Halloween Spooktacular 10/26/2008 Family Holiday

Join Hilton Waikoloa Village for a spooky Halloween celebration. Enter the costume contest or get a fright in the haunted house. Fun games with prizes, benefit silent auction, face painting, cookie decorating, and more. Proceeds benefit Na Lima Hana, Hilton Waikoloa Village’s community service committee. Open to the public. For more information call 808-886-1234, extension 1202.

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