Hawaiian Ghost Stories from the Rhine with Lopaka Kapanui

The Huaka'i Pō, or Night Marchers, ghostly warriors marching under the moonlit sky, have haunted the Hawaiian Islands for generations. With the ominous sound of conch shells, pounding drums, and torchlight in the distance, the Night Marchers' arrival is said to strike fear into the hearts of those who encounter them. Witnesses have reported everything from misty columns to the scent of sulfur as the ancient warriors parade through the night, carrying with them the echoes of a sacred duty from centuries past. Learn about the chilling signs of their approach and the rituals that Hawaiians once followed to protect themselves from their dangerous path.

The night marches were not random hauntings, but ceremonial processions of Hawaiian chiefs, priests, and warriors. These processions honored the gods in ancient times and were governed by strict protocols, often requiring locals to vacate the area and ensure total silence. The moon phases and even weather conditions played crucial roles in when these spectral parades would occur. In this talk, Lopaka will delve into the various meanings behind these haunting processions, from psychic imprints of past warriors to powerful spirits still carrying out their sacred duties. Whether protectors or harbingers of doom, the Night Marchers remain one of Hawaii's most mysterious and captivating legends.

Please join us for this Rhine Research Center online event; watch from your computer, tablet, or mobile device.

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Lopaka Kapanui, known in Hawaii as The Ghost Guy, is a native Hawaiian author, storyteller, and cultural practitioner who makes a business of leading guests into some of the darkest, spookiest places on the island of O'ahu.

His family's customs, protocol, legends, and history were passed down to Lopaka in the traditional Hawaiian way, through mo'olelo, from mouth to ear, sitting at the foot of his Mom and his Aunty as they related the lessons to him. He was also taught that the responsibility which would come with what he was going to inherit would have to, one day, be passed down within his own family.

"E mau ana ka 'ike," was what his mother and aunt would always say at the end of each lesson. "The knowledge must continue."

Having been in the storytelling business for more than 20 years, hundreds of people have come forward to share their own ghost stories with Lopaka, making him a repository of sorts for some.