Hawaii

Hawaii Island

City of Refuge National Park

Huna, the old Hawaiian religion, was very hard on sinners. Anyone breaking it's laws, called kapu, was put to death. However, if the sinner could
reach a temple before being killed, he could work off his sins there. A park called Pu'uhonua O Honaunau or "City of Refuge", became the largest
of Huna temples there. It is said that the ghosts of some poor souls are still trying to reach the gates of the sanctuary. The kapu laws were
abolished in 1819.

There is also a heiau, a stone temple built to house the bones of deceased leaders, at this site known as Hale O Keawe, which contains the
bones of at least twenty three island chiefs. The Hawaiians believed the mans, or life force, of a person remained in his bones after death, and
they built heiaus to house the bones, to save the mana. It was not uncommon to try to steal the mana from heiaus, so the greatest ruler had their
bones hidden in jungle caves so their power would not be misused. Over the years, many ancient heiaus became known as haunted sites.

Mauna Loa Volcano

The Kilauea Crater is on the eastern slope of this 13,680 foot mountain that is home to the Huna volcano goddess Madame Pele. Rumblings
within the volcanoes on the islands are said to drive her out to warn people of impending eruptions. Her ghost appears along forest road or in
public places. Although her age varies, she is always seen wearing a red muumuu and is usually accompanied by a small white dog. She has
been reported by natives and visitors for over two centuries. Her home was originally the island of Kauai, but she moved to the island of Hawaii
when Mauna Loa erupted to form the Kilauea Crater. Two ruined heiau platforms, one at Uwekahuna and the other on Waldron Ledge, are said to
contain spiritual imprints dating back to the times when human sacrifices were made to Pele. It is said that Pele spares Volcano House at the
rim of Mauna Loa only because the owner regularly pours gin into the crater to keep her happy. Hawaiians kneel in reverence to the goddess and
sometimes lay chickens on the rime of Kilauea and seek her favor. Park rangers, tourists, newspaper reporters, and even scientists studying the
volcano have reported encountering Pele's ghostly figure. Her actual home, called Halemaumau, is a 280 foot deep pit within the crater.
Incidentally, all the volcanic rock on the islands considered possessed by kupua spirits, which are demigods inhabiting specific locations. There
are numerous tales of bad luck befalling anyone trying to take a piece home for souvenirs. It is also forbidden to eat the sacred ohelo berry, which
grows on the island. Many people that have taken home pieces of lava, have eventually sent back the lava to the island hoping that this would
break their spell of bad luck.

The Kilauea Crater is at 4,090 feet elevation. Uwekahuna, the "place of priestly weeping," is located on Uwekahuna Bluff where the observatory
now stands. For information, contact the Hawaii Volcanoes Visitor Center, PO Box 52, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718. Phone: 808-967-7311.
Call the Eruption Update Line at 808-967-7977 to check on Pele's currant mood.

Bibliography: Hauck, Dennis. Haunted Places: Ghost abodes, sacred sites, UFO landings, and other supernatural locations. New York: Penguin
Book, 1994.