Hawaii Myths You Should Know

by Lexi Brown

Island life is filled with amazing and rich culture. Once you get to Hawaii and actually start living in such a wonderful place you start learning about beliefs, myths, legends and basic do’s and don’ts.

I find myths fascinating and I love hearing about things locals believe in. Ancient Hawaiians believed in the connection of the land with their Gods and Goddesses.

Hawaiian mythology takes a big part of the culture and it is so important to be aware of these once you live or visit Hawaii. But there are also urban legends, creepy ghost stories & more.

Here are some of my favorites.

1. Share some Gin with Pele.

Pele, the Volcano goddess, can be found in many Hawaiian legends. It is said that if you meet a young, beautiful woman in red, or an older lady with white hair, you must greet her with aloha and offer her help. If you refuse to help her bad things will come for you and your family. If you truly want to be on her good side you must visit Halema’uma’u crater and give her offerings of flowers, food, and gin.

2. Menehune.

Menehune are dwarf-like creatures that reside in lush forests, far from civilization. These 2 ft tall creatures are portrayed as mysterious, but also have excellent craftsmanship, constructing anything they desire. They are credited with building the Menehune Fish Pond on Kauai. They like to spend time in the forest playing tricks on unsuspecting humans. They are harmless for the most part, but anyone who catches them in the act won’t live to tell the tale - they’ll be turned to stone.

3. No pork across the Pali.

It is said that Pele and the demigod Kamapua’a – a half man, half pig – had a bad breakup and agreed to never see each other again. The myth tells that you cannot take pork over the Pali Highway, which separates the Windward side of Oahu from Honolulu, because it means that you are symbolically taking the demigod from one side of the island to the other. The myth says that if you try to bring pork across, your car will stop at some point along the journey and an old woman with a dog will appear. To continue on your way, you must feed the pork to the dog.

4. Night Marchers.

The Huaka’ipo, also known as the Night Marchers, are the spirits of ancient Hawaiian warriors who have been cursed to march the islands for eternity. The Night Marchers march in a single line, often carrying torches and weapons while chanting and playing drums. To protect yourself, you must lie on the ground and face down in respect. Otherwise, you will march along with them for eternity.

5. Mo’o Water guardians.

The legendary protectors of Hawaii’s pools, ponds and streams are spirit creatures called Mo’o who can change forms from small geckos to giant dragons. They have supernatural powers to control the weather, ensuring the islands have plentiful water and fruitful harvests. If angered, they can whip up killer waves or sweep the targets of their wrath off steep cliffs to their deaths.

It is said that if you are at one of Hawaii’s natural pools, drop a flower or branch in the water before venturing in. If the branch or flower gets swept away it’s a sign that the Mo’o don’t want to be disturbed. Go somewhere else!

6. The Green Lady- Child snatcher.

Dwelling in the forests of Wahiawa gulch on Oahu, the Green Lady is a horrifying green-skinned figure with teeth like daggers and hair draped in rotten-smelling moss and seaweed. She's said to be the ghost of a woman who died from heartbreak after her child went missing on the gulch.

She now spends her days in search of another child to snatch up for herself as a replacement. To this day, local children are warned not to go into the gulch.

7. Ka’ena Point.

According to local legends, Ka’ena Point is a “jumping off” place between two worlds - as in, one can jump off from this world and into the afterlife. It’s only for those who are already deceased.

It’s the spot on the island that a spirit must go to if it wants to leave this world. If it gets lost and doesn’t make the leap into the next realm, it will be forced to haunt the island until it’s able to find its way.

8. Iolani Palace ghosts.

The Iolani Palace is one of the most famous historical landmarks in Oahu and many visitors have had ghostly encounters there. Voices, footsteps, strange odors, and glimpses of shadowy figures are reported often.

One of the spirits is the water ghost, a man who leaves his wet footprints all down the halls. He is believed to be the spirit of a Hawaiian prince who was punished with "water dunking." As a result, he died of pneumonia. There's also the woman in white roaming the grounds at night. She cries endlessly, startling passersby, and vanishes near the stairs that run beneath the fountain outside the palace.

9. State Capitol building haunting.

Sightings of Queen Lili‘uokalani, the last monarch of the Hawaiian Islands, come from locals and tourists alike. She has been seen by children and people working in the building. Queen Lili‘uokalani was a lover of cigars when she was alive. Since her passing, there have been many reports of cigar odor creeping through the air. Thick billowing clouds of cigar smoke have appeared in the basement hallway, which others believe to be the spirit of former Governor John Burns, who also took frequent cigar breaks.

10. Do not take lava rocks.

One of the most important tales to know is Pele’s curse, which says that visitors will suffer terrible luck if they take lava rock or sand from the island. There are countless stories of visitors sending these souvenirs back to Hawaii after bad luck followed them home. Just leave them behind!