Are Hawaiian Huakai Po Nightmarchers Avenging Halloween Thursday?

by DerdriuMarriner

Are Hawaiian huakai po Nightmarchers avenging Halloween Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, or are they not about on a night that affords us the last-quarter lunar phase?

Are Hawaiian huakai po Nightmarchers avenging Halloween Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, or are they not about on a night that affords us the last-quarter lunar phase?

Hawaiian huakai po nightmarchers appear on new-moon nights; nights applauding Kanaloa; nights appreciating gods Kane, Ku or Lono. They arrange themselves in battle-rowed assemblies for such sacred places as ancient battle and temple sites.

Witnesses on O'ahu have reported processions of Hawaiian torch-bearing huakai po night marchers descending Diamond Head and visiting the south shore's popular Waikiki Beach.

Hawaiian torch-bearing huakai po night marchers
Hawaiian torch-bearing huakai po night marchers

Are Hawaiian huakai po Nightmarchers avenging Halloween Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, or are they not about on a night that affords us the last-quarter lunar phase?

 

Are Hawaiian huakai po Nightmarchers avenging Halloween Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, or are they not about on a night that affords us the last-quarter lunar phase?

Hawaiian huakai po Nightmarchers appear on nights that the moonless, new-moon phase never alluminates; nights that applaud Kanaloa; nights that appreciate gods Kane, Ku or Lono. Aforementioned Nightmarchers, also as oio Spirit Ranks (from Hawaiian ‘oi’o, “ghost procession”), arrange themselves in battle-rowed assemblies for such sacred places as battle and temple sites. Ancient Hawaiian culture’s huakai po Nightmarchers (from Hawaiian hū’a, “foam, froth”; ka’i, “sea”; pō, “night”; ha, “breath”; wai, “life-force”; ‘i, “supreme”) boast chief-bound bodyguards and escorts.

Huakai po Nightmarchers congregate those who can be called once human even as oio Spirit Ranks crowd together those who can be considered as completely ghostly. The death-dealing Nightmarchers do their duties during the darkness that descends after one day’s setting sun disappears and before the next day’s rising sun displays itself. The Pacific Ocean waters around the Hawaiian archipelago (grouped-together islands, from Greek ἀρχι-, “main”; πέλαγος, “sea”) or the sacred soil of distinct islands perhaps domicile them.

No one ever espies Hawaiian huakai po Nightmarchers effectuate their endeavors other than in the environmental air just above surface soils or just above surface waters. Hawaiian huakai po Nightmarchers never find themselves fighting, finding anyone or anything or anywhere, following anyone or anything, fulfilling anything by one foot, both feet aground. Giving the glorious dead posthumous glory and gleaning from Hawaiian islands those who garble and grieve traditional Hawaiian culture and traditional Hawaiians guide huakai po Nightmarchers.

Anthropogenic harm (from Greek ἄνθρωπος, “human”; -γενής, “offspring”) to ancient- and traditional-Hawaiian holy and human habitations herald huakai po Nightmarchers hastening for hauling away or haunting. Puu Loa (from Hawaiian pu’u, “hill”; loa, “long”) is perhaps 16 miles (25.749504 kilometers) from the Kilauea (Hawaiian kī, “[intensifiedly]”; lau, “many”; ea, “to rise”) rim. It jubilates the Hawaii-largest petroglyph field, with 574- to 824-year-old barred, circled, dimpled, feathered-cape, human, sailing-canoe etchings in hardened-lava rocks with geological dates of A.D. 1200-1450.

 

H3 Highway is an east-west interstate highway that stretches from its western terminus at an interchange with H-1 at Halawa near Pearl Harbor to its eastern end at the main gate of Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH).

Interstate H-3 passes through O'ahu's leeward Hālawa Valley and windward Haʻikū Valley; H-3 traverses eastern O'ahu's Ko'olau Range via viaducts and through Tetsuo Harano Tunnels and Hospital Rock Tunnels.
H-3 is also known as the John A. Burns Highway in honor of Hawai'i's second governer (term Dec. 3, 1962-Dec. 2, 1974).
H-3 is also known as the John A. Burns Highway in honor of Hawai'i's second governer (term Dec. 3, 1962-Dec. 2, 1974).

 

That field keepsakes as sites sacred to ancient and traditional Hawaiian culture anthropogenic, child-specific, individual holes that keep newborn children’s umbilical cords in the hardened-lava crust. Each hole for locating each newborn umbilical lodges one stone whose following-morning lifting, to empty interiors, always leaves the new parents looking to a long-lived child. Kilauea volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on coastal-southeast Big Island, Hawaii County and island, Hawaii state might mar, with a mighty eruption, that biogeographical masterpiece.

Hot lava nestling atop petroglyph fields and umbilical-cord cemeteries perhaps necessitates anthropogenic notice and perhaps huakai po Nightmarchers noting whether anyone, anything nullify ancient, traditional Hawaiianness. Airy marches, battle drums, body tattoos, brilliant dress, conch shells, high-held spears, military-like rows and war chants of huakai po Nightmarchers perhaps overwhelm their en-route observers.

Those perceiving them during daylight periods perish even as ancestor-descendant exemptions, face-down proneness, straight line-positioned doors, ti (Cordyline fruticosa) shrub-planting and whistling proscriptions prevent that nightly. The quotes “O-ia!” (“Let him be pierced!”) and “Na’u!” (“Mine!”) respectively quicken quelling those queuing Nightmarcher routes, not those qualifying for rescue as night-queuing Nightmarcher descendants. Helo, Palilua, Waipio; Hanapepe, Wailua-Lihue highway; Ahihi-Kinau, Kamaomao, Keoneoio Bay; Kaunakakai; and Davies Pacific Center, Diamond Head respectively render Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu Nightmarchers.

Oahu Nightmarchers seek Kaena Point; Kalama, Kalihi, Makaha, Waimea Valleys; Kaniakapupu; Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama; Keawaula Beach; Kualoa Ranch; Laie; Manoa Falls; Nu’uanu Pali Lookout; Puu-o-Mahuka; Waikiki; Waimanalo.

 

"Hawaii's Most Haunted - Night Marchers, the Ghost Army of Hawaii" (10:46): narrated by native Hawaiian storyteller Robert Lopaka Kapanui

Uploaded September 20, 2023, to YouTube by Mysteries of Hawaii: URL @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uccj01AGPV0

Acknowledgment

 

My special thanks to talented photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the Internet.

 

Image Credits

 

procession of Hawaiian torch-bearing huakai po night marchers: Mysteries of Honolulu, via Facebook Sep. 7, 2021, @ https://www.facebook.com/MysteriesofHonolulu/posts/pfbid02fXYdvnm7CNuYsPPww5XjEKAabUqZqmrKkJWKDqvYoFgZDuNTyWctWLCQwkbsBjGMl

H3 Highway is an east-west interstate highway that stretches from its western terminus at an interchange with H-1 at Halawa near Pearl Harbor to its eastern end at the main gate of Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH). Interstate H-3 passes through O'ahu's leeward Hālawa Valley and windward Haʻikū Valley; H-3 traverses eastern O'ahu's Ko'olau Range via viaducts and through Tetsuo Harano Tunnels and Hospital Rock Tunnels. Interstate H-3 (H-3) is also known as the John A. Burns Highway in honor of Hawai'i's second governer (term Dec. 3, 1962-Dec. 2, 1974).: Keana Ford, via Facebook Dec. 13, 2023, @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/hawaiitracker/posts/2657892734376528/

 

Sources Consulted

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Available @ https://kealakai.byuh.edu/hawaiian-legends-say-one-glance-at-the-night-marchers-could-mean-the-end-of-your-life

Engelow, Jill. “Night Marchers.” Maui Magazine > Talk Story > Locals Know > Archive > September-October 2009. Copyrighted Maui Nō Ka ʻOi Magazine / Flagship Publishing.
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Available @ https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/27171113/exploring-the-legend-of-the-night-marchers/

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Johnson, Scott A. 14 October 2007. “The Night Marchers.” Dread Central.
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Marriner, Derdriu. 6 February 2021. "Huakai Po Nightmarchers Act Unlike Magnum's Killer on the Midnight Shift." Earth and Space News. Saturday.<br />
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McIntosh, Andrea; and Kimo Jenkins. 13 October 2015. “Huaka’i-Pō – The Night Marchers.” Island Partners Hawai’i > Blog.
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Available @ https://imagesofoldhawaii.com/ka-huaka

the end which is also the beginning
the end which is also the beginning

Hawaii's Night Marchers A History of the Huaka'i Pō by native Hawaiian storyteller Robert Lopanaka Kapanui and his wife, Tanya Kapanui

Available via Amazon
HAWAII'S NIGHT MARCHERS: A History of the Huaka'i Pō

Mysteries of Hawai'i: Na Mo'olelo Lapu by Robert Lopaka Kapanui

Available via Amazon
Mysteries of Hawai'i: Na Mo'olelo Lapu

Mysteries of Honolulu by Robert Lopaka Kapanui

Available via Amazon
Mysteries of Honolulu

Me and my purrfectly purrfect Maine coon kittycat, Augusta "Gusty" Sunshine

Gusty and I thank you for reading this article and hope that our product selection interests you; Gusty Gus receives favorite treats from my commissions.
DerdriuMarriner, All Rights Reserved
DerdriuMarriner, All Rights Reserved
Updated: 12/02/2024, DerdriuMarriner
 
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DerdriuMarriner on 10/08/2024

Hollie, Thank you for stopping by!

Huakai po are scary for humans -- apart those who are their collateral and direct descendants -- who make eye contact. Even then the Hawaiian way dominates in directing humans to lie face-down on the ground if humans do not have strength or time to run.

Isn't it interesting that the huakai po have the same job descriptions ;-D -- protect divine and human rulers and sacred sites -- as they had in life?

DerdriuMarriner on 10/08/2024

Tolovaj, Thank you for stopping by and writing such helpful, humorous comments as zombies looking like "amateurs" compared to Hawaiian huakai ;-d!

Bodyguards, escorts and warriors in life immersed themselves in their preparation and their responsibilities in life service to Hawaiian-island gods, kings and priests. So perhaps it's no surprise that those same responsibilities to divine and human rulers and to sacred sites impel them in the afterlife, spiritual world.

A book about Haitian zombies: wow! Will you be wizzleying -- hope, hope ;-D -- them for us all?

HollieT on 10/08/2024

Hi Derdiumarriner!

This is a great piece, I have never heard of Hawaiian Huakai Po, what a great introduction to Hawaiian mythology and tradition. Thoroughly enjoyable read and fascinating!

Tolovaj on 10/06/2024

Very interesting subject. Zombies look amateurs comparing to Hawaiian huakai! I have just read a book taking action on Haiti with its voodoo rituals (not the main point of the book) and there's a whole world of weird stories to explore after I finish with the Grimms! Thank you:)

HollieT on 10/06/2024

This is fascinating, DerdriuMarriner!

I had never heard of Hawaiian night marchers, what a fabulous introduction to Hawaiian mythology. Thank you so much for this; I think any questions in relation to the Hawaiian Huakei Po marchers is covered here. A very comprehensive and enjoyable read

DerdriuMarriner on 10/04/2024

Thank you for your comment below, in answer to my previous observation and question.

The play Macbeth has as its setting Scotland even as A midsummer night's dream has fairy marchers and marches. So William Shakespeare (Apr 23[?], 1564-Apr 23, 1616) knew something about both subjects separately.

Might the English-language Bard have merged them into fairy marchers and marches as Scottish-traditioned?

frankbeswick on 10/04/2024

European fairy marches were a tradition that seems to be Scottish. What we make of claims to this sort of event I know not, but the fairies were supposed to come out of their mounds and parade around. I do not know of equivalent traditions in Ireland and Wales.

DerdriuMarriner on 10/03/2024

Veronica, Thank you for stopping by and visiting non-scary umbilical-cord rituals.

Me too, I find those rituals interesting even as umbilical cords flourish with so many nutrients. Might they find favor among invertebrate decomposers that volcanic-hardened subsoil perhaps furnishes?

Might such decomposers munch all liquid, all solid parts within 24 hours?

Perhaps, perhaps not!

DerdriuMarriner on 10/03/2024

Frank, I only know about European-fairy marches through William Shakespeare's and Felix Mendelssohn's (Feb. 3, 1809-Nov. 4, 1847) A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Your introducing fairy marches interests me even as October is a month of the fairy-ringed mushrooms here!

What else might be known -- beyond Shakespearean plots and Mendelssohn music ;-D -- about European-marching fairies?

Veronica on 10/03/2024

Thank you for posting this. You have given us westerly Europeans an insight into something completely unknown to us.

I am particularly interested in the umbilical chord rituals.

A fascinating piece of folk culture from thousands of miles away


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