100 Ghost Stories Counting Down To Halloween 2024. # 9. Leeanne.

I remember particular moments from my past through a romanticized lens, conveniently forgetting the reality of those situations.

100 Ghost Stories Counting Down To Halloween 2024. # 8. Wailua Sky.

Hattie Kalauluhi remembers growing up as a little girl in Waialua, living in a humble home near the beach.

100 Ghost Stories Counting Down To Halloween 2024. # 7. Pulakaumaka.

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After Jolene De Garma's grandfather, Harry, passed away, she began having episodes where she'd break down sobbing or, to the contrary, she'd become too happy, too bright, and effervescent. At night, her parents would wake up and find her curled up, sleeping at the foot of their bed. Mostly, she'd stare at the black-and-white photograph of her grandfather as it sat on the mantle in the living room. Jolene's father, Michael, said his daughter would go days without eating and suddenly become ravenous. Her mother, Joanne, intimated that complaints were lodged against Jolene for being overly promiscuous with fellow staff at her job. Her advances were unwelcomed and inappropriate; she was given a week off with pay and then was required to attend counseling sessions, which were paid for by her employer.

"She'd always been a good worker and well-liked by everyone," Joanne said. "Her boss was perceptive enough to realize that her sudden behavior change might have been caused by something else. For that, my husband and I were grateful,"

"That is until that one night," Michael interjected.

"Yes," Joanne nodded. "Michael and I were sitting on the couch watching a late movie when Jolene came from her bedroom to join us. Except when she sat down, she sat on Michael's lap like she used to do when she was a little girl. We both thought it was cute for a second, but Michael moved her off his lap because she was a full-grown adult and too heavy,"

"Jolene didn't appear to have a problem with it," Michael said. "But then she started pushing her mother away with her foot, not gently."

"It suddenly became manic," Joanne said. "To the point where she began kicking me and screaming My daddy! My daddy!"

"I had to restrain her," Michaels' voice cracked. "She spit at me and called me a panty. I wasn't stunned; I wasn't ready for that. That's what my father called me when I was growing up. I hated that. Anyway, a second later, it was like nothing happened. She walked over to the mantle and stared at my father-in-law's picture for the rest of the night. It was like she was in a trance. The head doctors said there was nothing wrong with her; she was perfectly normal."

"Physically normal," Joanne inserted. 

Michael breathed deeply. "We're religious people, but this felt like something else."

"Then why come here if you're religious people?" Boy asked. "Shouldn't you have sought the counsel of your clergyman or pastor? You don't want to risk being ostracized, do you?"

"We're at our wit's end," Michael confessed. 

"Our clergy won't touch this," Joanne admitted. "Liability."

"And your daughter? Where is she now?" Boy asked.

"At home," Michael said. "If you could do this right away, it's asking for a lot of your personal time, but our daughter needs some kind of help."

"It's fine," Boy said, rising from his chair. "We'll go now. I'll follow both of you."

As the couple turned and walked out of Boy's office ahead of him, he removed a pinch of red 'alae salt and sprinkled it on the top of Joanne's head. Crumbling to the floor, the woman undulated on the finely platted floor mat while coughing up white foam from her mouth. Her body tensed up suddenly, and her eyes flew open wide. A thick black smoke came out of her, and as it materialized through the wall, it tried to take Joanne with it, but it failed. Boy shook Michael out of his state of shock, "I need your help, Michael. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes...what..what's happening? What's going on?" Michael had difficulty putting words together.

"Your father-in-law's spirit has taken hold of Jolene by possessing her, but simultaneously, he's also been possessing your wife," Boy said.

"Jolene and Joanne, but why?" Micheal was incredulous.

"One second, excuse me," Boy said as he opened his office door. Rita sat outside at the reception desk, reviewing some computer ledgers. "Aunty Rita, can you please come in and watch over this woman? Michael and I have to head back to his house right away,"

"He aha ka pilikia?" Rita asked.

"Uhane noho," Boy replied.

Rita removed a pouch of Hanapepe pa'akai and went into the office. Boy and Michael headed to the birdcage elevator and would soon be in the garage. "It's better if we take my car,"

Kealoha started up the vehicle and they were on their way.

2

The drive to the home in Kalihi was uneventful. The house itself was at the top of Kaikunane Loop. Kealoha parked in the garage of the two-story home armed with his own pouch of Hanapepe pa'akai just in case matters went south. Entering the home through the garage, Michael led the way. Music from a Bluetooth speaker filled the home; its origin was unknowable because it seemed like the sound emanated from everywhere and nowhere. 

"..That's all I wanted..something special, something sacred in your eyes..

..for just one moment to be bold and naked..at your side.."

"This was our song," Jolene's voice came above the din. "Me and Joanne, it was special between the two of us. Just the two of us and no one else,"

"Jolene?" Michael called out. "Someone's here to help you, hun. Come out so he can talk with you,"

"...Sometimes I think that you never...understand me.."

"She's mine, Michael, she's always been mine," Jolene called out.

When Boy and Michael entered the living room, they came upon Jolene as she stood in front of the black-and-white photo of her grandfather. Michael gasped, and his legs went weak when he saw the same thick black smoke from Joanne sitting on Jolene's shoulders. 

"That's your father-in-law," Boy said. "It's highly likely that he molested your wife as she was growing up and that he began doing the same thing to Jolene before he died or that he wanted to. I have a strong feeling that he was more obsessed with your daughter, though,"

"What? What the fuck, why?" Michael demanded.

"Those abused become abusers. A rare few survive the trauma and swear never to repeat or visit their experience on anyone else. Your father-in-law Harry was not one of them. I'll banish his spirit, but the psychological toll is something that you and your family have to take care of by getting professional help," Boy advised.

With a handful of Hanapepe pa'akai, Boy quickly approached Jolene and gripped her throat, forcing her mouth open. He stuffed the handful of salt into her mouth and tightly held her jaw shut. The spirit of Harry Peahi screamed in agony before it dissipated into a steaming black vapor. Jolene fell to her knees before falling forward, nearly hitting her head on the floorboard. 

3

The De Garmas spent considerable time in therapy, but it was a good kind—practical and applicable. It's beautiful when a family can heal together, thus strengthening their bond as one complete household.

 Rita prepared pulehu steak with a spinach salad, poi, and peach slices sprinkled with li hing mui powder. Ivan and Tiny were in Las Vegas for the annual reunion of the veterans club. Surely, Tiny was taking every advantage of the Casinos while Ivan quietly sat at the bar nursing a glass of apricot brandy. This afternoon, however, they had a nice lunch together. Rita and Boy sat on the couch near her desk, enjoying the delicious meal.

"Aunty, you always outdo yourself," Boy complimented. "You're the reason why I exercise so much."

"This case you just had," Rita began. "With that girl and mother," Rita paused, cutting her pulehu into smaller pieces. "Before I went to live with my Tūtū, the same thing happened to my sisters. Especially the oldest. She tried her best to protect the rest of us by keeping him longer and doing more things so he wouldn't bother us," tears stained her cheeks. Boy could see that it was something deep-seated that must have been dormant in his aunt for as long as she'd been alive. 

"When you and her husband went off to their house with Kealoha, I could share this very same thing with that woman. I don't have the words, my nephew, but there was healing there for both of us. Two complete strangers who would have otherwise walked past each other in public without so much as a blink. Yet, here we were sharing, crying, and healing," Rita moved her spinach around on her plate with her bio-degradable fork. 

"I see," Boy nodded. "There's also something I need to say to you, Aunty. Do you mind?"

"No, not at all, Hanson," Rita sat up. "Please tell me?"

" This time, I think my lover understands me; if we have faith in each other, then we can be... stronger," Boy said it almost in a whisper.

Rita bolted upright, dropping her fork and running for the elevator. Boy caught up with her, and the two struggled. Rita did her best to keep Boy from putting the Hanapepe salt in her mouth, and Boy applied all of his weight to his aunt's petite frame so she would gasp for air. Boy thought to call out for Kealoha, but his huge, wide frame emerged from the elevator, his feet pounding the wooden floor as he ran to his boss.

"Hold her down!" Boy instructed. Whatever possessed the old woman was very strong, but Kealoha was stronger. Applying his knee to her stomach, the old woman gasped for air, and Boy stuffed the blessed salt into her mouth and held it shut. When the thick black smoke of Harry's spirit left Rita's body, it left with a thunderous strike that shook the entire building. 

"I drove Harry's spirit out of his granddaughter, but I forgot that Joanne was still in the office unconscious. His spirit went back and possessed her. You let Harry in once you shared your story about your eldest sister," Boy said.

"How did you know?" Rita asked.

"Because you kept staring at his picture on your computer, the one from his obituary," Boy said.

Rita shook her head and apologized. "With all the shared wisdom that your uncles and I have, you're still the most perceptive,"

"Only when it comes to the three of you," Boy smiled. 

100 Ghost Stories Counting Down To Halloween 2024. # 6. Apapane.

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I'm only a walker or a hiker if I need time to think or if I'm perusing the neighborhood for those uniquely old plantation-style homes from the past.

100 Ghost Stories Counting Down To Halloween 2024. # 5. Alia

 Laukani was on vacation on Hawai'i Island.

100 Ghost Stories Counting Down To Halloween 2024. #4. Hāloa

 Haloa

Wakea, the sky father, married Ho’ohokukalani, the goddess of the stars.

100 Ghost Stories Counting Down To Halloween 2024. #3 Hā'awi no ka manawa.

The Ka'iwi 'ohana was tight-knit—very close, almost clannish, if you will.

100 Ghost Stories Counting Down To Halloween 2024. #2. Voices Carry.

 I remember the weekend when our Kumu Hula took us up into the mountains to gather palai and Lauaʻe.  

100 Ghost Stories Counting Down To Halloween 2024. # 1 Ho'opahulu

 1

My Mom kept a clean house.