Obake Park by mysterymodellersclub

Photography • Mythology • posted on Jan 06, 2006

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Description

The late Glen Grant authored several collections of true ghost stories he collected in Hawai`i. One that stuck in my mind took place on the Big Island, between Kona and South Point. A man and his family parked their camper at a deserted little park for the night. Only they got no sleep. Around 10pm, a loud banging began on the walls and roof, even the floor. At first they thought it was pranksters, and the man ran out of the camper with a crowbar in hand, ready to chase them off. But no one was there. It got quiet, and clearly, there was not a living soul for miles around. But as soon as they tried to go to sleep, the banging started again, louder than ever. It continued until dawn, while the whole family cowered together in one bed, praying.

The next morning, they noticed something they hadn't noticed the night before. There were two ancient Hawaiian graves, right beside the parking lot.

They left as quickly as possible, and stopped at the first store they came to. Casually, they asked about the park.

"Obake Park? You didn't stay there, did you?"

(Obake means "ghost" in Hawai`i, adopted from the Japanese.)

They admitted they had.

"Didn't you notice there were no locals camping there? Did you put food on those graves?"

"No."

"They bothered you, didn't they? If you put food on the graves, they'll leave you alone, but if you don't, they'll bother you like hell. You gotta respect the dead. You gotta."

I went home to Kona for the holidays. I wasn't looking for "Obake Park" or the graves, but my parents are at the age where they never pass by a bathroom. So we pulled into tiny Manuka Park to use the public restrooms. I noticed the graves, and immediately remembered the story. This had to be the place. It was exactly as described in the book

We were there only briefly, and it was broad daylight. But I picked some fruit from a nearby tree and left it on the graves anyway. I figure a little respect never hurts.