This is the first and most complete collection on modern Hawai'i ghostlore ever published, including tales of fireballs, nightmarchers, visions of Pele, phantom hitchhikers, calling and choking ghosts, supernatural beings, menehune, haunted houses and buildings, and other paranormal phenomenon in the Hawaiian Islands. Included are 8 full-color reproductions of "uncanny photographs" taken in the Islands. Based upon archives, newspaper articles and extensive firsthand accounts collected over twenty-five years, Obake Files is the definitive reference book for anyone interested in the supernatural traditions of Hawai'i's multicultural people.
". . .I thought about the presence that I had felt at my right shoulder during the ceremony and held back my tears, as we drove through the mystic Kohala night under the lunar bow. From that time forward, I realized that I could never look upon the supernatural tales that I was gathering in a wholly objective light. . ." - Glen Grant


Sadly, the world lost this great storyteller on June 19, 2003...He left us with a cherished body of work and plenty of chickenskin to last us a lifetime... read more about him at http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Jun/20/ln/ln06a.html

This will become a bookring.

What’s a bookring and how does it work?

A bookring is when a book passes from person to person based on the list of members involved. A bookring book is never released into the wild since it should end up back with the person who registered it.

To join this bookring (or any other bookring of mine) please private message me and include your location and shipping preference (US only, international, etc.). I will be glad to add you to the list. New members are added all of the time so be sure to check the list of participants before you mail the book to the next in line just in case it's changed since you got the book.

Once you are a bookring member, you will receive the book from the person listed before you. When you receive the book please make a journal entry stating that you’ve received it. Then read it as soon as you can (no absolute hurry, just be reasonable please), and journal again with your thoughts, ideas, or opinions on it. You’ll then need to private message the person on the list after you for their address. Mail the book by media mail (it’s cheaper!) and make a release note so that we can track it. Then sit back and watch the journey continue!

The members are as follows (mailing order will change as new participants are added):

mellion108 in Michigan, USA
kellyhp in Texas, USA
geniedances in Texas, USA *
jenvince in California, USA *
Theresa-A in the UK -- skipped
MClaraM in Portugal *
arvoredeperas in Portugal <----------- on its way!
vinyldoll in Portugal *
chivers in Brazil
Tuz in Brazil *
Jengif in Virginia, USA *
Guinneth in New Hampshire, USA *
dianekos in Wisconsin, USA
alrescate in Missouri, USA *
WritinReader in Kentucky, USA
Jaremeister in New Mexico, USA
DrBrown in California, USA
caligula03 in California, USA
Amaranta20 in Washington, USA *
librelover in Hawaii, USA
**then back to me!

* can ship internationally

Released on Monday, October 06, 2003 at SENT TO FELLOW BOOKCROSSER in RABCK, postal release USA.

On its way to mellion108!

I finally managed to get over to check my PO box today, and this lovely little book was there! I love the cover, and the stories sound pretty interesting. I'm in the middle of one bookring right now, and I'm going out of town for the weekend. I'll try to read this within a week or so and send it on its way!

Thanks fanclub :)

Whew! I'm finally crawling out from underneath the latest herd of bookrays/rings to reach my house! I finished this one yesterday (very quick read), and I enjoyed it. It was quite different than I expected; I expected straight out ghost stories. This author writes stories combining Hawaiian, Polynesian, and Japanese ghost stories/myths with his own experiences with people writing or calling in to tell him about their encounters with the supernatural.

I really liked the preface and enjoyed reading what Glen Grant had to say about how he got involved with storytelling. My favorite story was "From Out of the Sea at Mokuleia." That one was pretty creepy. I also really, really liked the two Arthur McDougal stories and felt that these best exemplified the author's storytelling abilities. I must admit that the legend of the choking/hugging/breath stealing spirit raised the hair on the back of my neck. Have you ever had that sensation that something was preventing your breathing, and you suddenly wake up from a fitful sleep? Not pleasant. It was interesting to find out that this is something of a worldwide phenomenon (and here I thought I was just crazy! LOL). I'm just glad I've never seen the cackling hag afterwards. *shudder*

This collection is such a great cultural exhibit; it's difficult to point to it as a mere collection of ghost stories. I liked the thought of being transported to Hawaii, and I kept trying to smell the banana trees described in some of these stories. I also really loved the woodcuttings throughout the book.

Thanks for sharing this fanclub! I'm mailing this on to kellyhp today. Oh, the postcard you included with the book is beautiful. I have been very tempted to steal it. *evil grin* I could always say the spirits took it....

Received in yesterday's mail. I am anxious to get started.

Released on Saturday, November 29, 2003 at Postal Release in San Antonio, Texas USA.

I wasn't able to finish this one...I am going to go ahead and move it along to Geniedances. I have too much on my plate with finals coming up and I hate to keep everyone waiting.

The book arrived today and its looks very interesting. I will start it tomorrow!

I really enjoyed this book! I especially enjoyed the the two Arthur McDougal PI stories. The Arthur McDougal character is based on an actual retired homicide detective who worked on similar cases during his career.

Dr. Grant explains the blending of Hawaiian, Polynesian, and Japanese ghost stories/myths. He also combines his own experiences with those of people who have contacted him with stories about their own encounters with the supernatural.

Ever wake up with the sensation that something or someone was holding you down and you couldn't move? It really throws you off balance. Interesting to find out that this is something of an international phenomenon (and I thought my experiences were offbeat!). I've never seen the cackling old hag that others have seen and described.

This is more than the traditional collection of ghost stories. I enjoyed the references to various locations in Hawaii. I could easily picture the places described in these stories. I loved the illustrations, woodcuttings, throughout the book.

This arrived in the mail today. Will read and send on to the next person in the bookring.

I have finished this book.
I thought the book was good. Some interesting stories! I didn't quite get "chickenskin" (LOL!) but it was enjoyable reading. Thanks!
Did not receive any response from Theresa-A, so am skipping and sending to MClaraM.

Book mailed to MClaraM today by surface mail.

It just got to my hands by mail!
What a thrill!
I'll start reading it as soon as I can - Today! :D
Thanx


MCM

MClaraM contacted me and should be getting this book moving again next week ... Yay! :)

On it's way to "arvore de peras", so that it can be read, because it really deserves!! Thanks fan club, and SORRY for all the time that I've kept the book