Obake: Ghost Stories of Hawaii (Paperback)

by Glen Grant (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Obake: Ghost Stories in Hawai'i showcases supernatural tales collected from islanders of all backgrounds that first appeared in 1983 in the Hawai'i Herald. They are presented here for the first time in a single volume, accompanied by the original haunting illustrations by artist Ross Yamanaka. Those who do not care to believe in ghosts, or the hereafter, will glimpse into the dark realm of mystery.

About the Author
The late Glen Grant was well-known in the islands as a storyteller, folklorist, historian and author. For nearly twenty-five years he collected ghost stories which he shared in public talks, community programs, ghost tours and theater programs. In 1989 he was the recipient of the Tusitala Award by the Storytelling Association of Hawai'i. His occult writings also include: Honolulu Mysteries, The Secret Obake Casebook: Tales from the Dark Side of the Cabinet and Obake Files: Ghostly Encounters in Supernatural Hawai'i.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Mutual Publishing (March 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566477042
• ISBN-13: 978-1566477048
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #935,564 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars More about people than ghosts, April 6, 2009

By	Juviebetfixer "X" (Turin, Italy) - See all my reviews

Lore lovers, those enchanted by the unique spookiness that distinct locations possess, will enjoy Grant's collection of Japanese and Hawaiian ghost stories. None of these tales, however, are formulaic. If you enjoy typical treats of the genre, then you might not quite be satisfied by what is grant is doing here. His goal isn't to terrify, but to introduce.

The scenic locations of Oahu are related in Grant's personal, detailed prose. His delightfully unpretentious manner, and deep knowledge of the neighborhoods, provides a very readable experience. The spectres in these stories loom in such understated, subtle ways -- they are denizens of the margins and back yards, rather than stubborn, attention-seeking poltergeists. I find these sorts of stories more haunting in their hushed, rumour-oriented narratives. Grant's care for the people and customs of Hawai'i makes these stories both educational and entertaining. Don't expect to find a heap of overwrought tales of the paranormal here. They read like they are: an agnostic reporter with a talent for listening, exploring, and withholding judgement.

As a personal note, my favorite story by far had nothing to do with ghosts at all. "On The Kaidan Trail of Lafcadio Hearn" was an utterly heartfelt travelogue of Grant's visit to Japan to pay homage to his obvious mentor, the culture hopping Hearn. While in Tokyo, local academics mistake Grant for a Hearn scholar and, assuming he has the same academic clout as them, suddenly shower him with respect. Doors suddenly open, and invitations received, and Grant finds himself where few researchers ever go . . . the butsudan of Hearn's grandson. This chapter functioned beautifully as a study on how pretenses, titles, and degrees do not necessarily equal knowledge; and that the most gratifying moments when travelling are the unexpected ones. Very touching tribute to Hearn, as well as Grant's affection for strangers and strange encounters.

4.0 out of 5 stars Frightfully Enjoyable, April 13, 2008

By	Jon Timothy Kelly "ucirvinite" (Silicon Valley) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I picked this book up on a whim at a tour bus rest stop in Kauai - and for the next few days was on the edge of my seat as I read through each story. Before his death in 2003, the author was a popular teacher at the University of Hawai'i, and a tour guide who lead a Haunted Oahu Tour group. These tours must have been wonderfully frightful with all the stories and legends that he had collected over the years.

If you know nothing about Hawaiian ghosts (and I knew nothing), this book is a wonderful little intro, combining real-life accounts of the author with a few fictionalized stories based on real-life interviews (though some of these fictional stories were "hit-and-miss.") He is particularly interested in highlighting the multi-cultural aspects of these ghost tales as encompassing the ethnic diversity of Hawai'i (and this is what I enjoyed most about the book).

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Free SF Reader, March 2, 2008

By	Blue Tyson "- http://freesf.blogspot.com" - See all my reviews

Menehune and more.


A not overly long collection of supernatural and spooky legends and tales from Hawaii.

Little monsters, big monsters, spirits, and more, with some introductory material to get you going as well.


3.5 out of 5