Night Marchers at La Pietra School (Papa‘ena‘ena Heiau)

In 1783, after his victory over Oahu, the Maui Ali‘i, Kahekili constructed a great heiau at the foot of Leahi, or Diamond Head. This heiau became known as Papa‘ena‘ena.

Twelve years later, in 1795, after Kamehameha I’s victory of Keleleake‘anae, the battle of Nu‘uanu, he offered a sacrifice on the altar at Papa‘ena‘ena. His own cousin, Kalanikupule, the son of Kahekili.

In 1804, because of dysentery, Kamehameha’s forces were not able to make their journey to the island of Kaua‘i. They returned to Oahu, and Kamehameha offered to the gods 400 pigs, several thousand coconuts & bananas, and 3 kapu violators.

A woman staying in Waikiki in the 1930s relays an experience to Antoinette Withington, the author of Hawaiian Tapestry. She says that on the first night she saw glowing lights just on the edge of the water. On the second night, she saw the same thing, except now, the glowing lights seemed to have shadowy forms as if they were people holding up torches, walking along the beach, heading toward Diamond Head.

The author, Ms. Withington, consults a known Hawaiian scholar living in Waikiki who said that it was interesting that a “haole” woman would have seen something like this. Those must be the night marchers, the procession of ghostly Hawaiian warriors and ali‘i heading towards the celebrated heiau known as Papa‘ena‘ena, perhaps for a ceremony.

In 2019, Lopaka Kapanui hosted a group in Waikiki and was talking about bones and burials. Lopaka and the dozens of people in his group happened to notice red glowing lights going up the slopes of Diamond Head, over the ridge, and down into the crater.

Police officers have said that on the nights when there is no moon, you can see torch lights appearing from the Kapiolani Park Bandstand, going through the park and towards the La Pietra School for girls. These lights are most likely the manifestations of the night marchers heading towards the school.

For La Pietra School for Girls sits atop the remnants of the sacrificial heiau, Papa‘ena‘ena.

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