obake

The term "obake" originates from the Japanese word for ghost, monster, or transforming spirit (お化け), but in Hawaii, it has been fully adopted into the local Pidgin vocabulary by people of all backgrounds. It is primarily used as a noun to describe ghosts, spirits, or any unexplained supernatural phenomena.

Locals often share "obake stories" during late-night gatherings, sleepovers, or camping trips, a tradition that blends Japanese ghost lore with Hawaiian, Filipino, and other cultural superstitions found in the islands. While it is appropriate for casual conversation and storytelling, it is usually spoken with a mix of fear and respect, as many locals hold deep-seated beliefs in the supernatural and consider it bad luck to mock spirits openly.

"You guys tink Gateway House is bad? Please," Micah scoffed, leaning over his half-eaten plate of Zip Min at the Zippy's on School Street. Outside, the Manoa rain had followed them down the hill, drumming hard against the glass. "My cousin stayed in Johnson Hall last semester. He said every night around two in da morning, he could hear one obake dragging its feet down the hallway. Not just regular footsteps, but like one heavy, wet dragging sound."

Jared rolled his eyes, stabbing a piece of Spam with his chopsticks. "Brah, everybody got one Johnson Hall story. Dat's amateur hour. You nevah been up to the old faculty housing in Palolo Valley. My aunty used to clean houses up dea. She said one time she went inside one empty unit, and all the cabinet doors in the kitchen was slamming shut by demselves. She nevah even grab her mop, she just ran straight to her Corolla and peeled out."

"Yeah, but did she actually see the obake?" Micah challenged, refusing to lose the spooky showdown. "Because my cousin looked out his peephole and saw one pale lady in one white dress staring right back at him. I telling you, he transferred to Chaminade the next week just for get away from dat ting."