At its full council meeting in May, the Honolulu City Council recognized Lopaka Kapanui for whom storytelling is more than a passion. It is a responsibility.
Widely known as “Hawaiʻi’s Ghost Guy,” Lopaka is a Native Hawaiian master storyteller, author, actor, kumu hula, and cultural practitioner who has dedicated his life to preserving and sharing the moʻolelo of these islands. Raised in a family where stories were passed down through generations, he learned early that ʻike is meant to be carried forward. As he often says, “E mau ana ka ʻike.” The knowledge must continue.
That calling took shape in March 1994, when Lopaka attended a ghost tour led by historian and author Glen Grant, the creator of Oʻahu’s first ghost tours. What he experienced that night felt familiar. The stories being shared were the same ones he had heard from his own kūpuna. Under Grant’s mentorship, Lopaka deepened his understanding of research, cultural protocol, and the importance of telling Hawaiʻi’s stories with accuracy and respect.
After Grant’s passing in 2003, Lopaka carried on that legacy, eventually creating his own path through Ghosts of Old Honolulu and later founding Mysteries of Hawaiʻi. For the past 25 years, that work has grown into something much larger than a tour company. It has become a platform for preserving history, culture, and connection.
At its full council meeting in May, the Honolulu City Council recognized Lopaka Kapanui for whom storytelling is more than a passion. It is a responsibility.
Widely known as “Hawaiʻi’s Ghost Guy,” Lopaka is a Native Hawaiian master storyteller, author, actor, kumu hula, and cultural practitioner who has dedicated his life to preserving and sharing the moʻolelo of these islands. Raised in a family where stories were passed down through generations, he learned early that ʻike is meant to be carried forward. As he often says, “E mau ana ka ʻike.” The knowledge must continue.
That calling took shape in March 1994, when Lopaka attended a ghost tour led by historian and author Glen Grant, the creator of Oʻahu’s first ghost tours. What he experienced that night felt familiar. The stories being shared were the same ones he had heard from his own kūpuna. Under Grant’s mentorship, Lopaka deepened his understanding of research, cultural protocol, and the importance of telling Hawaiʻi’s stories with accuracy and respect.
After Grant’s passing in 2003, Lopaka carried on that legacy, eventually creating his own path through Ghosts of Old Honolulu and later founding Mysteries of Hawaiʻi. For the past 25 years, that work has grown into something much larger than a tour company. It has become a platform for preserving history, culture, and connection.
Councilmember Augie Tulba poses with Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui outside of the Council chamber after the Honor Certificate ceremony on May 12, 2026. Photo Courtesy: Josh Koh
Accompanying Lopaka at the Honor Certificate ceremony was his wife Tanya. Photo Courtesy: Josh Koh
Together with his wife, Tanya, Mysteries of Hawaiʻi explores the eerie and unexplained while grounding every story in cultural context and ʻike. Tanya brings her own passion for research and storytelling, helping to expand their reach through tours, books, and community engagement across the state.
Lopaka’s work extends beyond the streets and stories of Honolulu. As an author, he has documented Hawaiʻi’s supernatural history in books like Mysteries of Hawaiʻi: Nā Moʻolelo Lapu and Mysteries of Honolulu, which share firsthand accounts and “chicken skin” stories rooted in real places. Alongside Tanya, he co-authored Hawaiʻi’s Night Marchers: A History of the Huakaʻi Pō, a detailed collection of eyewitness narratives and cultural insight, as well as Kahuna, a modern supernatural novel exploring themes of power, responsibility, and ʻohana.
Their work has earned national recognition. Mysteries of Hawaiʻi has been voted the Best Ghost Tour in the Nation by the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for three consecutive years, an honor that begins with expert nominations and is ultimately decided by the public.
More importantly, it remains the only Native Hawaiian owned and operated ghost tour company in the state. Through their work, Lopaka and Tanya continue to serve as a bridge, connecting residents and visitors to the deeper history, stories, and spirit of Hawaiʻi.
For 25 years, they have done more than tell stories. They have preserved them, protected them, and ensured they will continue to be shared for generations to come. Congratulations to them!
Together with his wife, Tanya, Mysteries of Hawaiʻi explores the eerie and unexplained while grounding every story in cultural context and ʻike. Tanya brings her own passion for research and storytelling, helping to expand their reach through tours, books, and community engagement across the state.
Lopaka’s work extends beyond the streets and stories of Honolulu. As an author, he has documented Hawaiʻi’s supernatural history in books like Mysteries of Hawaiʻi: Nā Moʻolelo Lapu and Mysteries of Honolulu, which share firsthand accounts and “chicken skin” stories rooted in real places. Alongside Tanya, he co-authored Hawaiʻi’s Night Marchers: A History of the Huakaʻi Pō, a detailed collection of eyewitness narratives and cultural insight, as well as Kahuna, a modern supernatural novel exploring themes of power, responsibility, and ʻohana.
Their work has earned national recognition. Mysteries of Hawaiʻi has been voted the Best Ghost Tour in the Nation by the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for three consecutive years, an honor that begins with expert nominations and is ultimately decided by the public.
More importantly, it remains the only Native Hawaiian owned and operated ghost tour company in the state. Through their work, Lopaka and Tanya continue to serve as a bridge, connecting residents and visitors to the deeper history, stories, and spirit of Hawaiʻi.
For 25 years, they have done more than tell stories. They have preserved them, protected them, and ensured they will continue to be shared for generations to come. Congratulations to them!
Cover Photo:
Lopaka Kapanui was honored at the Honolulu City Council on May 13, 2026. Photo courtesy: Josh Koh
Cover Photo:
Lopaka Kapanui was honored at the Honolulu City Council on May 13, 2026. Photo courtesy: Josh Koh
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