by Zach P.
Director & C.L.P.I., Kahuna Research Group
Past Field Investigator, MUFON (HI & WA State)
Learn more about our UFO's Over Hawaii educational experience

For generations, Hawaiʻi has been a place where the heavens and the Earth have been deeply intertwined. Ancient Polynesian navigators crossed the Pacific using the stars as their guide, while Native Hawaiian traditions preserve countless stories of unusual lights, spiritual phenomena, and celestial visitors. Today, those same skies continue to capture the attention of residents, visitors, researchers, and aviation enthusiasts as reports of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)—more commonly known as UFOs—appear to be increasing across the islands.

Although an increase in reported sightings does not necessarily mean an increase in unexplained objects, recent months have brought renewed public interest to Hawaiʻi's skies. Between eyewitness accounts, viral videos, military transparency initiatives, and expanded public awareness, Hawaiʻi has once again become one of America's most intriguing locations for UFO reports.

A Growing Number of Reports
According to data compiled from the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC), Hawaiʻi has accumulated hundreds of UFO reports over the past several decades. Recently published analyses of the database show Honolulu leading the state by a wide margin, followed by communities including Lahaina, Kihei, ʻEwa Beach, Hilo, Kāneʻohe, Kailua, Waianae, and Keaʻau.

While these numbers span many years rather than representing only recent events, investigators have noted that reports submitted during the past few years have remained steady and, in some cases, increased as public awareness of UAP has grown.

The important distinction is that researchers are seeing an uptick in reporting, which may or may not reflect an actual increase in unexplained aerial activity.

​Why Hawaiʻi?
Several factors make Hawaiʻi uniquely suited for observing unusual aerial phenomena.

The islands sit in the middle of the Pacific Ocean beneath some of the darkest skies in the United States. Large expanses of open ocean provide unobstructed horizons, allowing observers to notice lights or objects that might go unnoticed in more urban environments.

Hawaiʻi is also home to significant military operations, including Pearl Harbor, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauaʻi, and numerous training areas throughout the state. Military aircraft, satellites, missile tests, and classified exercises frequently occur in surrounding airspace. While many sightings ultimately have conventional explanations, unfamiliar aircraft or unusual flight profiles can easily lead witnesses to report something they cannot immediately identify.

Additionally, Hawaiʻi's growing tourism industry means millions of people spend evenings watching sunsets, stargazing, or photographing the night sky each year. More observers naturally result in more reports.

KRG received a call from a concerned resident on January 19 reporting what sounded to be multiple instances of paranormal activity, including a possible attack/possession of their friend Harry as well as seeing a ghost boy at the same location on two occasions.

Jane (all names changed to protect identities) reported a strange incident that occurred in a home in Wahiawa involving their friend making strange sounds and crying out as if being attacked or tortured while under some sort of paralysis.

Jane was happy to reach KRG and report what had happened to her and her friend, noticeably still shaken from the event despite it having happened more than a week prior to her contacting us.

KRG has analyzed the audio file multiple times, with no final conclusions yet so for now the case is ongoing pending further investigation.

Upon our initial analysis, we clearly identified multiple voices in the audio file, including heavy breathing and obvious cries of agony coming from the victim at least twice, so the first thought in our minds was possible hoax since the audio seemed too good to be true, from a paranormal invesigator's perspective, but after listening to the audio multiple times, we really can't determine what is going on. It could very well be authentic audio of a possession or attack by spiritual forces.

We plan to visit the location on our next trip to Oahu to attempt to collect any further evidence of the paranormal. In the meantime, KRG has decided to release the Oahu Possession audio file to our Case Log with permission from our client so we could get some additional community feedback. 

Previous reports of paranormal activity include reports of the Night Marchers, ancient Hawaiian ghost warriors, disrupting anyone who is in their path. Is this an authentic Night Marcher attack caught on audio, a hoax, or something more sinister like an authentic demonic possession?

​Please listen with headphones and leave your comments below. We recommend sage-ing your space after listening if possible.

OAHU - Viral video taken December 29, 2020 by a resident on Oahu and shared with Hawaii News Now, and then re-posted to a YouTube channel on January 3, 2021 shows what appears to be a blue unidentified object in the sky over Oahu, which is eventually joined by another object before plunging into the ocean...

This video has had nearly 200,000 views in just four days and the story has even gained national attention.

Some internet sleuths said that the floating blue object bears resemblance to an LED kite, as seen in this video by fact-checking Twitter account UFO of Interest. 

The fact that it crashed into the ocean makes you wonder if the ET pilot had one too many drinks ahead of New Years, or it was some sort of prank involving a kite or drone?

The case is ongoing and additional updates will be posted as they develop. 

​What are your thoughts on the object? Did you see it too? Leave your comments below.

The following report was submitted to KRG via our Submit a Sighting form on June 08, 2018 and may not be reproduced in any way without expressed written consent.

Type of Sighting: 
Unidentified Flying Object (UFO)
​
Location of Sighting:
Holualoa, Hawaii Island

Date of Sighting:
Unknown

Details: 
"I was going through my I Photos to delete unwanted photos when I was a about to delete a picture. At first I thought I saw a wind chime hanging, so I sent my friend a text message asking if he had a wind chime hanging from his roof. He said no, and nothing was hanging in the area. I had snapped some picture of some orchids, and sat down on a chair to look at them. I do sometimes accidentally hit the button on the iPhone, when I captured this picture. I can’t explain what this shape is, or if it’s a bird. Here is a picture:"

The case is currently under investigation. 

The following UFO sighting was submitted to KRG via our Submit a Sighting form on June 03, 2018 and may not be reproduced in any way without expressed written consent.

Location of Sighting:
Ocean View (HOVE), Hawaii Island

Date of Sighting 
October 9, 2017

Details: 
"I didn't actually see this object until a couple days after taking the pic. I was watering some plants in the garden at the bottom of Manua Loa located on the big island of Hawaii when I decided to randomly to take a picture of the sky with my cell phone without looking at the sky or the screen on my phone. Personally, I believe this is why I caught the object in the picture, but that's just my opinion. I take many photos of the sky, mostly of clouds that i find interesting, that being said, i don't really look at them in detail for days or sometimes weeks for that matter. i viewed this particular set of photos the following day due to the strange anomalies in the clouds, at least what i believe we're anomalies. i thought it was coincidental that i was researching time travel just days before, while contemplating the notion of using the sun as a wormhole to travel to different dimensions. i noticed that the beam (flare) coming from the sun appears to be in the 19.47 vicinity and then noticed the object towards the end of it, along with a very interesting "dragon head" shaped cloud facing it. after zooming in on the object, i came to the conclusion that it wasn't something on the lens of my camera nor was it any type of bird, at least that i have ever noticed while living on the island. the clouds were stranger than usual days before and after this day the photo was taken."

This sighting was first submitted to MUFON (case# 90326) on February 20, 2018.