Kahuna Research Group

08/24/2026

🥋 BORN IN HAWAIʻI. BUILT TO SURVIVE. PRESERVED FOR GENERATIONS.

Before modern MMA became a global phenomenon, five martial artists in Honolulu created something revolutionary: KAJUKENBO, a practical self-defense system forged in the working-class neighborhoods of Palama, Oʻahu, between 1947 and 1949.

KA = Karate
JU = Judo & Jujitsu
KEN = Kenpo
BO = Boxing

Peter Young Yil Choo, Joseph Holck, Frank Ordonez, Adriano Emperado and George Chang combined their knowledge to create a uniquely Hawaiʻi-born martial tradition that would ultimately influence practitioners worldwide.

For author and lifelong martial artist David Tavares, this history is personal. He began training in 1971 at Godin’s School of Self-Defense in Pearl City under Professor Walter L. N. Godin, whose lineage connected directly to Kajukenbo pioneer Joe Emperado.

In his groundbreaking book, Black Robe: The Kempo/Kajukenbo Connection, David documents the founders, forgotten photographs, historic training traditions and the enduring mystery surrounding Joe Emperado’s death. His research safeguards a living legacy that might otherwise disappear with the passing of each generation.

At Kahuna Research Group, we believe Hawaiʻi’s history lives not only in ancient sites, but also in the people, traditions and stories that shaped these islands. Preserving Kajukenbo means preserving oral histories, documenting martial-arts lineages and honoring those who carried this knowledge forward.

Explore Black Robe through Stone Compass Press and follow KRG as we uncover the untold stories behind Hawaiʻi’s extraordinary cultural heritage.

📖 StoneCompassPress.com | 🔎 KahunaResearchGroup.org | Black-Robe.net

08/23/2026

In 1819, the Battle of Kuamoʻo became a pivotal turning point in Hawaiian history. Kekuaokalani, Chiefess Manono, and their followers defended the traditional kapu system after Liholiho chose not to reinstate it.

Their story still lives in the lava fields and moʻolelo of this place. Manono’s final message endures: “Mālama kō aloha”—keep your love.

Source: National Park Service.

08/22/2026

Research with purpose means asking bold questions while respecting the land, the evidence, and the communities connected to every place we study.

KRG documents Hawaiʻi’s history, cultural traditions, ancient mysteries, and unexplained experiences so discoveries can become education—not just entertainment. Follow the journey and help us preserve what matters.

08/21/2026

The journey into the hidden past continues. KRG is proud to be part of Sacred Sight Season 2—an exploration of lesser-known places, ancient mysteries, and questions that challenge accepted versions of our past.

Follow KRG for behind-the-scenes updates, field research, and the discoveries still ahead. Learn more at SacredSight.info.

08/19/2026

KRG (Kahuna research group) is a non-profit group started by Zach Royer in 2011, and has now been granted non-profit status , and eligible for grants to continue the great work started in Sacred Sight.

This group will allow the team to begin its mission and uncovering new sites on Earth, with its specific target, Oceania. If funding comes about, we will be able to acquire equipment to become our own research team , in finding clues of the ancient past to understand our lost history better. This possibly will create employment for those interested. This goes hand in hand with the Sacred Sight series and will become the next move in this mission that's come upon us.

KRG (Kahuna research group) is a non-profit group started by Zach R...

07/25/2026

America's 50th state has a "little" mystery that's persisted since ancient times; did an ancient race of tiny people called Menehune really exist?

America's 50th state has a "little" mystery that's persisted since ...

07/24/2026

Along the rugged lava coastline of South Kona, just south of Keauhou Bay on Hawaiʻi Island, lies one of the most historically significant—and sacred—places in the Hawaiian Islands: the Kuamoʻo Burial Grounds, also known as the Lekeleke Burial Grounds.

To many passing motorists traveling along Aliʻi Drive toward Keauhou, the site appears unassuming—a series of low lava rock walls overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Yet beneath these weathered stone platforms rest hundreds of Hawaiian warriors who perished during one of the defining moments in Hawaiian history: the Battle of Kuamoʻo, fought in December 1819.

The battle was far more than a military conflict. It represented the final struggle between two competing visions of Hawaiʻi: one rooted in the ancient religious and political traditions that had governed the islands for centuries, and another embracing sweeping cultural and governmental change. Historians often regard the Battle of Kuamoʻo as the event that marked the end of the traditional Hawaiian religious system and ushered in a new era in Hawaiian history.

Read the full story: https://www.kahunaresearchgroup.org/research/kuamoo-burial-grounds-the-battle-that-ended-ancient-hawaii

by Zach Parker Director & C.L.P.I. - Kahuna Research Group Learn more about our research into the Kuamo'o Burial Grounds on the Burials & Battlegrounds experience . Along the rugged lava coastline of...

07/17/2026

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.

https://www.kahunaresearchgroup.org/research/the-sky-above-hawaii-exploring-the-recent-uptick-in-ufo-sightings

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...

02/05/2026

Hauʻoli Pepeluali Kākou! Happy February to all!

Here is a list of our cultural demonstrations for the month of February:

Mondays:
ʻUlana ʻIeʻie (ʻIe ʻie style basketry)- Pōmai Brown, Feb. 2, 9, 16 & 23, in the smaller hale (next to the Hālau), 8:45am-1:45pm

Tuesdays:
Hana Lei (Lei making)- Melanie Moses, Feb. 3, 10, 17 & 24, in the Hālau (stop 16), 9am-2pm
Lomilomi (Hawaiian massage & healing)- Momi Nobriga, Feb. 10 & 24, in the smaller hale (next to the Hālau) 9am-2pm

Wednesdays:
ʻOhe Kapala (bamboo-stamping)-Chantal Chung, Feb. 4, 11, 18 & 25, in the Hālau (stop 16), 9am-2pm
ʻUlana Launiu (coconut frond weaving)- Keiki San Filippo, Feb. 11, 18 & 25, in the Visitor Center Breezeway, 9am-2pm
ʻUlana ʻIeʻie (ʻIeʻie style basketry)- Melba Medeiros, Feb. 18 & 25, in the smaller hale (next to the Hālau), 9am-2pm

Fridays:
ʻUlana Launiu (coconut frond weaving)- Keiki San Filippo, Feb. 6 & 20, in the Hālau (stop 16), 9am-2pm

Mahalo to Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association and Friends of Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park for sponsoring these programs!

NPS Photo / PUHO

01/20/2026

The ukulele arrived in Hawaiʻi in the late 1800s and quickly became a beloved part of island life. With its cheerful sound, it was warmly received by locals and supported by Hawaiian royalty, becoming an integral part of music, hula, and community gatherings. Today, the ukulele remains a symbol of aloha, carrying the spirit of Hawaii through every strum.