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Wiki Draft #2 Ghosts in Polynesian Culture
In Polynesian culture, it is believed that humans cannot see the souls that have already crossed over into the other world, though it was believed that some extraordinary individuals with certain abilities could see them. However, the souls that do not cross over are left in the real world with their original appearance. Humans are able to see these roaming spirits mostly at night and sometimes during the day. (Ghost Spirit Section)

Humans can get sick from spirits in Polynesian culture. This illness can be caused by sorcery and cured by mystical means seems to have been a common Polynesian belief. The Samoans thought that the souls of the dead could return to the land of the living by night and cause disease and death by entering the bodies of either their friends or their enemies. To cure illness, the Samoan relied not on medicine but exorcism. (Influences)

The underworld was considered to be the place where the souls of common people went. Polynesians viewed the underworld as a realm of dusk, shadows and a barren wasteland without water, grass, flowers or trees. (possibly new section? Underworld/Ghost Spirits) There are many ways that the souls of the dead can cross over into the other world. Probably the most generally known is the idea that the souls climb down a large tree to the sea and from there make their way to the underworld. It is known for this to occur in New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands, where the souls of the dead lowered themselves down a giant pohutukawa(Type of tree). (Under World/Ghost Spirit)