According to the police, a text message circulating in Honolulu that warns of a gang-related shooting at Wal-Mart is a hoax.

Since last night, police have been receiving “quite a bit” of phone calls regarding the message that tells recipients to stay away from Wal-Mart because a gang will be targeting women as part of an initiation.

“HPD has received many calls regarding an e-mail that is circulating,” said Michelle Yu, Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman. “According to snopes.com , this is an urban legend that has been around since 2005.

The messages can be found at www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/walmart.asp

One text message that was received in Honolulu today reads:

“Don’t go to walmart today, supposed gang initiation to shoot random people ‘women’ is the target.”

The text message related that the three women would be killed at Wal-Mart for gang initiation in Delaware. It urged women to stay away! Did you get it? If you did, your nerves probably shot through the roof.

But, no worries. It’s a hoax, according to Delaware State Police.

The Delaware State Police was inundated with calls regarding the text has been circulating throughout Central and Southern Delaware and portions of Maryland. This is a legend, which has hit states all over the country and has been circulating since 2005.

Concerned residents in North Texas were calling their local police department sand media outlets about the same text message.

But Dallas police said the rumors that gang initiates are required to kill or assault women in the parking lot are just an urban legend.

The rumor actually has its roots in an e-mail hoax that has been floating around for several years. It originated in 2005 in the Memphis area, according to Snopes.com, a Web site on urban legends.

E-mails circulated, warning of deadly gang initiations involving the killing of women and children who were shopping at Walmart.