Spirits of the Islands: 16 Most Haunted Places in Hawaii
The most haunted places in Hawaii are proof that, yes, paradise can also be haunted.
The state’s lush landscapes and beautiful beaches may seem like a tropical dream, but beneath the surface lies stories of murder, demonic forces, and centuries-old dark legends.
By the end of this post, you’ll discover the most haunted places in Hawaii—and who knows, you might find the next spot to add to your ghost-hunting list!
These are the 16 most haunted places in Hawaii:
Pearl Harbor
Oahu
At the top of the list of the most haunted places in Hawaii is Pearl Harbor, an American tragedy.
On December 7, 1941, the surprise attack by Japanese forces took thousands of lives. Visitors have overwhelming feelings of sadness and fear as they explore the USS Arizona Memorial.
The ghosts of soldiers have been spotted, pacing the docks of the sunken battleship, distressed whispers, and the explosions in the distance. The island’s airstrip is also haunted, with visitors feeling a sudden wave of panic or seeing a strange glowing mist around the area.
Charley: The most well-known ghost is called Charley. He’s so common that officers often brush off spooky events by saying, “That’s just Charley.” Things like water faucets turning on by themselves, radios switching stations, and heavy doors swinging open have all been blamed on Charley, who’s also heard jangling keys and stomping around in heavy boots.
The Sad Face: In 2011, an Australian family captured a creepy image in the water near the USS Arizona. Do you see the sad face in the oil above the ship’s wreckage?
Interesting to Note
Pearl Harbor was the deadliest attack on American territory up to that point. This attack led directly to the United States’ entry into the Second World War.
Honolulu Airport
Oahu
Among the surprising locations in the most haunted places in Hawaii, Honolulu Airport is home to the famous ghost known as the Lady in Waiting.
This spectral woman, often seen dressed in white, haunts the gates and restricted areas of the airport. According to legend, she fell in love with a man who promised to marry her but never returned from his flight.
Devastated, she committed suicide, and now she waits for him to come back. Witnesses describe her staring out at the runway or drifting through empty corridors, vanishing as quickly as she appears.
Late-night travelers and airport staff have reported everything from toilets flushing on their own to the presence of a “choking ghost” that sits on their chest as they sleep.
Wahiawa Botanical Garden
Oahu
In the lush heart of Oahu, the Wahiawa Botanical Garden hides a sinister legend.
Locals warn of the Green Lady, a grotesque apparition said to roam the dense foliage. Descriptions of her vary from a seaweed-covered ghoul to a creature with jagged teeth and green, scaly skin.
Many believe she haunts these gardens in search of her lost child. Visitors have felt an oppressive presence while hiking, especially near the bridges where, according to legend, those who cross alone may never return.
She is said to smell of rotting plant material, so if you catch a whiff while on a walk, watch out!
Interesting to Note
The Green Lady is also said to hang around the Wahiawa Gulch area and the Wahiawa Elementary School area.
Lao Theatre
Wailuku
Built in 1928, the Lao Theatre in Wailuku isn’t just famous for its performances; it’s renowned as one of the most haunted places in Hawaii.
The theater’s most famous spirit is a flapper-era ghost affectionately called “Emma.” She is seen in the audience or wandering the stage.
Emma’s presence is typically playful, though her sudden appearances are still creepy.
But Emma isn’t alone.
Visitors and staff have reported strange encounters with shadowy figures lurking in the basement, unexplained cold spots, and lights flickering with no cause.
Hilton Hawaiian Village
Oahu
Moving from haunted theaters to haunted hotels, beneath the luxury and beauty of the Hilton Hawaiian Village lies a chilling legend.
The Lady in Red thought to be the volcano goddess Pele in disguise, haunts the halls and beaches of this grand resort.
Witnesses report seeing her elegant figure wandering the corridors at night or near the shore.
Fun Fact: Elvis Presley liked to stay in the Ali’i Presidential during his many visits to Hawaii. Scenes from his famous Blue Hawaii movie were filmed at the Hilton.
Highway 1
Oahu
As we continue through Oahu, Highway 1 may appear to be just another beautiful roadway, but it’s also one of the most haunted places in Hawaii.
The highway cuts through the Koolau Mountains, a place where many ancient Hawaiian warriors met violent ends in battle. Disturbing their ancient burial sites during the road’s development is believed to have unleashed their restless spirits.
During its construction, workers reported creepy encounters with ghosts and hearing the cries of ancient Hawaiian warriors. Today, drivers feel uneasy, especially when passing through certain tunnels.
Nu’uanu Pali Highway
Oahu
The Nu’uanu Pali Highway is another road that winds through the Ko’olau Mountains that is haunted. It’s not just a scenic drive but a road steeped in Hawaiian supernatural lore.
Travelers are warned not to transport pork across the highway, as it’s believed to invoke the wrath of the demigod Kamapua’a, causing cars to mysteriously stall.
Legend says that if you encounter the ghostly woman and her dog along this route, you must feed the dog pork to continue your journey.
Hickam Air Force Base
Oahu
As with most haunted places in Hawaii, this one, too, is haunted by soldiers.
Hickam Air Force Base, bombed during the Pearl Harbor attack, remains haunted. The spirits of fallen soldiers reportedly roam the base, with visitors hearing explosions and soldiers’ cries. One well-known spirit, Charley, is a prankster, often switching radio stations and throwing objects around.
Oahu Community Correctional Facility
Oahu
From military bases to prisons, The Oahu Community Correctional Facility, steeped in death, is now one of the most haunted places in Hawaii.
Forty-seven men were hung here. Offices were built directly on top of the gallows, which was a confirmed recipe for hauntings.
The correctional officers hear the unnerving rattle of cell doors and say that certain rooms are impossible to sleep in.
Kaimuki House
Honolulu
Tucked away on the corner of 8th and Harding in Honolulu, Kaimuki House holds one of the island’s darkest secrets.
The Kasha, Demon Cat
The Kaimuki home is said to be haunted by a Kasha, a man-eating demon from Japanese folklore. In ancient Japan, “Kasha” translates to “Fire cart.”
According to Japanese folklore, these creatures are a type of Bake-Neko, disguised as regular house cats or strays living among humans. Their true form is revealed at funerals, where they snatch corpses and drag them to hell. A Kasha can reanimate a body as a puppet or eat it.
1942: Police Called to Chase Ghost from Kaimuki
On August 13, 1942, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin published a story about a haunting that was blamed on a demon. Police Sergeant Moseley Cummins and Patrolman Robert Anseth responded to a call at 1:25 a.m. and found 3 children sitting on their couch, terrified. Their mother, also screaming, was waving ti leaves and sprinkling Hawaiian salt to ward off the spirits.
According to the mother, her son had noticed the scent of a ghost around in their Kaimuki home. Angry at being discovered, the spirits allegedly attacked the boy and his sisters, repeatedly trying to strangle them.
Over the years, multiple families have fled the house, claiming to have been physically assaulted by an invisible force.
Hawaii Plantation Village
Waipahu
Hawaii Plantation Village in Waipahu is an interesting museum with a macabre past.
This open-air museum, which tells the story of plantation workers from the past, is also one of the most haunted places in Hawaii. Nearly half of its 25 historic homes are said to be filled with restless spirits.
At the Puerto Rican house, a Japanese doll has been found mysteriously outside of its case, while a worker said a choking ghost from the Okinawan home followed him home. Visitors and staff have reported manifestations, strange noises, and pots and pans clattering on their own.
During the village’s haunted house held there each October, things get so creepy that actors have quit out of sheer fear. Some refuse to work alone in the houses.
Kaneana Cave
Waialua
Venturing further into legends, Kaneana Cave, also known as Makua Cave, is one of the most haunted places in Hawaii.
According to local folklore, the cave was once home to Kamohoali’i, a shape-shifting shark god, and his son, Nanaue, who developed a taste for human flesh. Nanaue would lure unsuspecting victims into the cave and devour them, leaving their souls trapped in the cave.
In ancient times, the Hawaiian people were forbidden from entering the cave, fearful of the shark man. Visitors today report strange shadows and eerie feelings within the cave, with many believing it serves as a gateway to the underworld.
Waikiki Prince Hotel
Oahu
The Waikiki Prince Hotel offers stunning views of paradise, but it hides a haunting reputation, making it one of the most haunted places in Hawaii.
The Waikiki Prince Hotel opened in 1953, and over the years, employees have shared stories of strange events.
The Blue Orbs: Many have reported seeing bright, glowing lights moving through the rooms, especially on the top floors. These lights, often described as blue orbs, seem to appear late at night before disappearing. Most employees believe the orbs are harmless, and the more experienced ones have grown used to them.
Native Whispers: Some employees have heard eerie whispering in empty rooms and hallways, with voices that seem to be speaking in Native Hawaiian.
Luggage Loss: Luggage tends to disappear from bellhop carts, only to reappear hours later in unusual places like the ballroom, kitchen, or even the wrong guest rooms. It’s become so common that bellhops now warn new employees about it.
Guests have noticed this too, with many reporting that their belongings have mysteriously moved or gone missing, only to be found later in places they swear they didn’t leave them.
The Eternal Tourist: Some have seen the ghosts of tourists by the pool after hours, including the spirit of a man in a red and white Hawaiian shirt.
The Waikiki Prince: There are also stories of the Waikiki Prince himself, a sophisticated Hawaiian man with a mustache, who has been spotted in the lobby wearing an old-fashioned suit and hat. He usually disappears before anyone can get a closer look. Some guests have ridden in the elevator with him, describing him as polite and well-spoken, but never seeing him actually leave the elevator.
Wailua
Kauai
On the island of Kauai, the quiet beauty of Wailua on Kauai is overshadowed by its hauntings.
Locals speak of the ghosts of children who haunt the banks of the Wailua River, believed to be the spirits of those sacrificed to ancient gods.
Visitors have heard the cries of these restless souls at night, and some claim to have seen ghosts playing near the water.
Tied forever to this haunted river, these spirits are a haunting reminder of the darker side of Hawaii’s history.
Kaniakapupu Ruins
Oahu
High in the mountains of Oahu lies the Kaniakapupu Ruins, once the summer palace of King Kamehameha III, which is now one of the most haunted places in Hawaii.
King Kamehameha’s summer home was where the king would go to escape the hot summer months. The walls were made of stone and coral found in the surrounding reefs, which were melted down to hold the hose together.
At the Pali Lookout is where King Kamehameha and his brave warriors fought their final in an effort to unite the islands. The souls of wounded warriors still appear in the area.
Whether it’s to honor King Kamehameha or perhaps to ward off the Nightmarchers (see below), offerings are locals leave offerings at the site.
MacKenzie State Park
Pāhoa
Returning once more to Oahu’s haunted natural spots, one of the most notorious haunted places in Hawaii, MacKenzie State Park hosts many ghosts.
MacKenzie State Park was built by prison convicts in the 1850s, during Hawaii’s sugar plantation era, and the convicts were mostly laborers.
Many of them died due to the hot climate and lack of sanitary water. There are no records of where their bodies were buried, but it was mostly likely somewhere in the park.
Manifestations at McKenzie State Park:
- Convicted Ghosts: Park visitors have seen fully manifested ghosts of skin and unshaven men carrying pick axes and hand tools, especially at sunset.
- Camp Ghosts: Those who camp overnight have also reported seeing in the distance what looks like a large campfire with sounds of people cooking and talking. In daylight, no evidence of any campfire or large camping group can be found.
- Trail Ghosts: Visitors can hear footsteps following them on trails, only to find no one there.
- Lava Tubes: The park’s lava tubes echo with whispers and cries.
- Choking Ghosts: Some unlucky campers have awoken to invisible forces unzipping their tents or even choking them in their sleep.
Hawaiian Night Marchers
Among the most feared and respected spirits in Hawaiian folklore, the Night Marchers, or Hukai’po, are found at some of the most haunted places in Hawaii.
These ghostly warriors roam the islands on moonlit nights, forever doomed to march in processions.
Whether it’s the rhythmic beat of drums, the low hum of conch shells, or the flicker of torchlight, their presence is unmistakable.
The Night Marchers travel sacred paths—sites of ancient battles or burial grounds—escorting fallen comrades into the afterlife.
Seen floating just above the ground, these ethereal figures have been spotted at places like the Pali Lookout, Ka’a’awa Valley, and La Perouse Bay.
Crossing their path is considered dangerous—look them in the eye, and it’s said you’ll die. The only way to avoid their deadly gaze? Drop to the ground, stay silent, and wait for them to pass.
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