12 Haunted Places in Hawaii That Are Actually Terrifying (2023)

Are you heading to Hawaii in October or just want to try to see some ghosts in Hawaii? Keep scrolling to find out the most haunted places in Hawaii worth checking out.

This list of the spookiest haunted places in Hawaii was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung* and* contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.

TL;DR

Hawaii isn’t just beaches and shave ice. From a hotel where staff still talk about blue orbs floating through the halls to a cliffside lookout tied to one of the bloodiest battles in Hawaiian history, these 12 spots have real, documented history behind the goosebumps. I dug through news archives, museum records, and firsthand accounts to separate what’s actually backed up from what’s just a fun campfire story, so you can decide for yourself whether you believe in ghosts by the end of this.

Hawaii welcomed 9,689,113 visitors in 2024, and I’d bet almost none of them left with these stories on their radar. That’s exactly why I wanted to write this.

Is Hawaii Actually Haunted, or Is This Just a Tourist Gimmick?

I’ve spent over 40 trips exploring every corner of these islands as a Certified Hawaii Destination Expert, and here’s what surprised me when I started digging into this post: Hawaii’s “haunted” reputation wasn’t manufactured for tourists.

It comes from Hawaiian oral tradition passed down for generations, tangled up with some very real, very documented history: a queen imprisoned in her own palace, a woman murdered on a road you can still drive today.

This post is a mix of Hawaiian legend, verified history, and firsthand accounts from staff and residents who work at these places year-round, and I’ve noted where a story is folklore versus where it’s backed by historical record.

I personally think that distinction makes the stories more interesting, not less.

If you’re planning a Hawaii trip around Halloween, or you’re just the kind of traveler who wants the full picture, pretty stuff and eerie stuff both, keep reading.

Quick Look: Haunted Places in Hawaii at a Glance

Haunted Spot	Island	What You’re Dealing With	Can You Actually Visit?
Prince Waikiki	Oahu	Orbs of light, a prince’s ghost	Yes, it’s a working hotel
Daniel K. Inouye Airport	Oahu	The “Lady in Waiting”	Yes, you’ll probably fly through it
‘Iolani Palace	Oahu	Queen Lili’uokalani’s spirit	Yes, guided tours daily
Kawaiaha’o Church	Oahu	Night Marchers, old graveyard	Yes, free to visit
Aloha Tower	Oahu	WWII sailor ghosts	Yes, open to the public
Nu’uanu Pali Lookout	Oahu	Fallen warriors, Night Marchers	Yes, small entry fee
Morgan’s Corner	Oahu	A real 1948 murder site	Yes, it’s a public road
Hawaii’s Plantation Village	Oahu	Immigrant plantation spirits	Yes, guided tours only
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum	Oahu	WWII hangar hauntings	Yes, open daily
Hilton Hawaiian Village	Oahu	The Lady in Red	Yes, it’s a working resort
‘Iao Theater	Maui	Emma, a 1920s flapper ghost	Yes, during shows or tours
Volcano House	Big Island	Pele lore, an old woman’s apparition	Yes, it’s a working hotel
Saddle Road	Big Island	Unexplained highway phenomena	Yes, it’s a state highway
Wailua	Kauai	Sacred heiau, Night Marchers	Yes, several public sites

Now let’s get into the details on each one, island by island.

Oahu’s Haunted Places

Oahu has more documented ghost stories than any other island, probably because it’s been the political and population center of Hawaii for so long. Plantation labor, a monarchy overthrow, a surprise attack that pulled the US into World War II.

That’s a lot of history packed into one island, and history like that tends to leave a mark.

What’s the Story Behind Prince Waikiki’s Ghost?

Staff at Prince Waikiki (you might still see it listed under its old name, Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki, from before its renovation and rebrand) have described bright blue orbs of light moving through hallways and rooms, plus disembodied voices speaking Hawaiian in otherwise empty corridors.

It’s one of the more well-documented haunted hotel reputations in the state.

The ghost most associated with the property is believed to be Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole, a beloved Hawaiian royal and territorial delegate to Congress.

Guests have reported riding the elevator with a polite, well-dressed Hawaiian man with a mustache who chats for a moment and then simply isn’t there when the doors open.

I haven’t stayed here myself, so I can’t tell you whether the orbs show up on request.

But if you’re the type who wants a little extra thrill with your oceanfront view, keep it in mind when you’re booking.

And if you’d rather skip the guesswork on where to stay entirely, that’s exactly the kind of thing I sort out with people in a one-on-one Hawaii travel consultation.

Is the Honolulu Airport Really Haunted?

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport has landed on more than one “most haunted airports in America” list, and the story has stuck around for decades.

Airport staff and travelers have reported a woman, sometimes called “the Lady in Waiting,” standing near the gates late at night, staring out at the runway like she’s watching for a flight that never lands.

Witnesses say she walks through areas that are normally off-limits and vanishes before anyone can get close.

Nobody’s ever pinned down who she is, or who she’s waiting for, which somehow makes it creepier than if there were a tidy explanation.

If you’re flying in for a Big Island trip, this is a good excuse to distract the kids during a layover with a spooky story instead of another round of “are we there yet.”

Why Is ‘Iolani Palace Considered Haunted?

This one isn’t folklore, it’s documented history with a genuinely tragic backstory. King Kalakaua built ‘Iolani Palace in 1882, and it’s still the only official royal residence on American soil.

His sister, Queen Lili’uokalani, was imprisoned in an upstairs bedroom of her own palace for nearly eight months in 1895, following the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Find out the coolest Hawaii landmarks worth seeing with tips from top Hawaii blog Hawaii Travel with Kids! Image of Iolani Palace

I’ve toured ‘Iolani Palace a few times now, most recently with my youngest son, and that imprisonment room gets me every single time.

There’s a heaviness in there that’s hard to explain, even setting ghosts aside completely.

Staff and visitors have reported the same uneasy feeling for years, cold spots, a weight in the air, the sense that someone’s still in the room with you.

Whatever you believe, I’d put this on your Oahu itinerary even if you couldn’t care less about hauntings, because it’s one of the most important history lessons on the island, and kids old enough to sit through a guided tour genuinely remember it.

My Oahu travel guide for families has more on working it into a day of sightseeing.

What Happens at Kawaiaha’o Church at Night?

Built between 1836 and 1842 out of roughly 14,000 coral blocks (each one hauled up from the reef and weighing close to a thousand pounds), Kawaiaha’o Church is sometimes called the Westminster Abbey of Hawaii.

Kawaiahao Church is one of the most haunted places in Hawaii because the graveyard is frequently visited by Night Marchers. Image of the exterior of the Kawaiaha'o Church in Honolulu.

During the day, it’s just a beautiful, historic church. According to residents and ghost tour guides, night is a different story: shadowy figures reportedly move through the halls, and the adjoining graveyard sits along one of the routes where Night Marchers are said to travel.

Night Marchers, if you haven’t heard of them, are one of the best-known pieces of Hawaiian folklore, and I’ll explain the tradition properly a bit further down instead of skimming past it here.

Are There Really Ghosts at Aloha Tower?

Aloha Tower has watched over Honolulu Harbor since 1926, including the years when ships loaded with sailors headed out to the Pacific theater during World War II, some of whom never came back.

The Aloha Tower is one of the most haunted places in Hawaii because there are ghosts of WWII sailors who live here. Image of a tall tower in Hawaii. — Aloha Tower in Honolulu.

Multiple ghost stories are tied to the tower, but the most repeated one involves a sailor, believed to be a Pearl Harbor casualty, seen standing at the top gazing out toward the water like he’s still waiting for his ship.

It’s a quick, free stop if you’re already down at the harbor, and the view alone is worth it even if you skip the ghost angle entirely.

What’s the Real Story Behind the Pali Lookout Ghosts?

This is essential Hawaii history, ghosts aside.

In 1795, King Kamehameha I fought one of the bloodiest battles in Hawaiian history at this exact spot, forcing hundreds of warriors from Maui off the cliff edge as he unified the islands under his rule.

The Pali Lookout is one of the most haunted places in Hawaii because of hundreds of Hawaiian warriors who died here. Image of the view of the windward coastline of Oahu, Hawaii, from the Nuuanu Pali Lookout in the mountains above Honolulu

Residents say the spirits of those fallen warriors are part of the Night Marcher legend on this side of the island.

There’s also a newer, sadder legend about a young woman who died near the lookout after a breakup and is said to call out the names of unfaithful men.

I’ll be upfront that this version is much harder to verify than the historical battle, so hold it a little more loosely.

Either way, the views from the lookout are stunning on their own. Just know there’s some heavy history under your feet.

Is Morgan’s Corner Actually Haunted, or Just an Urban Legend?

Here’s where I want to slow down, because this is a great example of how these stories evolve.

The popular campfire version of Morgan’s Corner involves a couple parked under a tree whose car won’t start, a boyfriend who goes for help and never comes back, and a gruesome discovery the next morning.

A Honolulu Magazine writer dug into that specific story and found it doesn’t check out. It doesn’t match any documented crime in the Hawaii State Archives.

What is real: in 1948, a widow named Therese Wilder was murdered at her home near this stretch of Nu’uanu Pali Road by two escaped prisoners, and the case shocked Honolulu at the time.

Somewhere along the way, her tragedy and an unrelated urban legend got tangled together into the story people tell today.

I think that’s a better takeaway than the scary campfire version: even ghost stories leave a paper trail if you’re willing to look for it.

What’s the Deal With Hawaii’s Plantation Village?

This living history museum in Waipahu recreates life in Hawaii’s sugar plantation camps, where immigrants from Japan, China, the Philippines, Portugal, Korea, and beyond lived and worked, often under brutal conditions.

Staff have described unexplained activity in a noticeable number of buildings on the property, enough that some employees prefer not to work certain areas alone.

Given the hardship those workers lived through, it doesn’t surprise me that some of that history feels like it’s still hanging around.

This is also a seriously underrated stop for understanding modern Hawaii’s cultural roots, ghosts or no ghosts.

Why Was the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Featured on Ghost Hunters?

We’ve been to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum more times than I can count. It’s a genuine family favorite, and every time we walk through those hangars, I think about how many people lost their lives there on December 7, 1941.

Given that, it’s not hard for me to believe there are still a few souls lingering around.

Housed in Hangars 37 and 79, two structures that survived the actual attack and still show bullet holes in the glass, the museum was featured on the SyFy show Ghost Hunters back in 2011, when the TAPS team investigated unexplained footsteps, strange sounds, and lights turning on and off with nobody around.

Staff have reported similar things happening well before and after the cameras showed up.

Who Is the Lady in Red at Hilton Hawaiian Village?

One of Waikiki’s most famous ghost stories belongs to Hilton Hawaiian Village, where guests and staff have reported a woman in a red dress wandering the hallways and beach at night before disappearing.

Some tie her to Madame Pele, the volcano goddess, said to sometimes appear as a beautiful woman in red before vanishing without a trace.

Pele or not, staff at the resort have talked about these sightings for years, and it’s become part of the property’s identity almost as much as the lagoon or the luau.

Maui’s Most Haunted Spot

What’s the Ghost Story Behind ‘Iao Theater?

Built in 1928 as a movie house and vaudeville theater in Wailuku, ‘Iao Theater is home to one of Maui’s most beloved ghost stories: a spirit residents have nicknamed “Emma,” believed to be a 1920s-era actress or flapper who loved the place so much she never left.

Actors and crew have described seeing her sitting in the audience during rehearsals or standing on stage after hours, and lights flickering and equipment acting up until someone acknowledges her.

The theater even got its own SyFy channel segment on the haunting back in 2012, and theater staff and residents still talk about “Emma” with real affection rather than fear.

If you’re spending a day in Wailuku, check the theater’s event calendar before you go, you might land an actual show to watch, Emma included, free of charge.

Planning a longer Maui trip? My Maui travel guide for families covers where to stay and what to prioritize with kids in tow, and my free 7-day Maui planning email course walks you through the whole process day by day.

Big Island’s Haunted Places

Is Volcano House Hotel Haunted?

Perched on the rim of Kilauea inside Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Volcano House has hosted guests since the 1800s, including presidents like Eisenhower, Truman, and Kennedy.

Staff and guests have described an elderly woman’s apparition on the property, along with a ghostly white dog that appears briefly on the entrance road before disappearing.

Now, I’ve stayed here a few times with my kids and none of us have experienced this ourselves.

This hotel sits inside the domain of Madame Pele herself, so some of the strangest stories here get tied back to her, though the more documented reports are the human apparitions rather than anything volcanic.

As someone who’s danced hula for over 20 years and spent a lot of time studying Hawaiian cultural traditions, I’ll just gently ask you to be respectful here.

This isn’t Pele as a costume or a punchline. She’s a deeply important figure in Hawaiian belief, and residents take that seriously.

If you want the full experience, book a room and watch the crater at night. Even without a single ghost sighting, it’s one of the most memorable overnight stays in the state.

What Happens on Saddle Road at Night?

The roughly 80-mile stretch connecting Hilo and Kona, officially the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, has a long reputation among residents for strange happenings after dark: car lights that flicker or die without explanation, tapping sounds on car roofs with nobody around, and an overall unwelcome feeling that’s kept it in the ghost story rotation for years.

Some of that reputation probably just comes from the terrain.

It’s dark, foggy, high-elevation, and cell service disappears for long stretches, exactly the kind of setting that breeds this sort of story.

Either way, if you’re driving it after sunset, keep your gas tank full and don’t stop for hitchhikers. That’s good advice with or without ghosts involved.

Renting a car for your Big Island trip? I use and recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental for the best rates across the islands, no coupon code needed.

My Big Island travel guide for families has my full breakdown of where to stay based on which side of the island you’re exploring.

Kauai’s Haunted Places

What’s the Night Marcher Legend at Wailua?

Wailua, on Kauai’s east side, was once one of the most sacred areas in all of Hawaii, home to several heiau (ancient temples) and considered a royal birthplace site for chiefs.

It’s also one of the most commonly cited Night Marcher routes on the island, with residents describing sightings along the river and near the coast, including at Polihale on the west side.

This area holds real spiritual significance to Native Hawaiians, so I’d treat it less like a haunted attraction and more like the sacred site it is. Visit with curiosity and respect, not just for the scare factor.

My Kauai travel guide for families has more on exploring this side of the island the right way, and if you’re just getting started planning, my free 7-day Kauai email course is a good next step.

What Do Night Marchers Actually Mean in Hawaiian Culture?

Since I’ve mentioned them so many times above, they deserve the real explanation instead of just the scary-story version.

In Hawaiian tradition, Night Marchers, or huaka’i po, are believed to be the spirits of ancient warriors or chiefs who continue to march along old trails at night, sometimes with drums and torches.

Tradition holds that if you encounter them, you lie face down and avoid eye contact out of respect, rather than run.

This isn’t a tourist legend invented for haunted house season.

It’s a real part of Hawaiian belief that residents take seriously, which is why I wanted to give it proper context here instead of listing it as a jump-scare.

Book a Ghost Tour While You’re Here

If reading about this stuff has you wanting the guided, in-person version, a few tour companies run legitimate ghost walks across the islands:

Honolulu Haunts and Hauntings Ghost Tour – A 1-hour lantern-lit evening walk past Iolani Palace, the Hawaii Supreme Court, and other downtown Honolulu landmarks, mixing documented ghost stories with real Hawaiian history (from $26).
Waikiki Night Marchers Ghost Tour – A 90-minute Kapiʻolani Park tour led by Native Hawaiian storyteller Lopaka Kapanui focused on the legend of the Night Marchers and authentic Hawaiian spiritual lore (voted #1 ghost tour in the US three years running, 2023–2025).
Ghosts of Old Honolulu Walking Tour – A 90-minute downtown Honolulu tour, also with Lopaka Kapanui, that turns guests into paranormal investigators (phones out for “evidence”) at sites like the Supreme Court building and the Royal Palace grounds (4.7★, 55 reviews).
Waikiki Torches and Terrors Ghost Tour – A 1-hour, 8pm walk to Waikiki’s most-haunted spots (Duke Kahanamoku statue, St. Augustine by the Sea) with tales of Night Marchers and other supernatural beings, capped at 35 guests (from $26).
Kailua-Kona Haunted History Walking Ghost Tour – A 2-hour, 5:30pm walk through historic Kona (Huliheʻe Palace, Mokuaikaua Church, Kailua Pier) that leans more cultural-history than scary, with reviewers calling it “more historical than ghostly” ($47.20).
Kona Haunted Hele Ghost Tour – A 1.5–2 hour small-group (max 15) evening tour from Kona Inn to Kailua Pier that uses EMF detectors alongside stories of Hawaiian kings, gods, and heiau at Huliheʻe Palace and Ahuena Heiau.

I haven’t taken any of these tours myself, so treat this as a starting point for your own research, not a personal endorsement. Check current reviews and availability before booking.

Frequently Asked Questions About Haunted Places in Hawaii

What is the most haunted island in Hawaii?

Oahu, hands down. It’s been Hawaii’s population and political center for over a century, and between the monarchy overthrow, the plantation era, and World War II, there’s just more layered history there than anywhere else in the state.

Do residents actually believe in Night Marchers?

A lot of them do, or at least won’t joke about it casually. It’s a genuine part of Hawaiian cultural belief passed down for generations, not something dreamed up for tourists.

Is it disrespectful to visit haunted places in Hawaii just for the scare factor?

At some sites, yes. Places tied to Native Hawaiian sacred ground or real tragedies, like Wailua or ‘Iolani Palace, deserve genuine respect, not a spooky selfie. Historic hotels and museums are generally more relaxed about it.

Do they celebrate Halloween in Hawaii?

Yes, and it’s a bigger deal than most visitors expect. Plenty of towns host costume parades and parties, and residents take trick-or-treating seriously.

Is October a good time to visit Hawaii?

It can be a solid value window, since it typically falls outside the busiest summer and winter holiday travel periods. Prices shift year to year, so compare current rates for your specific dates rather than assuming.

Are any of these haunted places dangerous to visit?

No. Every location on this list is a public site, museum, hotel, or public road. None of them require trespassing or ignoring posted signage, and that’s a hard line for me regardless of how good the ghost story is.

What’s a Hawaiian heiau?

A heiau is a traditional Hawaiian temple or sacred site, often used for religious ceremonies, and many are still considered sacred today. Treat one the way you’d treat any place of worship.

So, Do I Believe in Ghosts After All This?

Honestly? I’m still not sure. But I don’t think that’s really the point of this post.

Hawaii’s history is a lot deeper and heavier than the postcard version, and these stories, whether or not you believe a word of them, are one more way into understanding this place beyond the beach.

If you’re building your own Hawaii itinerary and want help making sure you’re not missing the good stuff, spooky or otherwise, that’s what I do in my Hawaii travel consultations, and you can hear me talk through Hawaii travel planning every week on my podcast, Hawaii Travel Made Easy.

Whichever island you’re headed to, I’ve got a guide for it: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island, or if you’re island-hopping, my island-hopping guide will save you a headache.

Safe travels, and maybe leave a light on.