Kalaupapa, a secluded and picturesque peninsula surrounded by towering sea cliffs. It serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by those afflicted with leprosy in the past and yet it offers stunning natural beauty... and it’s own ghost stories.

There are dozens of Hawaiian legends about Kauai’s North Shore. Here, we share stories of menehune and mo’o at Ha’ena.

One of my favorite places to relax and unwind, and share spooky stories is a quiet town on the rainy side of the Big Island. It’s a charming little town that offers museums, art galleries, shops, restaurants... and ghosts.

The new Oahu prison was built in Iwilei, on marshy land at the end of a coral road surrounded by fish ponds. It was sometimes called the “Oʻahu Prison,” “King’s Prison,” “Kawa Prison” or, simply, “The Reef.” The gallows were built in the courtyard near an immense banyan tree.

It’s the site of the famous landmark, Kūka’emoku, also known as the ‘Iao Needle, and for hundreds of years, ali’i were laid to rest in secret caves along its steep walls. It’s also the site of the terrible battle commonly known as Kaua i Kepaniwai o ‘Iao, Battle at the Dammed Water of ‘Iao. People have reportedly seen ghosts and the legendary night marchers.

When the lieutenant’s family moved into their beachfront house at Barking Sands, they knew right away that something was wrong. In a 1985 article, the wife of a Navy lieutenant commander said that she would get a strange, cold feeling sometimes when walking down the hall. It was like an air conditioner, even though she didn’t have one.

In 1916, the front page of the Honolulu Star Bulletin featured a startling headline: “FIND OF BONES EXCITES PEOPLE ON WATERFRONT!” The discovery was made on a Wednesday afternoon near Pier 12, where workers unearthed what seemed to be a human thigh bone. But this was no ordinary bone—it measured a staggering 24 inches in length and 8 inches in diameter at its widest point.

In late March of 1905, crowds gathered at the edge of Halema‘uma‘u Crater, eager to witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of a volcanic eruption. The scene was set for nature’s fiery display, but what transpired that night was anything but ordinary.

In Japan, the Noppera-bo is a yokai, a supernatural being that resembles a human but is marked by its eerie absence of facial features. Known for startling the living, these faceless apparitions are typically benign, though their appearance is deeply unsettling. Legends often describe the Noppera-bo as initially appearing as an ordinary person before their facial features vanish, leaving only a blank, featureless expanse where their face should be. This ghostly presence has reportedly been spotted in several places across Hawai‘i, including the Waiakea Villas in Hilo, an intermediate school in Kailua, and the Moanalua school campus. One of the most notorious sightings occurred in May 1959 at a school in Palolo, and of course, at the Waialae Drive-in.

Iolani Palace stands as the only royal palace in the United States, a symbol of Hawaii’s regal history and grandeur. But beneath its elegant exterior, the palace has been the backdrop for a chilling tale of ghostly encounters.

The first prison on Oahu was at Fort Kekuanohu... also known as Fort Honolulu or “The Old Fort.” This is where Fort Street gets its name. While the Old Fort no longer stands, people are said to have an uneasy feeling when standing where the old gate used to be -- at Walker Park at the foot of Fort Street.

Downtown Honolulu is a hotspot for spiritual and psychic energy. From ancient burial sites to modern office buildings, one might be hard-pressed to find one spot in the downtown area that isn’t haunted. Follow our “Hawaii’s Most Haunted” posts to learn more about hauntings in Honolulu and all around Hawaii.

In 1968, in their new home in Hawaii Kai, a family described an encounter with a ghost they called “Bernard.” The house was only five years old and the neighborhood was brand new, so there weren’t any previous tenants. However, Bernard made his first appearance to the family’s 17-year-old daughter, who was a senior at Kalani High School.

In 1901, a woman came forward to say that she dreamt of an old kahuna who died. She said that in her dream, he told her that he did not come to his death naturally. In the dream, Joe told the woman that he was hit in the back of the head by a Japanese man, and described the club that was used.

Stories of the “Woman in White” can be heard around the world in almost every culture. Kahuna nui Emma deFries was the great-great granddaughter of Keali‘iopunui and Hewahewa, the Kahuna nui of Kamehameha I. In 1971, she shared a story with the newspaper about her grandpa’s ghostly encounter with a woman in white.

It is perhaps one of the most well-known urban legends of hawaii. Its story has spanned decades. Every generation, the hauntings at this place resurface and become an urban legend all over again. A 1942 article, a 1972 editorial, and a 1994 book makes one question whether the Kasha is real. Let’s check it out…

The oral traditions of the much-feared night marchers have survived countless years by being passed down from mouth to ear and then by the learned art of writing and documentation. Their stories have spread through hushed whispers during late-night storytelling around the dinner table. Their procession has been witnessed by Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians from different walks of life.

Headed towards the Southern shore, we take the scenic route through the famous Tree Tunnel on Maluhia Road. Aptly named, the Tree Tunnel is made up of hundreds of fragrant, century-old eucalyptus trees planted along nearly a mile of roadway whose branches seem to reach across the road creating a beautiful tunnel of shade and foliage. Many late-night travelers claim that the Tree Tunnel is haunted.

Many people talk about the hauntings at Morgan's Corner but forget about the death, suicide, and murder just up the road at the original "death curve" at Judd Trail and Jackass Ginger Pond.

At 1442 Emma Street, now within the location of Kamamalu Park, stood a house that was reportedly haunted. Do you think the ghost now roams the playground?