On the corner of Richards and Merchant Streets, this building was at first just called, “the Federal building” as it housed the US Post Office, Customhouse, and Courthouse. Today, its official name is the King David Kalakaua building. Most of us just refer to it as “the downtown post office.”

Assistant Superintendent of Mail, Benedict Westkaemper, was described by his employees as particularly cranky when it came to the subject of supplies. He was said to have guarded the government’s pencils and paper with a zealousness that bordered on freakishness.

However, his boss, Honolulu Postmaster DH MacAdam, said that Westkaemper’s work record from the post office at El Centro, California was exceptionally good and it was through MacAdam’s recommendation that Westkaemper was transferred to the postal service in Honolulu in 1921.

Originally from Minnesota, the man left his brothers and sisters to move out west to California after his stint in the military. Westakaemper had been in the service of the post office since 1912. Described as a diligent employee, he worked his way up from Registry Officer to Superintendent of Mail in just a few years.

By all accounts, Benedict Westkaemper was a quiet man, a member of the Elk’s Club, and lived at the Elk’s house while in Honolulu.

Oahu adventurers to explore in South Seas

In August 1924, Benedict Westkaemper volunteered as an amateur sailor on a trip to the Palmyra Islands on a sampan-style boat, which was named - funny enough - The Palmyra. “Westy” as he referred to himself, kept the ship’s log of the trip. On August 19th, the boat set sail, and almost immediately, several of the crew suffered what they called, “mal de mer” or seasickness.

After just a few days of sailing, the boat hit a squall. The wind cause a little damage, including tearing off the radio wiring which was just installed for this trip. After that, there was another storm where part of the deck railing went overboard causing the ship to lean to one side. The sea was choppy and the men had to shift the barrels of gas to overcome the list. It got bad enough that a bottle containing the names of the crew was thrown overboard, “just in case.”

After about a week, the crew reached Fanning Island and after 4 days, moved on to the Palmyras. Although they never found any “Spanish treasure” of legend, they did find thousands of birds, huge coconut crabs, good water without a trace of brackishness, and great schools of mullet. This trip seemed to be one of the highlights of Westkaemper’s quiet life.

Shortly after that trip, a months-long investigation ensued... charging Westkaemper with violating the postal code.

On January 29th, 1925, Westkaemper was arrested and suspended from work on the charge of sending banned matter in the mail. He was specifically charged with violation of Section 470 of the postal laws and regulations, which read:

Assistant in Post Office to be arrested

“Every obscene, lewd or lascivious and every filthy book, pamphlet, etc., and other publications of an indecent character and every article or thing designed for preventing conception or producing abortion, or for any indecent immoral use, is punishable by a fine of not more than $5000 or imprisonment of not more than five years or both.”

The complaint was filed by the Post-Office Inspector. Westkaemper was charged with (and admitted to) sending an obscene letter through the US mail to a woman in San Francisco but the post office and the authorities declined to say what, about the letter, was obscene. Bail was set at $1500, which was posted and Westkaemper was released awaiting trial.

The disgraced Westkaemper was last seen at the federal building around 230pm that day. “I guess you are disappointed in me, Mac,” Westkaemper remarked to his postmaster.

According to MacAdam, the man was drawn with suffering, and thoroughly sickened and humiliated, and disappeared from the post office.

It is said that Westkaemper stopped outside the federal building a few moments, then made his way to the corner of Richards and King streets where he boarded a Waikiki car. He went to his room at the Elks club in Waikiki where he remained alone almost an hour.

The police received a mysterious phone call at 3pm by a woman who said, “Watch Westkaemper, he said he’s going to shoot himself.”

He slipped out of the Elks club without a word to anyone, walking directly toward Diamond Head.

Westkaemper is said to have stopped once on Twelfth Avenue in front of the Japanese store to play with some little children. He set off again and stopped again to greet a schoolgirl that he knew and ask if she knew where Cooke avenue was. He continued walking and passed through the Charles Martin dairy near Fort Ruger.

One of the dairy employees told police that he was sitting outside of a barn resting, and watched as the tall gaunt figure walked leisurely up the mountainside, and then disappeared in a gulch. He wondered who the fellow was, what he wanted, where he was going. The answer came in the sharp report of a pistol.

Westkaemper shoots self in heart

A few minutes later, the dairyman found Westkaemper on his back with a revolver in his hand and a bullet wound through his heart.

Westkaemper’s boss, Postmaster MacAdam said, “He was a very efficient postal man, one of the best men we have ever had here. He was a hard worker, intensely interested in his work, and accomplished real results in any task he tackled. The letter, which ultimately led to his suicide, was a distinct surprise to me. It was hard to believe he would do such a thing. It was not like him. Perhaps it was strain from work that was responsible but I at least feel confident that something unusual prompted it, probably the first time in his life that it happened, and it might have been the last if nothing had come of the letter.”

Examination of Westkaemper’s effects revealed, besides his ID card, several brief newspaper clippings of pretty poems that dealt with life. No messages or notes of any kind could be found. A quiet, hardworking man who was so dedicated to his job that, when he disappointed his boss and was left humiliated, he only knew one way out.

Under the direction of his remaining family in the mainland, Benedict Lawrence Westkaemper was buried at Oahu Cemetery under the auspices of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of which he was a member.

Ghost of Westkaemper keeps tabs on postal supplies

Barely a month later, postal laborer, Adam Wong, along with the foreman of carriers, was in the basement of the federal building getting supplies.

Supplies procured, Wong was stepping from the supply room into the corridor, when he glanced up. Approaching him, he says, was the tall brooding figure of Westkaemper.

The ghost did not speak - nor did it raise its eyes. It came forward toward the door.

“Puni!” Wong called out, “Look! Here’s Westkaemper!”

Puni shreiked, “Westkaemper? Where?!”

Wong told the newspapers, “You could see Puni’s hair go right up!”

Then, as Wong pointed, “There! There he is!” to the frightened foreman, the figure disappeared.

“Just like smoke,” Wong related, spiraling his hands in the air, “Like a little, blue cigarette smoke.”

Belief was rampant in the federal building that Westkaemper was back, watching the postal supplies to see that there is no waste of them.

Wong stated that he’s seen ghosts before so he wasn’t afraid. “I liked Westkaemper, and he liked me. Yes, I would like to see him again. I am sorry that he can find no rest.”

Postal workers today still say the building is haunted. By the ghost of the old postal worker, Benedict Westkaemper... and so much more...

Take Hawaii’s #1 Ghost Tour with Lopaka in person!

Check out our TOURS page and schedule your date with Hawaii's longest-running ghost tour! Visit some of Hawaii's Most Haunted sites with The Ghost Guy himself!