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.

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.

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.

There have been numerous deaths at this precipice that marks the peak of this pathway from Nu’uanu to Windward Oahu -- from the last stand of Kalanikupule, to falling rocks, strong winds, horses losing their footing, and cars careening out of control, not to mention suicides... and murder. This area has a long and violent history. It’s not just one thing that haunts this place, it’s many.

In the uplands of Kalihi, there were once sacred heiau, a spring brought forth by the god Kane, and a pair of Kupua who would watch over the valley. Some say that the destruction of those stones set the stage for the unfortunate events surrounding the building of the Wilson Tunnel.

Seminarians have long talked of attacks by levitating pencils, of doors that would stick on one side but not the other, of pats that rattled without cause. Even laypeople who work at the religious institution talk of feeling a presence, hearing a voice, having something press against them. “It was real,” Ferraro said, “Told and corroborated by prominent men in the Roman Catholic Church.”

Ghosts are said to congregate in these places every evening from seven o’clock until midnight for a form of entertainment, including the legendary night marchers. Several people who happen to work in these locations today say that their buildings are indeed haunted. While most of Downtown Honolulu closes by 6 or 7pm, nights they have to work late are especially creepy.

Named for the Water of Ha’o, an ancient spring nearby, this church is near the center of Royal activity in Downtown Honolulu. Is it haunted? Most definitely.

On the Eastern slopes of Punchbowl crater lies the foundation of the old Kanela‘au heiau. A temple of human sacrifice. The sacrificial victims were often from the Kauwa class who were drowned either in the waters of Kewalo or in the pond that was located on the Ward Estate, which is now where the Blaisdell Center is. Now, right on top of where the heiau used to be, stands Stevenson Middle School.