10 Haunted Places in Hawaii That’ll Give You Chicken Skin

Trying to go to Hawaii in October and want to feel some of the scary Halloween spirit? I’ll show you some of the scariest and most haunted places in Hawaii that will put shivers down your spine!

This list of haunted places in Hawaii was written by Marcie Cheung (a Hawaii travel expert) 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.

Hawaii sells you sunsets and shave ice, but what a lot of travelers get wrong about Hawaii is assuming that’s the whole story.

The islands have a whole other side once the sun goes down. Locals call it “chicken skin,” that prickly feeling on your arms when a story hits a little too close to true.

Between ancient battle sites, a dethroned queen, and a hotel built on top of a hospital morgue, this place has more ghost stories per square mile than almost anywhere I’ve researched for a Hawaii vacation guide.

I’ve made 40+ trips to Hawaii as a Certified Hawaii Destination Expert, and 20+ years of performing hula has kept me close to the history and culture behind a lot of these stories rather than just the internet’s version of them.

So here’s the haunted spots with real history behind them, instead of another recycled clickbait list.

So here’s my rundown of Hawaii’s most talked-about haunted places, the ghost tours worth booking, and a few books if you’d rather get your scares from a beach chair.

Haunted Places in Hawaii Worth Knowing About

I organized these by what has documented history behind the ghost story instead of pulling from the same recycled internet lists.

A couple of these I can speak to directly from decades of visiting Hawaii. Most of what follows is research I dug into specifically for this post, and I’ve noted where that’s the case.

Prince Waikiki, Oahu

Before this modern high-rise hotel existed, the site was home to Kaiser Hospital, which operated from 1958 until it was demolished in 1986.

Guests and staff have reported strange blue lights drifting through the hallways, luggage that moves on its own, and a phantom man in a red aloha shirt near the pool. Given the building’s real history as a hospital, the story tracks.

The hotel is still open and welcoming guests, so if you want to test the theory yourself, you can check current rates on Expedia.

Hawaii’s Plantation Village, Waipahu, Oahu

This living history museum in Waipahu preserves the homes of the immigrant families who worked Oahu’s sugar plantations in the early 1900s.

It’s also considered one of the most haunted spots on the island, with staff reporting shadow figures, whispered voices, and doors that open on their own in the Filipino and Portuguese houses.

Around half of the 25 restored buildings are said to have activity.

Every October, the site turns into “Haunted Plantation,” a full-scale haunted house event that’s become one of Oahu’s most popular Halloween traditions.

If you want the real history without the actors and fog machines, daytime tours run year-round.

Iao Theater, Wailuku, Maui

This 1928 theater is home to “Emma,” a friendly ghost believed to be a flapper-era actress. Performers and crew have reported seeing her sitting in empty seats during rehearsals or standing on stage when no one else is around.

The lights flicker when she’s active, and according to theater lore, acknowledging her presence makes everything settle back down.

I skipped Maui’s ghost walking tours for this post on purpose.

A newer tour company started marketing ghost walks through Lahaina in 2025, and the reaction from Lahaina residents, many of whom lost family and homes in the 2023 wildfire, was not good.

If you’re visiting Maui and want a haunted-history experience, the Iao Theater story is a better call right now.

Iolani Palace, Honolulu, Oahu

Built in 1882, Iolani Palace is the only royal palace on American soil, and it holds one of Hawaii’s most significant, and saddest, stories.

After the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Queen Lili’uokalani was held under guard in an upstairs bedroom of her own palace for eight months.

She spent the time quilting and composing music, and that room is preserved today with a covered window marking where she was held.

The Queen didn’t die in the palace. She passed away at her later home, Washington Place, in 1917.

But visitors and staff have long reported feeling a presence in her former imprisonment room, and it’s easy to understand why her spirit is the one most associated with the palace.

This is one of the most important historic sites in Hawaii regardless of how you feel about ghosts, and it belongs on any first-time Hawaii visitor’s Oahu itinerary.

Nuuanu Pali Lookout, Oahu

In 1795, King Kamehameha I fought one of the bloodiest battles in Hawaiian history here, driving Oahu’s warriors over the cliff edge in his campaign to unite the islands. Hundreds died.

Locals still talk about the “Pali Lady,” a spirit said to appear along the lookout, along with sightings tied to soldiers stationed nearby during WWII.

Whatever you believe about ghosts, the windy overlook and the weight of what happened here make it worth the stop.

Just don’t bring pork over the Pali at night, according to local superstition. Ask any longtime resident and they’ll have an opinion on that one.

Morgan’s Corner, Nuuanu, Oahu

A few minutes down the road from the Pali Lookout, on Nu’uanu Pali Drive, is a sharp curve locals call Morgan’s Corner.

Almost every longtime Oahu resident knows this name, and unlike some of the internet’s favorite Hawaii ghost stories, this one has a real crime underneath it.

In 1948, a 68-year-old widow was murdered in a home near this curve by two escaped convicts.

Over the decades, other urban legends got layered on top of the real story, including a phantom hitchhiker and a stalled-car tale that’s basically Hawaii’s version of a classic campfire legend.

The road is public and generally safe to visit in daylight, but it’s narrow and winding, so this is a look-don’t-linger kind of stop, not a place to pull over and wander.

Moana Surfrider, Waikiki, Oahu

Opened in 1901, the Moana Surfrider is Waikiki’s oldest hotel, and its most famous ghost story belongs to Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University.

She died at the hotel in 1905 under circumstances suspicious enough that they’re still debated by historians today.

Guests and staff have reported cold spots, flickering lights, and glimpses of a woman in early 1900s clothing believed to be her spirit, still looking for the room that’s since been remodeled out of existence.

If historic hotels are your thing regardless of the ghost angle, the Moana is worth a stop just to see the banyan tree courtyard. Check rates on Expedia.

Kawaiaha’o Church, Honolulu, Oahu

Built between 1836 and 1842 out of thousands of blocks of coral rock, this historic church and its adjoining graveyard are frequently mentioned in connection with Night Marchers, the ghostly ancient warriors of Hawaiian legend said to march at night carrying torches.

If you think you hear drumming or chanting near a church or heiau after dark, local guidance is specific: don’t look, and get low.

Volcano House, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island

This one I can speak to firsthand. I’ve stayed at Volcano House on every one of my visits to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and it’s one of my favorite lodges in the islands, ghost stories aside.

Guests have long reported a ghostly white dog on the road leading up to the hotel and an elderly woman appearing in guest rooms.

Many believe both are connected to Pele, the volcano goddess, who is said to appear in different forms to warn visitors or reward respect for the land.

As of this writing, Kilauea is in one of its active phases, with episodic lava fountaining that’s been ongoing since December 2024.

Whether you catch an eruption in person depends entirely on timing, so check the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory updates before your trip and always follow park closures.

I’ve visited during both quiet and active periods, and either way, Volcano House is worth booking well ahead of your trip.

King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, Kailua-Kona, Big Island

This is another one I know firsthand, since I’ve stayed at what locals just call “the King Kam” on Kamakahonu Beach.

The hotel sits on the exact spot where King Kamehameha I spent his final years and died in 1819, right next to the sacred Ahu’ena Heiau.

Guests and staff have long reported hearing footsteps, chanting, and sounds of battle along the halls, along with sightings of Hawaiian warriors.

Local legend says the king’s bones are buried somewhere on the property, in a location only his descendants know.

Ghost stories aside, staying somewhere with this much real history, right on the water and steps from the pier, is a solid home base for exploring Kona.

Ghost Tours Worth Booking in Hawaii

If reading about hauntings isn’t enough and you want a guide walking you through it after dark, here’s where I’d spend money.

Kailua-Kona Haunted History Walking Tour (Big Island): This is the one I’d recommend first. It leans more historical than horror, covering Night Marchers, Hawaiian royalty, and the darker side of Kona’s past along Ali’i Drive, with stops at Hulihe’e Palace, Moku’aikaua Church, and the King Kam.

Several reviewers describe it as more educational than scary, which matches what I look for in a tour like this. Book it on Viator or check GetYourGuide for current availability.

Waikiki Night Ghost Tours (Oahu): A few companies run these now, and most cover similar ground: the Kapaemahu Stones, historic hotels, and Night Marcher lore along Waikiki’s beachfront. They’re a good way to see a different side of Waikiki after the beach crowds thin out. Book it on Viator.

Honolulu Haunts Downtown Tour (Oahu): This one goes deeper into Iolani Palace’s history and the downtown Honolulu area rather than staying in Waikiki, which I like if you’ve already done the beach-adjacent tour on a previous trip. Book it on Viator.

Good fit for: history buffs, first-time Hawaii visitors who want an easy add-on to their itinerary, and repeat travelers who’ve already hit the beaches and want something different.

Not a fit for: anyone hoping for a haunted-house style jump scare experience. These are walking history tours with ghost stories woven in, not theatrical scares.

Hawaii Ghost Stories to Read at Home

If you’re not ready to book a trip yet, or you just want some Halloween reading, a few Hawaii folklore collections hold up well:

• Glen Grant’s “Chicken Skin Tales” is the classic. Grant was Hawaii’s best known ghost story collector, and this book is where the term “chicken skin” as island slang for goosebumps really took off.
• Collections on Night Marchers, aumakua (family guardian spirits), and Pele legends are widely available and give good context before you visit sites like the Pali or Volcano House.

Frequently Asked Questions About Haunted Hawaii

Are Night Marchers real?

Night Marchers are a well known part of Hawaiian folklore: ghostly ancient warriors said to march at night carrying torches and chanting, often near old battle sites, heiau (temples), and burial grounds. Traditional guidance if you believe you’re near them is to lie face down on the ground and avoid eye contact, unless you believe a deceased relative may be among them.

What is an aumakua?

An aumakua is a family or ancestral guardian spirit in Hawaiian tradition, often believed to take the form of an animal such as a shark, owl, or dog to watch over living family members.

Is Iolani Palace really haunted?

Staff and visitors have long reported feeling a presence in the room where Queen Lili’uokalani was imprisoned for eight months after the 1893 overthrow. She didn’t die there, but it’s the site most associated with her spirit.

Is it disrespectful to visit haunted sites in Hawaii?

Some are, some aren’t. Historic sites like Iolani Palace, Pali Lookout, and Kawaiaha’o Church are open to the public and meant to be visited respectfully as part of Hawaii’s real history. Many of these places involve real tragedy, war, or loss, so treat them the way you’d treat any historic or sacred site: quietly, respectfully, and without treating tragedy as a photo op.

What is the most haunted hotel in Hawaii?

There’s no single agreed-upon answer, but Prince Waikiki, the Moana Surfrider, and King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel are the three names that come up most consistently, each tied to a real piece of the site’s history rather than a story invented for tourists.

The Bottom Line on Haunted Hawaii

Hawaii’s ghost stories aren’t just spooky filler, they’re tangled up with real history: a stolen kingdom, plantation-era immigrants, a bloody battle at the Pali, and a goddess who’s still very much part of local culture.

That’s what makes them worth knowing before your trip, whether you believe in any of it or not.

If you’re planning a Hawaii trip around this kind of history and culture rather than just beach days, that’s the kind of realistic Hawaii itinerary I help people build in my one-on-one Hawaii travel consultations.

And if you want more Hawaii stories in your ears instead of on a screen, I cover topics like this on my podcast, Hawaii Travel Made Easy.

For more on planning the rest of your trip, check out my guides to Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island, or my full Hawaii island-hopping guide if you’re trying to fit more than one island into your trip.

If you’re traveling with kids, my sister site has its own spooky Hawaii spots roundup worth a look too.

Whatever you find out there, walk quietly, mind the local etiquette, and maybe don’t take that lava rock home with you.

About the author: Marcie Cheung is a Hawaii travel expert who has visited Hawaii more than 40 times. She is the founder of Hawaii Travel Spot and host of Hawaii Travel Made Easy. She plans Hawaii vacations for couples, honeymooners, families, and other travelers.