13 Horribly Creepy Things You Didn't Know You Could Do In Hawaii

While I love a good haunted house as much as the next person, I am personally partial to real tales of the paranormal. I love hearing all about apparitions and spooky sounds and other scary things to do in Hawaii. Even when you’ve lived here a long time, it’s still fascinating to learn about these supernatural things and even experience them for yourself. We’ve put together a list of 13 horribly creepy things to do and scary facts about Hawaii that you can only experience in the Islands, from a haunted road trip to visiting places rife with mystery and legend. After all, the Hawaiian Islands have a unique history full of royalty, warriors, and culture – and with that distinct history comes our own fair share of ghost stories.

O‘ahu, Hawaii, USA

Jai Mansson/Flickr

The Huaka’ipo, also known as the night marchers, are the spirits of ancient Hawaiian warriors who have been cursed to march the islands for eternity. Legend has it that they spend their nights roaming the islands visiting old battlefields and religious sites. Others say that these warriors are simply restless souls looking to reclaim rightful territory, replay a battle gone awry, or avenge their own deaths. Whatever their mission, the night marchers are said to march in a single line, often carrying torches and weapons while chanting and playing drums. To protect yourself, you must quickly run indoors or lie on the ground face down in respect if you come in contact with these restless spirits. If you make eye contact with the night marchers, you will die and be forced to march with them for an eternity.

Want more information about this spooky legend? Read all about the night marchers.

Island of Hawai'i, Hawaii, USA

Ryan Ozawa/Flickr

From haunted roads to hotels with guests of the paranormal variety, Hawaii Island is home to various ghosts who have decided to make the island their permanent resting place in the afterlife. If you’re up for seeing some of the most haunted places in Hawaii, check out this 9-stop terrifying road trip around the Big Island.

For a fun and creepy time, take this haunted road trip in Hawaii.

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Iao Theater, 68 N Market St, Wailuku, HI 96793, USA

Henry Faber/Flickr

Located in Wailuku and opened in 1928, the Iao Theatre is easily one of the most haunted spots found across the eight main Hawaiian Islands — with the documentation to prove it. The theatre is so haunted, in fact, that it starred in the last episode of the Syfy show, "Haunted Collector" in 2012, where you will witness convincing paranormal activity and audio footage. Of course, the theater hosted a viewing party when the episode aired.

If you love spending time in haunted spots then you should definitely head to the Iao Theater.

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Father of JGKlein/Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Cemeteries are eerie, creepy, disturbing — especially at night, and definitely when they are abandoned, or even the site of hauntings. And while Hawaii has no shortage of cemeteries, we featured five of the most haunted cemeteries in Hawaii.

Haunted Plantation, 94-695 Waipahu St Ext, Waipahu, HI 96797, USA

Haunted Plantation/Facebook

Hawaii Plantation Village, an outdoor history museum that transforms into a terrifying Halloween attraction every October - a true horror in Hawaii! The village tells the story of the island’s sugar cane workers and life on the plantation circa 1850 to 1950, as well as the history of immigration to Hawaii, and features restored buildings, replicas of various plantation structures, and a quite a few ghosts as well. Yep, this Halloween attraction is actually haunted. Halloween night is always your last chance to experience this haunted plantation village.

If you are a big fan of visiting haunted attractions, make sure you find the time to visit the Haunted Plantation in Hawaii.

Daniel Ramirez/Flickr

Even on the highly populated island of Oahu, abandoned places are common - if you know where to look, that is. From abandoned highways and royal residences to sugar mills and telegraph stations, there is something strangely beautiful about man-made structures being taken back by the land. This road trip takes adventurers to eight abandoned sites and clocks in at just three hours of drive time.

If the idea of taking an abandoned road trip in Hawaii appeals to you, pack up the car this week and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!

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Screenshot/Google Maps

The famous haunted Kaimuki House, located on the corner of 8th and Harding on a foundation of two beds of lava rock, is known to many as one of the most haunted places on the island. The house itself looks relatively normal, but the story behind it is anything but. The creature said to reside in the house is a Kasha, a man-eating ghost from Japanese folklore, and the stories surrounding its haunting of the Kaimuki house have been extensively documented.

For those who are big fans of exploring haunted houses, the Kaimuki House is unmissable.

Mo'okini Heiau, Waimea, HI 96743, USA

Reuben Bedingfield/Flickr

Located in an isolated area of the North Kohala Coast on Hawaii’s Big Island is a place so shrouded in darkness that it is advised you only visit during the day, though that might simply be due to the fact that there is no electricity or lighting in the area. The Mo’okini Luakini Heiau was one of the first temples to be built on the island and one of the most scary facts about Hawaii is that this place has an evil history rife with human sacrifice.

The sinister place known as Mo’okini Luakini Heiau is not for the faint of heart.

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O‘ahu, Hawaii, USA

G Crouch/Flickr

In addition to being home to approximately 66 percent of Hawaii’s population, Oahu is also home to many ghosts who have chosen to take up permanent residence in the afterlife. From haunted highways and hotel rooms with spooky pasts to ancient battle sites and landmarks with paranormal sightings, this terrifying road trip will take you to nine of the island’s most haunted places.

If you have never taken a spooky road trip in Hawaii, now is the time!

Pali Highway, Hawaii 61, Kaneohe, HI, USA

keppet/Flickr

From ancient Hawaiian legends to major battle sites, the Pali Highway meanders through the Ko’olau mountains between Honolulu and the Windward coast is one of the most ghastly places in all of Hawaii. Though there are several legends and tales of paranormal activity near the Pali Highway, there is one story more fascinating than the others; It is said that Pele and the demigod Kamapua’a - a half man, half pig - had a bad breakup and agreed to never see each other again. Legend has it that you cannot take pork over the Pali Highway because it means that you are symbolically taking Kamapua’a from one side of the island to the other. If you try to bring pork across, your car will stop at some point along the journey and an old woman with a dog will appear. To continue on your way, you must feed the pork to the dog.

We are certain that you'll agree that the most haunted highway in the state is, Pali Highway.

Take hike down the Old Pali Road as you follow along in this YouTube video from Mr. No Time:

Ken-ichi Ueda/Flickr

Hawaii’s first known serial killer - the Honolulu Strangler - was responsible for the murders of five women between 1985 and 1986, and was never caught. The five victims were found with their hands bound behind their backs, sexually assaulted and strangled. The strangler’s victims ranged in ages between 17 and 36 and came from different walks of life. With help from the FBI and the Green River task force, the Honolulu Police Department set up a 27-person task force to find the Honolulu Strangler. The killer was profiled as an opportunist, attacking vulnerable women - who were, for example, waiting at bus stops - as opposed to a killer who stalked his victims.

If you are fascinated by this unsolved mystery, read more about the, Haunted Strangler.

Kaneana Cave (Makua Cave), Farrington Highway, Waianae, HI, USA

Claire Marsden/Google Reviews

Located on Oahu’s leeward coast north of Waianae, near where Farrington Highway ends at Kaena Point, is Kaneana Cave, a truly mysterious site. Also known as Makua Cave, there are many legends that feature this cave. The most sinister of which features Kamohoali’i, a shapeshifter who could transform himself from a shark into a man. He and his human wife gave birth to a son, Nanaue. When the son discovered his taste for human flesh — like all man-eating sharks — he disguised himself as a human in order to trick his victims. He would drag his victims into the cave and eat them. In ancient times, the Hawaiian people were forbidden from entering the cave, fearful that they would be attacked and eaten by this shark-man. When residents later found out about Nanaue's true identity, that he was a shark man, they captured and killed him.

Are you amazed by this unusual legend? Then make your way to Kaneana Cave.

MacKenzie State Recreation Area, HI-137, P?hoa, HI 96778, USA

Howard Ignatius/Flickr

MacKenzie State Recreation Area is a secluded park covering 13 acres on Hawaii Island’s rural southern coast featuring tall ironwood trees, volcanic sea cliffs, and quite a few paranormal encounters. You see, this seemingly lovely park has quite the gruesome past. Portions of the King's Trail wind through the park, and per the National Park Service, improvements to this ancient coastal trail were made in the mid-1800s by prisoners and those unable to pay their taxes. Legend has it that the souls of prisoners who died while working on the trail still wander around the park. Visitors have claimed to see apparitions of haggard men wielding pick axes and hand tools, wandering around at sunset.

If you enjoy experiencing the great outdoors with a side of spookiness, MacKenzie State Recreation Area is the place for you.

Happy haunting! Which of these Hawaii scary facts did you find most interesting? Have you had a chance to visit or explore any of these places – or try any of these scary things to do in Hawaii? We would love to hear all about your experiences if so, especially if you might have seen some paranormal activity or any intriguing potentially supernatural beings! Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section.