October is finally here, and while the Hawaiian Islands don’t experience fall weather like much of the mainland, we can certainly partake in all things Halloween, from candy corn and pumpkin carving to haunted houses. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good haunted house as much as the next person, but I’m personally partial to real tales of the paranormal, of apparitions and spooky sounds at allegedly haunted places. And while we all know about the hauntings at the Pali Highway and the Kaimuki House, there is one popular park few people realize is actually haunted.
The land that currently comprises Kapiolani Regional Park was gifted to the people of Hawaii by King Kalakaua in 1887. The 130-acre park was named after his wife, Queen Kapiolani.
Before that, though, this land was witness to some pretty gruesome battles, most notably its involvement in the notorious Battle of Nu’uanu. This is where Kamehameha and his forces were said to land, and rumor has it that bodies once littered the land from Kapiolani Park to the Pali Lookout, where hundreds were forced off the cliff face.
An ancient Hawaiian heiau is found here, and it is often said that Kapiolani Park was the site of human sacrifice.
As you might expect, the park is now teeming with unexplained and unusual sights, smells, and sounds, including shaking hedges, ukulele playing, crashing sounds, and light orbs. Reports of hearing battle cries and seeing dressed in battle gear are common.
In fact, it is said that this strange activity is so common that the Honolulu Police Department has actually gotten used to distressed calls from travelers and locals alike.
Today, the park is home to picnic sites, open grassy areas, 100-year-old trees, soccer fields, tennis courts, and a 3-mile jogging path with aerobic exercise stations. Outdoor concerts are performed at the Waikiki Shell, and the 42-acre Honolulu Zoo technically lies within the park.
Queen Kapiolani Regional Park is not only the largest and second oldest park in Hawaii but absolutely gorgeous during the day as well. We must ask, then: is it also haunted? We can’t be sure, but brave souls should visit after dark and see for themselves.
Kapiolani Regional Park is located at 3840 Paki Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815, and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., which is probably best since we definitely don't want to hang out here after dark. Have you ever experienced the paranormal at Kapiolani Park? What about these haunted destinations that prove Honolulu is the most haunted city in Hawaii?
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