Don’t Drive Down These 10 Haunted Roads In Hawaii Or You’ll Regret It
Hawaii has a unique history full of royalty, warriors, and culture. And with that distinct history comes our own fair share of ghost stories. But not all of these haunted happenings take place in hotels, houses, or royal residences. Sometimes the haunted locations are roads, highways, bridges, and even trails. If you’re looking for a spooky activity this month, here are ten haunted roads in Hawaii sure to send shivers down your spine.
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Located on the Nuu’anu Pali Drive is the infamous Morgan’s corner, a sharp S-shaped turn near Dr. James Morgan’s villa. In 1948, two escaped prisoners murdered 68-year-old widow, Therese Wilder, in her home. She was bound, gagged, and left unconscious in her bed. During the struggle, she suffered from a broken jaw, and she subsequently suffocated due to her mamed jaw and gag placed around her neck and mouth. Some say she can still be heard screaming for her life. Others make claims of seeing a teenage girl holding her own head — the story says that she ran away from home and hung herself on a tree near the turn.
A woman died in a car crash on Palani Road during the 1950s — it was a rainy, moonless night, and the roads were rather slick. The woman was upset because she had supposedly caught her lover with another woman. She was driving too fast and the car slid out of control and hit a tree head on near a hairpin turn. There have been several accidents in this same spot since then and all the drivers claim to have seen a woman standing in the middle of the road, soaking wet and crying; the drivers say that they crashed trying to avoid the woman.
Said to be one of the most haunted places on Oahu, during construction on the primary highway, workers claimed to see the ghosts of ancient Hawaiian warriors. While digging through the mountain, bones of ancient Hawaiians were found. It took seven years to build the freeway because they couldn’t find people to work.
At the start of Manoa Falls is a Banyan tree, though to hold lost spirits. This tree is allegedly in the path of the night marchers — the ghosts of ancient Hawaiian warriors. It is said that you can hear the faint sound of drumming on particular nights.
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. The legend says that you cannot take pork over the Pali Highway, which separates the Windward side of Oahu from Honolulu, because it means that you are symbolically taking Kamapua’a from one side of the island to the other. The legend says that 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.
The King's Trail is an old coastal rock path built by King Kamehameha I who ruled the Hawaiian Islands from 1795 to 1819. The trail circled the Big Island and served as a significant traveling route for native Hawaiians. Legend says that the ghosts of ancient Hawaiian warriors still use the trail. There are reports of a procession of disembodied flickering torches and the sounds of drumming, chanting, and battle cries.
A young girl was killed in a hit-and-run on this very bridge several years ago. Residents claim that the little girl asks pedestrians for help home, just to disappear at the end of the bridge.
Just past Kalani High School is a spot at the top of Poola Street. Rumor has it that there was once a Heiau that sat on the spot that now, if you drive your car over and put the vehicle in neutral, the spirits will push you uphill.
In downtown Honolulu, on the corner of Merchant and Alakea streets sits Kaua’nona’ula — meaning rain with the red rainbow — which allegedly serves as a gathering spot for Wailua (ghosts). An electrical worker in a building across the street claims to have heard a scream while working late one night.
Many lives have been claimed by Kapa’a Quarry Road’s winding and treacherous curves. Rumor has it that numerous ancient altars line the road and people have seen phantom hitchhikers as well as the Menehune.
From haunted hotels and roads where you may encounter the paranormal, there are countless ghosts who have decided to make the islands their permanent residence in their afterlife. Some of the most haunted spots include the Kaimuki House, which is haunted by a man-eating ghost from Japan also known as a Kasha, the Iao Theater, Kaneana Cave, and so many others.
Are there any haunted hotels in Hawaii?
Yes! There are several haunted hotels in Hawaii, but the most fascinating is also one of Hawaii’s oldest hotels: the Moana Surfrider. Built in 1902, the Moana Surfrider is often referred to as the “First Lady of Waikiki” and is haunted by the ghost of Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University, who died in her room while on vacation to Hawaii after a strychnine poisoning attempt on her life. At the time, it was one of the most legendary murder mysteries.
What is the scariest haunted attraction in Hawaii?
The scariest haunted attraction in the Aloha State is Hawaii’s Plantation Village. Not only does this outdoor history museum transform into a terrifying Halloween attraction each October, but rumor has it that the village is legitimately haunted as well. 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, but it is also haunted. Of the village’s 25 plantation houses, approximately half of them are legitimately haunted. The village is so haunted, it has been featured on Syfy, The Travel Channel, and Buzzfeed. Click here to learn more about this Hawaii haunt.
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
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