We Checked Out The 9 Most Terrifying Places In Hawaii And They’re Horrifying

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. The original tale tells of a young couple who moved into the home, and their neighbors who, upon hearing loud bangs and crashes, suspected domestic violence and called the police. When the police arrived, the couple claimed that they were being attacked by a force they couldn’t see.

To learn more about this haunted house, click here. As one of the most haunted houses in Hawaii, this is one story you won’t want to think about before bed!

MacKenzie State Recreation Area, 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 according to 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. And the dark history gets even worse — MacKenzie State Park has also been the site of several gruesome murders, beatings, and rapes, including a gruesome death of an engaged couple who were camping in the park in 1980 and beaten to death. Park guests have been awakened by nightmarish screams, have heard cries and whispers inside the park's many collapsed lava tubes, and have even experienced sleeping bags being suddenly unzipped.

To learn more about this haunted spot, click here. These Hawaiian ghost stories are guaranteed to keep you up at night!

This outdoor history museum 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. 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. With such a supernatural presence, there is no question as to why they would transform the village into a haunted village each October. According to the Hawaii Plantation Village staff, more than a dozen actors at the haunted attraction have quit throughout the twelve years the attraction has been open — and now, actors are not allowed to work in the houses by themselves due to supernatural activity.

To learn more about this haunted spot, click here to read more about these plantation houses. It makes the top of our list for creepy places in Hawaii!

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. There have been various reports of lights flickering, and unexplained voices throughout the theater, though the most chilling story is that of a misty, luminescent ghost sitting in seats throughout the theatre, as well as on stage when the theater is closed. Witnesses claim the female apparition is friendly, and many affectionately refer to the spirit as "Emma," an unknown flapper and actress who has a penchant for productions that take place in the 1920s. Lights flicker and boards malfunction for no apparent reason — but as soon as someone acknowledges Emma, the unexplained activity stops. This is one of the only spots on this list we’d feel safe visiting at night, because Emma sounds like she knows how to have a good time.

To learn more about this haunted spot, read more about the Ioa Theater.

Located on Oahu’s leeward coast north of Waianae, near where Farrington Highway ends at Kaena Point, is Kaneana Cave, a truly mysterious site. This sinister story 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. Today, the souls of those who died here are said to haunt the area, and according to local storytellers, Kaneana Cave is a repository for psychic energy. This is one location you just won’t want to visit at night in Hawaii. Or alone, ever.

To learn more about this haunted cave, check out our article about this haunted cave.

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 lights in the area. The Mo’okini Luakini Heiau was one of the first temples to be built on the island, and has an evil history rife with human sacrifice. The large, flat stones that were used in human sacrifice still sit near the heiau, and some visitors claim that they can feel restless spirits that roam the temple.

To learn more about this haunted spot, read about Mo’okini Luakini Heiau here.

Nowhere is there a higher concentration of varied ghost stories than along Oahu’s beautiful — and haunted — Pali Highway. From ancient Hawaiian legends to major battle sites, the 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's 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.

To learn more about this haunted road and it’s terrifying history, read this article here. It’s a terrifying story that will make sure you double check your groceries before you hop on the highway.

Built by King Kamehameha I who ruled the Hawaiian Islands from 1795 to 1819, this old coastal lava rock road circled the Big Island, connected many of the island’s villages, and served as a major traveling route for native Hawaiians. Now, however, the road serves as a popular hiking spot — and is the site of various supernatural stories. 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.

To learn more about this haunted trail, click here to read our article on this supernatural trail. Keep off the trail at night, and stay respectful if you are out wandering around and hear drumming or chanting at night! Many people recommend laying down on the floor and avoiding eye contact if you hear the warriors pass by.

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 here. You’ll learn all about the mysteries surrounding the cemeteries, and which ones to keep your distance from.