Just a few haunting ghost stories of Hawaii to get you into the Halloween mood.
The Menehune
Menehune’s are small people only about two feet tall and live in the lush forests of Hawaii. It’s believed they lived here before the Tahitian’s started migrating to Hawaii. And so they were forced to retreat to the forests for survival.
Menehune’s are shy people and so you will probably never see them. Yet you may hear their voices or splashing of water. Their favorite pasttime is diving near the waterfalls. They’re also considered master builders and can build anything in a day. But if they’re interrupted, they will disappear never to finish their work. And if you’re the one who interrupted them, you will be turned to stone.
The Pali Mystery
The Pali Highway is what connects the Windward side of Oahu to Honolulu. Legend has it that you’re not supposed to carry pork across the Pali. If you do, your car will break down and will not start again until you get rid of the pork. In some cases, there will be a woman or a white dog to appear. You can give the pork to them so that you’re able to continue over the Pali.
Why is this? The legend goes back to the Hawaiian goddess of fire Pele and the demigod Kamapua’a. The two were in a doomed relationship from the very beginning. Pele despised Kamapua’a and his “hog-faced” looks. So she retreated to her side of the island filled with fire and lava while Kamapua’a lived on the wet and rainy side. The two were forever separated. And so bringing pork across the Pali is symbolic of bringing Kamapua’a into her territory. She will not let it happen.
The Night Marchers
The Night Marchers are considered spirits of old Hawaiian warriors who have been cursed to march across the islands. They carry torches, sound their drums, and blow the conch shells. If you hear these sounds getting louder or smell a foul odor, you know they are near. If you encounter these marchers, you are to lay face down on the ground until they have passed. It is an evil omen to look at them. If you do, then they will surely kill you.
The Haunted Hotel
The Blaisdell Hotel is one of the first hotels built in Hawaii. It’s located at Fort Street Mall in downtown Honolulu. It’s no longer a hotel, but serves as office space and classrooms for Hawaii Pacific University. And when the sun goes down and people leave for the day, there’s some creepy things that happen at the hotel throughout the night.
It’s believed that after the attack on Pearl Harbor, some of the soldiers who lost their lives took up permanent residence in the hotel. Even today, you can hear laughter coming from one of the back lanai’s, footsteps coming down the hallway, or a knock on the door but no one on the other side. Some employees who have stayed late even heard the elevator operating when they know no one else is in the building.
