Hawaii is known for its beautiful scenery, vibrant culture, and welcoming people. However, beneath the surface of this paradise lies a collection of spooky stories that have been passed down through generations. Get ready to explore the dark side of the islands with these 10 spine-chilling Hawaiian legends.
The Story of Pele and Pali Road
The legend of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of lava, and her tumultuous relationship with the demigod Kamapua’a is well-known. One bizarre urban legend warns: never carry pork over the Pali Road.
Pele and Kamapua’a’s relationship was doomed from the start. Kamapua’a, longing for his stepfather’s acceptance, filled with anger and hate, changed his appearance and caused trouble. Arriving in Hawaii, he sought Pele’s hand in marriage, but she was disgusted by his appearance and initially fought him off. Eventually, Pele relented, and Kamapua’a’s heart softened, restoring his handsome looks. Confused by his transformation, Pele retreated to her lava-filled side of the island, while Kamapua’a lived on the lush, wet side, forever separated.
Today, the urban legend says that carrying pork over the Pali Highway will anger Pele, causing your vehicle to break down until you discard the pork. Some versions say an old woman or a white dog will appear, demanding the pork. Carrying pork symbolizes bringing part of Kamapua’a into Pele’s domain, reigniting their eternal conflict.
Mujina, The Faceless Woman
Originating in Japanese folklore, a mujina is a creature with no face that can shapeshift into human form. Japanese immigrants brought this folklore to Hawaii, where the tale took on a new spin.
In 1959, a woman at a drive-in theater in Kahala reported seeing a mujina. She noticed a red-haired woman combing her hair in the restroom. Upon closer inspection, she realized the woman had no facial features. The woman suffered a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized.
Initially dismissed as a rumor, the story gained credibility in 1981 when the woman called into a local radio show hosted by Glen Grant and recounted her experience, adding the detail of the mujina’s red hair. Since then, numerous stories of the faceless mujina have emerged across the islands.
The Night Marchers
The Huaka’ipo, or Night Marchers, are the spirits of ancient Hawaiian warriors cursed to eternally march throughout the islands. They march in a single line, carrying torches and weapons, playing drums, and chanting.
The Night Marchers rarely appear during the day, but when they do, it means they are escorting a living relative to the other side. Signs of their approach include the sound of drums getting closer, a foul odor, conch shells being blown, and approaching torchlight.
Looking at the Night Marchers is considered an evil omen. To protect yourself, lie facedown on the ground to show respect. If they see you looking, they will kill you unless an ancestor recognizes you and claims you as their blood. No solid structure can deter them; locals tell stories of Night Marchers passing through their homes, leaving fear in their wake.
The Little People of Hawaii
The Menehune, also known as Nawao in ancient texts, are Hawaii’s version of fairies or leprechauns. They are short in stature, about two feet tall, and live in lush forests away from civilization. Often portrayed as mischievous, they possess the supernatural ability to build anything they desire within a day.
Known as master builders, they were often hired by native Hawaiians to build homes, temples, and heiaus (places of worship). They are shy and prefer to work at night. If caught, they will abandon their work and disappear, never to finish it. Interrupting them turns you to stone.
These little people built the largest aquaculture reservoir on the island, Alekoko Fishpond. Some historians believe the Menehune were real people from Marquesas Island who migrated to Hawaii before the Tahitians. The Tahitian immigrants forced the Menehune to retreat into the deeper forests.
Hearing splashing near the beach or waterfall at night is said to be a Menehune. Besides playing pranks, diving is one of their favorite pastimes.
The Green Lady of Wahiawa
In Japanese, obake describes something that changes, much like the mujina. Brought to Hawaii, the term obake became used for supernatural entities, mostly ghosts or malevolent spirits.
One such spirit is the Green Lady, a woman covered in moss and green mold who wanders the Wahiawa gulch, mainly near the Wahiawa Botanical Garden. Some reports place her at Wahiawa Elementary School, described as a woman with green, fish-like scales, jagged teeth, and seaweed-covered hair.
The Green Lady’s backstory involves a woman who visited the Wahiawa gulch with her children. One child got lost and was never found. The woman died of heartbreak and now roams the area looking for her lost child, said to take any child she comes across.
The Haunting of Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, killing and wounding thousands. The attacks targeted not only the Naval Station but also Hickam Air Force Base. Ghostly apparitions, unexplained lights, and eerie noises are common at this historic site.
One building at Hickam Air Force Base, still bearing bullet holes from the attack, is said to be haunted by soldiers who died there. Visitors and workers report seeing ghostly soldiers walking the corridors, and hearing footsteps and painful moans in empty rooms.
A guard shack at Hickam is particularly haunted. Witnesses claim to see a soldier in a 1940s military uniform standing guard late at night. Ghosts have also been seen at the dock of the USS Arizona, which sank during the attack, killing all aboard. Apparitions of soldiers are rumored to patrol the area, even during the day.
Many visitors report feeling sadness, fear, or extreme pain. The ghost of a soldier shot for leaving his post during the attack is said to haunt the deck of the sunken ship during low tide. The remains of some deceased soldiers are still in the ship to this day.
Pele in Disguise
Pele, the goddess, is beautiful but also hot-tempered. She often tests the Hawaiian people by appearing as a woman in red or an old woman with a cane.
Visitors claim to see a woman in red dancing near the craters of Kilauea National Park. Others report an old woman asking for a cigarette, lighting it with a snap of her finger, then disappearing.
Stories tell of Pele, disguised as an old woman, knocking on doors in the middle of the night, asking for tea or water. Refusing her brings death or heartbreak, while helping her brings good news the next day.
One legend tells of Pele testing villagers. Disguised as an old woman with a cane, she asked a wealthy family for food and water. They refused to share, despite their abundance. She then approached a humble family, who welcomed her and shared their meager meal of poi. Pele revealed herself and rewarded the kind family with fruitful harvests while their stingy neighbors’ crops withered.
The Half-Faced Girl of Old Pali Road
The Old Pali Road in the Nuuanu Valley is known for supernatural activities. Before the current Pali Highway, it was the site of a major battle in 1795 where King Kamehameha I forced thousands of opponents to jump off the Nuuanu Pali cliff. Their ghosts are still seen falling to this day.
Ghostly apparitions such as Night Marchers and a body hanging from a tree at Morgan’s Corner are frequently reported. One particular story is that of the half-faced young girl.
Locals and visitors claim to see the apparition of a young girl with long, black hair skipping rope as she floats down the road. Her nose, cheeks, and mouth are missing, leaving only a pair of large eyes bulging out of their sockets.
The girl is said to have been raped and strangled with her own jump rope, her body left in the bushes. Wild animals likely consumed parts of her face before her body was recovered, explaining her horrifying appearance.
Haunting at Morgan’s Corner
Morgan’s Corner, located on Nuuanu Pali Drive, gets its name from Dr. James Morgan, who lived on the hairpin turn in the 1920s.
The area became haunted in 1948 when Therese Wilder was murdered in her home by escaped prisoners. Her gardener discovered her body, and the fugitives were eventually captured. They confessed to killing Wilder for a bit of supper after burglarizing a nearby home.
Another story involves Brittani Lochmann, who supposedly hanged herself on a tree at the end of Nuuanu Road. Her body wasn’t discovered for days, and by then, it had completely separated from her head, leaving only her head in the noose. Her head was never reattached, leading locals to believe her spirit haunts the area.
An urban legend tells of a young couple who parked their car under a tree one night. When they tried to leave, the car wouldn’t start. The boy left to get help, telling the girl to stay in the car. She heard branches scratching the roof all night and eventually fell asleep.
In the morning, a policeman woke her and told her to walk away without turning around. Curiosity got the better of her, and she turned to see her boyfriend hanging upside down from the tree, his torso sliced open and his fingers scraping across the car’s roof.
The Kaimuki House
In Japanese folklore, a kasha is a demon or cannibalistic entity that feeds on human corpses, bringing them to hell for mortal sin. A kasha is believed to reside in the Kaimuki house on 8th Avenue and Harding in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The house’s history is gruesome. The kasha is said to have arrived after a father murdered his family. The bodies of his wife and son were found buried on the property, but his daughter’s was missing.
In 1942, police were called to the house by a woman claiming an unseen entity was attacking her children. The police watched as an invisible force assaulted and threw the children across the room.
Later, three women moved into the house. One night, an invisible force grabbed one of the women’s arms, prompting a call to the police. As the policeman followed them to another house, the women struggled with an unseen force in a parking lot, one seemingly being choked.
When the policeman tried to help, he was restrained by what he described as a “large calloused hand.” He got the choking victim into his patrol car, but neither car would start. When the victim returned to her car, both cars started. As they drove away, the car door was ripped off and the choking victim was thrown out of the moving car and choked to death by the kasha.
In 1977, a young couple moved into the house and were awakened by a cold room. The woman saw a large, armless and legless woman hovering over their bed. They consulted a reverend, who advised them to offer food to the spirit. After a week of offerings, the spirit never returned.
Which of these spooky Hawaiian legends gave you the biggest chill? Leave your comment below!
