Stand on the edge of Halemaumau Crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and it is very easy to imagine that the fire goddess Pele is looking over your shoulder. Hawaiians regularly toss in bottles of gin or brandy as gifts to appease the sometimes feisty spirit. Other times, when picking ohelo berries within the park, a few are tossed into the crater as an offering. It is not surprising that in this land of many spirits some hotels find they have guests of the ghostly variety.
This Waikiki mega resort is thought to be haunted by the volcano goddess Pele. Staff and visitors tell of a woman dressed in red who wanders the beach, the hallways and the grounds. Pele is said to take many forms. Some people say she appears as a young woman, others as an elderly soul. She may appear as a hitchhiker or a knock on your door in the middle of the night. The legend says that when Pele wanders Waikiki Beach, she has dancers for company.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort
2005 Kalia Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
808-949-4321
hilton.com
Located in back of the Halekulani Hotel that sits on Waikiki Beach, the Waikiki Parc Hotel is said to hold the spirit of a worker that died. Though his employee punch card is no longer valid, the machine occasionally shows him punching in for work. Funny thing is, he never punches out.
Waikiki Parc Hotel
2233 Helumoa Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
808-921-7272
summithotels.com
This deluxe mega resort is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a lady who died there while on vacation. Her life ended on the 17th floor and people who stay on that floor report doors that open and close and sometimes see her floating over their beds in the middle of the night.
JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa
92-1001 Olani Street
Kapolei, Oahu HI 96707
808-679-0079
marriott.com
This property in the heart of Kailua-Kona is said to be haunted by the ghosts of warriors from the days of the King Kamehameha the Great. People report hearing battle cries, chanting and footsteps on the hotel's top floor. The theory is that King Kamehameha's bones are buried somewhere beneath the hotel. The exact location is a well guarded secret.
Another mysterious occurrence is sometimes witnessed on the bottom floor of the property. There are paintings of Hawaiian royalty lining the hallway, the last of which is Queen Liliuokalani, the last ruler of the island chain. If you look closely, the unsmiling queen appears to be breathing as she gives the glaring "the Queen is not amused" look.
King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
75-5660 Palani Road
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
808-329-2911
konabeachhotel.com
