Here are some of the most haunted places you can come across at the University of Hawai’i a campus spread filled of ghosts lurking in the libraries, hiding in the dormitory rooms. This is a place where people come and go, but the ghosts remain and will never graduate.

The University of Hawai’i is renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant student life. However, beneath this picturesque façade lies a world steeped in intriguing mysteries and ghostly tales. From the eerie dormitory halls of UH Hilo to the haunting whispers echoing through the libraries at Mānoa, the campuses are home to numerous legends of the supernatural. This article delves into some of the most haunted locations across the University of Hawai’i and what to beware of when walking across the campus.

The University of Hawai’i at Hilo

It is one of ten campuses of the University of Hawaiʻi system. It was founded as Hilo Center at Lyman Hall of the Hilo Boys School in 1945 and was a branch campus of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Over the years there have been many ghost legends formed at this campus, most of them around the dorms.

Are the dorms at the University of Hawaii at Hilo haunted? Often dubbed the Eerie Dorm, and is said to be haunted by a young boy who was killed at the site many years ago. 

The Haunted Hale Kanilehua Dorms

The University of Hawaii at Hilo is reputed for its scenic campus and intriguing history, particularly regarding its dormitories, notably Hale Kanilehua, often referred to as the “Eerie Dorm.” This dorm is believed to be haunted by the spirit of a young boy who tragically lost his life during the construction of the building. Residents frequently report eerie experiences, including sightings of the boy’s shadowy figure, disembodied laughter, flickering lights, and the unsettling sensation of being watched. These ghost stories have woven themselves into the university’s legacy, prompting ongoing curiosity and caution among students. Despite skepticism from some, the haunting phenomena contribute to the lore of UH Hilo, making it a place where the past seems to linger.

Read the whole story: The Haunted Rumors from the Dorms at the University of Hawaii at Hilo 

Are the dorms at the University of Hawaii at Hilo haunted? Often dubbed the Eerie Dorm, and is said to be haunted by a young boy who was killed at the site many years ago. 

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

The campus at Mānoa is the flagship campus of the University of Hawaiʻi system and houses the main offices of the system. The place was founded in 1907 and plenty of ghost stories have evolved throughout the campus dormitories and buildings.

The Haunted Frear Hall

The Frear Hall close to the Gateway House is said to be haunted by Mary Dillingham Frear. According to the stories, she is wandering around the halls with a key chain she was known for carrying in life. It is also said that she leaves her perfume scent hanging in the air. 

According to stories told by students and staff, they can hear her footsteps in the empty halls, even during daylight. It is also said that you can sometimes see flickering lights in the empty dorms as well as getting a feeling of being watched by someone, or something. 

Who is haunting the ninth floor in one of the dormitories at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa? For years, legend has told that the ghost of a former student is haunting the Hale Mokihana, still claiming the room as his own. 
Source

Haunting of the Ninth Floor at Hale Mokihana

At the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Hale Mokihana Dormitory is known for its eerie ghost stories, particularly concerning its ninth floor, which is rumored to be haunted by the spirit of a former student who tragically took his own life in the 1980s or early 90s. Numerous reports describe a ghostly figure resembling a young man, seen wandering the halls and often accompanied by sudden temperature drops and mysterious sounds.

Who is haunting the ninth floor in one of the dormitories at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa? For years, legend has told that the ghost of a former student is haunting the Hale Mokihana, still claiming the room as his own. 
Source

Some students have had unnerving encounters, claiming to see a dark figure at the foot of their bed stating, “This is my room. I died here.” While the university hasn’t officially confirmed the suicide, the legend persists, leading to varying accounts about which specific room or area is most haunted, with room 406 frequently mentioned.

Read the whole story: The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa: The Ghost of the Ninth Floor of Hale Mokihana

The Ghostly Tales of Hamilton Library at the University of Hawaii-Manoa

Hamilton Library at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is not only a study haven but also known for its haunted history. Students and staff report eerie experiences, including disembodied whispers and cold sensations. A notable ghost, referred to as the woman in the pink muumuu, has been sighted in the mauka wing of the library. Described as sorrowful yet serene, she vanishes when approached. Other haunted locations on campus include Hale Mokihana Dormitory, particularly its ninth floor, where a male spirit is said to roam, linked to tragic events in the past. The library’s haunting is thought to be influenced by its history, with some believing that spirits of devoted scholars linger among the books, enhancing its unique atmosphere.

Read the whole story: The Ghostly Tales of Hamilton Library at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Plenty of students trying to study in the Hamilton Library at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa claim to have encountered the ghost said to wander down the aisles of the library after dark. Who is the ghost wearing the pink muumuu and what does she seek?
First Floor: Source

Bonus Haunting at the Chaminade University’s

Although a private University not a part of the University of Hawai’i, the Chaminade University in Honolulu is known for its haunting tales spread throughout its campus as well and has become a part of the haunted college lore at Hawai’i. It is particularly in Dorm Lokelani, which is rumored to have been a children’s hospital during World War II. Many reports include disembodied voices of children and mysterious occurrences like doors opening by themselves and flickering lights. Notable stories involve a campus ghost—a former student who died in a car accident, and the unsettling experiences of a faculty member who encountered strange noises and lights that turned on by themselves.

It’s not just a single room on campus said to be haunted at the Chaminade University in Honolulu, it's not even a single dorm. Throughout the years of this Catholic University, plenty of ghosts are said to be lingering. 
Source

There are also tales of a haunted bridge where Dr. Kralemann’s mother reportedly levitated, and students at the Hale Hoaloka Dorm have witnessed children’s laughter alongside other paranormal activities. Specific rooms like 208 and 319 in Lokelani Dorm are particularly infamous for intense ghostly activity, including a tragic past and the presence of WWII soldiers. Overall, Chaminade University is a site where history and supernatural encounters merge, making it a unique place for those willing to explore the unknown.

Read the whole story: Chaminade University’s Paranormal Past and the Haunting of the Campus and Dorms

The Haunted Places of the University of Hawai’i

As the sun sets over the University of Hawai’i campuses, the shadows of the past come alive and each haunted site, from the ghostly whispers heard in the halls to the apparitions that roam the dormitories, gives life to the stories. Whether one believes in the supernatural or considers these tales mere folklore, they undeniably enrich the experience of campus life. As you walk through these storied grounds, do so with an open mind and perhaps a watchful eye—who knows what secrets the ghosts of the University of Hawai’i might share with those willing to listen?

Newest Posts

  • The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance by M.R James
    One of James’s lesser-known but fascinating tales — set at Christmas, it’s presented as a series of letters about a disturbing Punch and Judy show, a mysterious disappearance, and a spectral visitation on Christmas Eve.  It first appeared in print in the June 4, 1913 issue of the magazine Cambridge Review. It was published again in 1919 as part of the anthology A Thin Ghost and Others. 
  • The Ghost Soldiers of Rapperswil Ringing the Bell of St. John
    In the middle of the night, it was said that the bells of St. John Church in Rapperswil, Switzerland started to toll. When the churchwarden went to investigate, it was said that he saw the headless ghosts of the fallen soldiers from the Battle of Näfels holding midnight mass.
  • The Night of Christmas Eve by Nikolai Gogol
    Set in snowy Ukraine on Christmas Eve, this folkloric tale follows a trickster devil who wreaks havoc in a village while a young man seeks to win his beloved’s heart under supernatural influence.
  • Ghosts of the Holy Season: The Christmas Hauntings of Bern
    Each December, when the nights grow long and the spirit of Christmas fills the air, Bern’s holiday phantoms awaken. These tales from lore and legends, remind us that even amidst celebration, the spirits of bygone eras linger.
  • Jerry Bundler by W. W. Jacobs
    At a cozy inn on Christmas Eve, guests trade spooky stories—until a real, bloodstained intruder named “Jerry Bundler” appears, turning festive warmth into true fright.
  • The Haunted House of Ludington: A Christmas Ghost Story
    All year round, the residents of the House in Ludington, seem to be plagued by the ghost waking them up from their sleep and watching them from the rocking chair. Around Christmas time, the ghost is said to be the one placing the Christmas Angel on the Christmas Tree. 
  • The Dead Sexton by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
    In this chilling tale by J. S Le Fanu, the death of a corrupt church sexton on Christmas Eve unleashes supernatural events in his churchyard—as though his spirit lingers, disrupting the holy peace. First published in 1871.
  • The Gorbals Vampire: Glasgow’s Night of Terror
    One night, the Southern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow is filled with children. In their mind they are not playing, they are hunting the horrible vampire that is said to have taken the life of more than one child. The absolute mania of the Gorbals Vampire ended up passing several new laws. 
  • The Cursed Butcher Apprentice Haunting Rathausgasse in Bern 
    Said to be cursed after torturing a calf, the butcher apprentice is now cursed to haunt the old butcher street for eternity. For centuries now, people claim to have heard the horrid sound of hooves clattering on the ground as he was transformed into the very thing he tortured for fun.
  • The Vampire Secrets of Glamis Castle: Bloodlines and Bloodlust in Scotland’s Haunted Fortress
    In one of the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland, Glamis Castle is said to be filled to the brick with ghost stories and legends. According to the stories though, there is seemingly something more monstrous and more blood thirsty said to be sealed inside of the bricked up secret chambers, waiting to get out. 
  • Mayor Rudolf Brun’s Ghost Under St Peter’s Church Tower in Zurich
    After the exhumation of the graves of one of Zurich’s mayors who died under mysterious circumstances people started talking about seeing his ghost wandering around the church tower and wall of St. Peter. Could the ghost of Rudolf Brun, who ruled during volatile times in the city have returned?
  • Blood in the Soil: The Chilling Tale of the New England Vampire Panic
    Centuries after the witch panic in Salem, New England was gripped by another entity – vampires! Thought to crawl out from their graves at night and back to their remaining family to feed and consume the life of them. This has later been known as the New England Vampire Panic The only way to stop them was to dig them up and set them on fire. 

References:

Leave a Reply