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 Hilo (UH Hilo) is known for its lush, sprawling campus nestled between the ocean and the mountains on the Big Island of Hawaii. A perfect place for studying, but what is lurking in the shadows of the dormitories?
Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA
Because beneath the University of Hawaii at Hilo picturesque surface lies a darker history, one that whispers of hauntings, eerie dormitories, and restless spirits. Founded in 1945 as Hilo Center at Lyman Hall of the Hilo Boys School, UH Hilo has grown into a significant institution, but it hasn’t shaken off its haunted past.
The Origins of the Hauntings
UH Hilo’s residence halls are all named with the Hawaiian word for “house,” or hale. These dorms are Hale Kauanoe, Hale Kanilehua, Hale Kehau, Hale ‘Ikena, and Hale ‘Alahonua. But according to local legend, one of these dorms, often referred to as the “Eerie Dorm,” holds a chilling secret. If we are to believe what theshadowlands reports, it is the Hale Kanilehua that is the haunted one although it is rarely mentioned which one is the haunted one.
Hale Kanilehua, meaning House of the Sound of the Rain Falling on the Lehua Blossom, is a classic dormitory layout shared by two residents and often thought to be the one dormitory that is haunted. The dorm was allegedly built over the site of an old haunted house.
According to the tale, during the demolition of this house, a young boy was tragically killed while playing too close to the construction site. His spirit, it is said, has lingered ever since, haunting the dorm that now stands on the property.
The Little Boy in the Hall
The most common and unsettling reports of ghostly activity involve the spirit of the young boy. Students living on the ground floor of the dorm—specifically on the girls’ side—have reported seeing him late at night. He is often described as a shadowy figure, small and childlike, playing with a ball in the hallway. The chilling sound of his laughter echoes through the dorms, often followed by the rhythmic bouncing of his ball.
But the boy doesn’t just stick to the ground floor. Students on higher levels have heard the unmistakable sound of small footsteps running up and down the hallways in the dead of night, though no one is ever there when they look. Some have even reported feeling a playful tug on their bed covers, as though the boy were trying to pull them off.
Lights, Voices, and Cold Spots
The little boy isn’t the only spirit said to haunt the dorm. Stories tell of the previous homeowners—the family who once lived in the old house maybe—still lingering in their former abode. Students have experienced lights flickering or turning on and off by themselves. Some have heard voices late at night, as if someone were having a conversation just out of earshot, yet when they investigate, they find no one there.
Other students have complained of sudden cold spots in their rooms or hallways, despite the warm Hilo climate. These cold spots are often accompanied by a feeling of being watched, as if unseen eyes are always lurking nearby.
The Mysterious Moving Objects
Another common tale of the haunting at the University of Hawaii at Hiloinvolves objects mysteriously moving on their own. Books shift across desks, personal belongings disappear only to reappear in strange places, and even furniture has been reported to inexplicably shift positions.
Toilets have been known to flush by themselves when no one is near, and faucets turn on without any physical contact. Some residents believe this is another manifestation of the restless spirits that inhabit the dorm, always looking for ways to make their presence known.
Haunting or Hallucination at the University of Hawaii at Hilo?
While some students chalk these experiences in the dormitory at the University of Hawaii at Hilo up to overactive imaginations or campus folklore, the sheer number of reports makes it hard to dismiss the hauntings entirely. From eerie footsteps to ghostly laughter, the strange occurrences in the Eerie Dorm have become a part of UH Hilo’s legacy, passed down from one generation of students to the next.
As for the boy and the previous homeowners, their stories remain a part of the university’s haunted lore. Whether real or imagined, the spirits of UH Hilo seem determined to stay, making the campus not just a place of learning but also a site where the past refuses to rest.
For those brave enough to spend the night in the haunted dorm, the question remains: Will you be the next to hear the laughter of a ghostly child or witness the flickering lights that signal the presence of those who came before?
Newest Posts
- Davy Byrne’s Pub: The Ghost of James Joyce Still Raising a Glass
Said to appear in the mirror of his favorite place for a pint in Dublin, the ghost of James Joyce is rumored to still linger in Davy Byrne’s Pub. - The Tragic Ghost of the Maid Haunting Visnes Hotel
A maid who once worked at the hotel allegedly took her own life at the old Visnes Hotel, deep in the Norwegian fjords. Now it is said she is lingering in the afterlife in the old rooms she once worked in. - The Black Church: Where the Devil Waits in Dublin
A church with the sinister name The Black Church in Dublin has a legend that claims if you follow the ritual, you will be able to summon the devil. - The Nordic Grave Dwelling Haugbúi Draugr (ᛏᚱᛅᚢᚴᛦ)
An ancient ghost coming from the depths of graves across the nordic countries, the Haugbúi Draugr could be both dangerous and even deadly. Not merely a specter, but the rotten flesh of the dead, the ghosts are remembered as The Walking Dead of the North. - The Haunting of Hendrick Street: Dublin’s Most Cursed Corner
In the dark Hendrick Street in Dublin, there once were two houses said to be some of the most haunted ones in town. Occupied by at least six ghosts, some say they still linger in their old street. - The Richmond Vampire and its Mausoleum in Hollywood Cemetery
In the pre civil war Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, the mausoleum of W.W Pool is said to be the grave of The Richmond Vampire. A more recent urban legend is now also connected with The Church Hill Tunnel collapse. - The Headless Ghosts Haunting Dublin Castle
Said to be haunted by headless prisoners who tried to capture Dublin Castle, this storied building has shadows lingering in the corners. - Most Haunted Places in Bern, Switzerland
Old cities carry old ghost stories, and Bern in Switzerland is no exception. From the old buildings filled with history to the depth of the Aare river, here are some of the most haunted places in Bern. - Serbia’s Vampire Town Kisiljevo and the Undead Ruža Vlajna
Centuries after the vampire panic starting with the death of Petar Blagojević, another vampire was said to haunt the Serbian village, Kisiljevo. Who was Ruža Vlajna and what happened to her? - The Haunted Fields of Croppie’s Acre: Dublin’s Restless Rebellion Ground
Said to be the mass burial place for the dead Irish Independence rebels from 1798, the Croppie’s Acre in Dublin is said to be haunted by their lingering souls. - The Vanished Valley: The Fairies of Val Gerina
Once a green paradise, the legend says the fairies protected the people of Val Gerina valley in the Swiss alps. Driven by greed to impress a woman however, the son meant to continue the tradition and friendship with the fairies, brought it all down. - Trinity College: The Ghostly Scholars Who Never Left
Haunted by its former Fellows, Trinity College in Dublin is said to be filled with eerie spirits where even the bell tolls after dark when the shadows take over campus.
References:
Haunted Places on the Big Island of Hawaii
Spooky Haunted Places In Hawaii – Resortica Hawaii
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo – Wikipedia
Shadowlands Haunted Places Index – Hawaii
The 52 Most Haunted & Supernatural Places on the Big Island of Hawaii
