After the mysterious death of a wealthy guest, it is believed that the old Moana Surfrider is haunted by her ghost. What happened to Jane Stanford? Was she really killed or was it something else? And is she still haunting the hotel she died in, forever searching for her room?
The Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort and Spa, is one of Waikiki’s most luxurious and historic hotels. The Italian Renaissance style hotel was built in 1901, the grand Victorian-style hotel has stood the test of time, offering stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and an ambiance steeped in elegance. It was the first luxury property along Waikiki Beach, now filled to the brim with big hotels and often called The First Lady of Waikiki.
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However, behind the hotel’s pristine facade and charming atmosphere on the sunny beach, lies a chilling secret: the ghost of a famous guest who never truly checked out and is said to be haunting the hotel.
The Mysterious Death of Jane Stanford
On February 28, 1905, Jane Stanford, the co-founder of Stanford University, met a tragic end at the Moana Surfrider, back then called Moana Hotel. Stanford was staying at the hotel to recover from a murder attempt on her life—a strychnine poisoning back in California. She hoped the Hawaiian air would be a healing escape from her troubles and her apparent enemies wanting her dead. However, fate had other plans.
That night, Stanford complained of feeling ill and soon succumbed to a mysterious second poisoning of some sort. Her death shocked the nation, and while some ruled it a natural heart attack, others whispered of foul play and lingering intrigue.
As mentioned, it was not the first time she was poisoned. January the 14th the same year she was poisoned after drinking mineral water when she stayed at her mansion in Nob Hill in San Francisco. She managed to vomit the poison out. Her maid Bertha Berner was a suspect and fired, but never charged as there was seemingly no evidence, motive or leads. She was a trusted person who had served Stanford for twenty years, but she was also the only person present when the poisoning happened.
Sad and tired of it all, Stanford sailed to Hawaii to recuperate in the tropical air, thinking of continuing to Japan, but as circumstances would have it, she never left Hawaii.
What really happened is still uncertain and the circumstances surrounding her death remain unsolved. Was it someone else that finally succeeded in taking her life, and what motive did they have? Or was she as many claimed, simply weakened from the last poisoning and died of an illness?
The Lady in Search of Her Room
Many believe that Stanford’s spirit was left restless, forever tied to the place where her life was cut short. Over the years, guests and staff at the Moana Surfrider have reported eerie encounters with a spectral figure believed to be Jane Stanford herself. Dressed in early 20th-century clothing, her apparition is seen gliding through the hotel’s hallways, especially at night, searching as if trying to find her room. Some guests have spotted her walking through the hotel’s grand lobby or standing by the balcony, gazing out to the sea.
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Those who have seen her claim to feel a cold, inexplicable chill as she passes, her presence accompanied by the faint scent of lilies—the flower said to be Jane Stanford’s favorite. Others report hearing the sounds of a woman’s faint sobs or catching glimpses of her reflection in the windows and mirrors, only to turn and find no one there.
Unexplained Phenomena and Encounters
The mysterious sightings are not limited to Jane Stanford’s ghostly wanderings. Several guests have awakened in the middle of the night to find the room’s lights flickering or an odd sensation of someone sitting on the edge of their bed. Some hear light footsteps in the corridors outside their rooms, accompanied by an eerie whispering voice that seems to call out from nowhere.
Hotel staff often find doors that were securely closed left wide open, and objects have been reported to move on their own. One night guard swore he saw a woman matching Jane Stanford’s description walking toward the ocean. When he called out to her, she vanished before his eyes.
Other Ghosts Haunting the Moana Surfrider
But it is not the only ghost said to haunt the hotel. According to staff, there is also the ghost of a young girl, also wearing old fashioned clothes. It is said that the young ghost is often playing close to the staircase or wandering in the hallways at night.
A man in military uniform is also said to walk around the hotel. During world war two, the hotel was used as a recuperating place for soldiers coming and going to war. It is believed he was one of them and is often seen around the bar of the hotel or wandering the veranda, disappearing before other guests eyes.
The Mysterious Banyan Tree
As well as ghosts of former guests, there are also spooky tales about the Banyan tree planted in 1904 at the hotel premises. There are many stories about Banyan trees and it is said to draw supernatural energy and spirits to it. According to some, the banyan tree will make them feel a certain way, perhaps peaceful, perhaps an unexplained sadness. There are also those claiming to have heard voices and something sounding like laughter coming from the tree itself.
The Moana Surfriders haunted history has become part of its allure, attracting paranormal enthusiasts and curious visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the infamous ghost of Jane Stanford searching for her room. A thing she never will though as it is no longer there as it was removed to make the lobby bigger.
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