37 floors of ghosts. That is what they say about the Honolulu High Rise building, The Contessa Condominium. Built on top of what some think was a cemetery for the small pox victims, could they be haunting this place?
Across from the Hawaiian Humane Society, The Contessa Condominium in Honolulu is an unsuspecting tower of modern living, but beneath its polished exterior lies a sinister reputation. Some call it the most haunted building in all of Honolulu—a place where restless spirits roam the halls, where shadows lurk in every corner of the 37-story building, and where residents have reported eerie encounters that send shivers down the spine.
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Ghost tours have The Contessa Condominium as a stop and even websites with listings of the apartments for sale or rent mentions the haunting tales around the building and try to divert the attention away from the stories. But many who do are left with tales of unexplained happenings and ghostly apparitions and end up leaving because of it.
Legend of the Apartment Building
But why is The Contessa Condominium haunted? There are many theories floating around, but many claim that the building was built upon an old burial place. It was at least built where the Kamoiliili Church was located with its cemetery until it was demolished in the late 60s.
According to some there were many thousand people, up to perhaps 5000 people who died in the smallpox epidemic back in 1910 buried there. There is also the graveyard right next to it that people claim to see orbs float around. Could this be the reason behind the hauntings?
In fact, according to some, there were 466 bodies they exhumed in September in 1968 and moved to another cemetery. It is said that the bodies were re-buried at the Kawaiahao Church’s cemetery.
This upset many of the body’s relatives who even sued because of it. It was also said that only 206 of the exhumed bodies were even identified. Some say that not all the bones were removed as well and the spirits they belong to are now haunting The Contessa Condominium which was built in 1971.
A few have claimed to see shadowy figures darting in and out of view in their peripheral vision and some people claiming to be very receptive to the supernatural straight up have refused to go inside The Contessa Condominium because of what they see.
Others have heard footsteps trailing them as they walk through the building, only to turn around and find no one there. The elevator reaches the ground floor carrying only ghosts into the lobby. Some even swear they’ve heard disembodied laughter echoing down the stairwells in the dead of night—a chilling sound that starts softly and grows louder before fading away.
Ghostly Residents: The Ghost Dog and the Old Woman
Among the many entities said to haunt The Contessa Condominium, two stand out. First is the Ghost Dog that roams the grounds. Residents and passersby alike have reported seeing a spectral canine darting across the lawn or wandering the perimeter. Often described as a small, dark-colored dog, the apparition seems harmless at first glance—just a stray looking for a home. But those who have seen it up close swear that it is anything but ordinary. The dog appears suddenly and vanishes just as quickly, leaving behind no paw prints or evidence of its presence. Some claim to hear its faint whimpering at night, a mournful sound that echoes through the building’s halls, even when no animals are present.
But the spectral dog is not alone. There is also the ghost of an old woman who lingers at the bus stop in front of the building. She is often seen late at night, sitting quietly as if waiting for a bus that never comes. Witnesses describe her as wearing old-fashioned clothing, with a forlorn look on her face. Some have attempted to speak to her, only for her to vanish into thin air the moment they approach. Bus drivers passing by have reported seeing her too, a solitary figure under the dim glow of the streetlight, only to disappear in a blink. Rumor has it that she is a former resident who died tragically, and now, her spirit waits at the bus stop for eternity.
A History of Tragedy: Suicides
The Contessa Condominium’s dark reputation is further compounded by its history of suicides that are said to have happened more frequent inside of the building than other places.
Over the years it is said that several residents have taken their own lives within the building’s walls, leaving a lingering shadow over the property. Some say the atmosphere in certain units is thick and oppressive, as if the very walls have absorbed the despair of those who came before.
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This is for now just an anecdotal rumor that goes along with the rest of the ghost stories, and there really aren’t any true numbers we can have a look at.
Living with the Spirits in The Contessa Condominium
Is The Contessa Condominium truly haunted, or is it simply a place where the tragedies of the past have left a deep, lingering mark? For those brave enough to live at The Contessa, the supernatural presence is just part of life.
Some residents have made peace with the ghosts, acknowledging their existence but choosing not to be afraid. Others, however, find it hard to stay for long, citing the building’s unsettling energy and the ever-present feeling of being watched. A few have even broken their leases, convinced that something malevolent lurks within the building’s walls.
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