The iconic resort, King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel in Hawaii is named after the one ruler uniting the Hawaiian islands. All these years after, he is believed to haunt the hotel, thought to be built on the ground of where he was buried. 

On the sacred shores of Kailua-Kona on Hawaiʻi Big Island, the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel is more than just a place to rest and relax—it’s a site steeped in history and allegedly haunted by the spirit of one of Hawaii’s greatest monarchs. 

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This iconic hotel in downtown Kona, located on the very grounds where King Kamehameha the Great once ruled, is said to be home to more than just its guests. Many believe that the spirit of the king himself lingers within the walls of this grand establishment and that this is where he is buried, watching over the land he once commanded.

The iconic resort, King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel in Hawaii is named after the one ruler uniting the Hawaiian islands. All these years after, he is believed to haunt the hotel, thought to be built on the ground of where he was buried. 
King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. // Source: W Nowicki/Wikimedia

A Legacy of Royalty Haunting King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel

The King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel stands on a site rich in historical significance. This area was once the heart of King Kamehameha’s kingdom, where the great ruler established his royal compound. King Kamehameha I, also known as Kamehameha the Great, is revered for uniting the Hawaiian Islands into one kingdom in 1810. His leadership, strategic prowess, and sheer force of will forever changed the course of Hawaiian history. The land on which the hotel now stands was part of his legacy, a place where he lived, ruled, and ultimately shaped the future of his people.

The iconic resort, King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel in Hawaii is named after the one ruler uniting the Hawaiian islands. All these years after, he is believed to haunt the hotel, thought to be built on the ground of where he was buried. 
King Kamehameha I: His full name was Kalani Paiʻea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiʻikui Kamehameha o ʻIolani i Kaiwikapu kauʻi Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea; c. 1736 – c. 1761 to May 8 or 14, 1819). Portrait of Kamehameha I based on the original life depiction by Louis Choris. The painting was done by James Gay Sawkins in 1850 and is apparently the only historical one that depicts the king in the ʻahu ʻula. It hangs in the Grand Hall of Iolani Palace.

In honor of the king’s profound impact on Hawaii, the hotel was named after him, and many elements within the property pay homage to his memory. However, as much as the hotel celebrates King Kamehameha’s legacy, it also seems to be the site where his spirit continues to reside.

Ghostly Encounters with the King

Guests and staff at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel have long reported eerie encounters that suggest the king has never truly left his beloved Kona. The most common sightings are of an apparition of a tall, regal figure, often described as a man dressed in traditional Hawaiian garb, walking solemnly through the hotel’s halls. 

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There are also stories about how the sounds of a distant battle and apparitions of warriors can be heard throughout the hotel hallways. 

The Haunted Portrait in King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel

It’s not only the king himself said to be haunting the hotel. Could it also be that a queen is also lingering? On the ground floor of the hotel there is a royal portrait of a woman hanging on the wall. The portrait is of Queen Liliuokalani and the painting is believed to be haunted as strange things keep happening around it. 

According to staff and some of the guests as well, this particular portrait is said to be haunted. If you believe the stories, the portrait is said to glare intently at you as well as inhale and exhale, almost as if a living soul is still residing in it. Could it be that the Queen herself is the one haunting it? Or could it be the spirit of someone else?

The iconic resort, King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel in Hawaii is named after the one ruler uniting the Hawaiian islands. All these years after, he is believed to haunt the hotel, thought to be built on the ground of where he was buried. 
Kona Beach

For those who are drawn to the paranormal, a visit to King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel may offer more than just a night’s rest. It could be a chance to walk in the footsteps of a king and, perhaps, feel his presence as he continues to watch over the land he once ruled with such strength and wisdom.

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