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

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.

At the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, whispers of ghost stories and strange happenings are often shared among the student body, but none are quite as chilling as the haunting of Hale Mokihana Dormitory and the ghosts said to haunt it.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

Tucked away on the flagship campus of the University of Hawaii in the Manoa Valley, this residence hall appears like any other—until you hear the stories about its notorious ninth floor. The Hale Mokihana is part of the Hale Aloha Towers built between 1970-71 and houses around 260 students in each tower.

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

The Tragic Past of a Former Student at the Ninth Floor

Legend has it that in the early 1990s or perhaps the 80s according to some sources, a freshman student took his own life in one of the rooms. His name has been lost to time, but his story lingers in the memories of those who live and work at Hale Mokihana. Since that tragic event, the dormitory’s ninth floor has been shrouded in an aura of sorrow and mystery.

Students and staff have reported seeing a ghostly figure wandering the halls of the dorm, often late at night. The apparition is usually described as a young man in his early twenties, often seen standing near doorways or walking slowly down the hallway.

Many who have encountered the spirit report an inexplicable drop in temperature as they pass him. Others describe hearing faint whispers, just at the edge of perception, that seem to come from nowhere and everywhere all at once. The faint sound of shuffling footsteps, the creak of a door opening and closing, and the soft, mournful sighs echoing down the corridor are common occurrences, leaving residents unsettled and unable to sleep.

Ghosts Whispering: “This Is My Room”

The most unnerving experiences, however, happen within the confines of the dorm rooms themselves. Some students report waking up in the middle of the night, only to find a dark figure standing at the foot of their bed. At first, they assume it’s a roommate or another student—until they hear the words: “This is my room. I died here.”

As the stunned student blinks and rubs their eyes, the figure slowly fades away, leaving nothing but the lingering chill of his presence. Some have even reported feeling a light touch on their shoulder or hearing a gentle breath against their ear, followed by that chilling declaration.

For those who encounter him, it is an experience they will never forget—an encounter that often drives them to request a room change or even move out of the dorm altogether.

Unsolved Mysteries and Lingering Spirits at Hale Mokihana

What makes the haunting of Hale Mokihana particularly eerie is the lack of concrete details. The university has never confirmed or denied the suicide in the dorm, leaving the legend to grow and evolve with each retelling.

But what room was the most haunted one exactly? According to some it was in a janitor’s closet on the side of the bathrooms with a sink in it he hanged himself. Or was it actually the entire ninth floor as some claim?

According to another source, room 406 has also had strange things happening in the dead of night attributed to the dorm ghost.

The Haunted Frear Hall at The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

It is not only the Hala Mokihana Dorms said to be a haunted location at the University. 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 keychain 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.

The Eternal Resident of Hale Mokihana

It is said that every few years, a new wave of students discovers the truth about Hale Mokihana’s haunted history. Some stay out of curiosity, eager to experience the paranormal; others quickly pack their bags and transfer to another building, unwilling to share their living space with a ghost who claims the room as his own.

So, if you find yourself assigned to Hale Mokihana’s ninth floor, be prepared. You might wake up one night to find a shadowy figure at the end of your bed, reminding you that, for some, this dormitory was—and always will be—their final resting place.

Newest Posts

The Ghost of Marshalsea Barracks: The Prison That Never Slept3. April 2026
After falling to his death trying to escape the debtor’s prison, The Marshalsea Barracks in Dublin, it is said the ghost of Pat Doyle is haunting the remaining walls of the ruins.
The Linden Tree of Linn: A Living Monument to Death, Hope, and Haunting Whispers2. April 2026
Planted to mark the mass grave of plague victims, the Linden Tree in the Aargau valley in Switzerland has become a famous landmark. In the night though, it is said that the ghosts buried underneath it crawls from the ground to haunt as a warning for any oncoming tragedies.
The Brazen Head: Dublin’s Oldest Pub and Its Restless Rebel1. April 2026
A rebel and freedom fighter for Irish independence is said to haunt his favorite pub, The Brazen Head in Dublin, where it is said he plotted his fight against the English.
Black Cat Ghosts of Bern: A City Haunted by Feline Phantoms31. March 2026
The black cat in European folklore is shrouded in mystery and magical lore. From the old parts of Bern, ghost stories of ghostly black cats linger in the shadows, reminding about the old fear the feline specter used to hold over people.
The Haunting of Münchenstein’s Rectory Marini House30. March 2026
Right outside Basel in Switzerland, the haunted former Rectory in Münchenstein is said to be haunted by one of its former priests.
The Ghost Procession of Basel and the Dance of Death26. March 2026
Mirroring the famous Dance Macabre mural that used to hang on the walls near the Predigerkirche in Basel, it is said that plague victims were buried in the patch of grass outside of the church. Legend has it that when the city needs it, the dead will rise from it in a macabre procession, as a warning of an oncoming disaster.
The Haunted Halls of the Bern City Hall (Rathaus)24. March 2026
Where history whispers and shadows reign, the Rathaus in Bern is said to be haunted by a myriad of ghosts. Who are the ghosts lingering in the City Hall after dark?
The Restless Dead Buried Inside of Basel’s Double Cloister23. March 2026
The two adjoining cloisters by Basel Cathedral are said to be haunted by a couple of spectres entombed within the building. In the darkness of Basel’s Double Cloister, it is said you can hear the moaning of a man slowly suffocating and feel the unsuspected slap from a man, as mean in death as he was in life.
The Portobello Bar: Spirits on the Canal20. March 2026
A lock keeper from the adjacent lock next The Portobello Bar in Dublin is said to be haunting it. Ever since his mistake cost the lives of someone crossing, he is said to be lingering in the area.
Val Sinestra Hotel and the Ghost of Hermann Haunting the Lower Engadine19. March 2026
In an old sanatorium in Switzerland the ghost of Hermann is said to have been haunting for ages. But who was he when he was alive, and what was his true name before he died in the remote fortress up in the mountains? And is he still haunting the old halls where he never made his recovery?
Glasnevin Cemetery and the Faithful Ghost Dog still Waiting for his Master18. March 2026
After his master died at sea, the faithful dog was by his master’s grave, day in and day out. After dying of hunger and grief it is said that the Newfoundland dog is still seen, slipping between the graves at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.
The Ghosts of the Sinful Nuns Haunting Bern17. March 2026
Once, the city of Bern was filled with nuns working and living inside of the city walls. According to ghost stories though, some of them remained, even after the Reformation that closed their convents down. And those stories tell about them being guilty of terrible things with terrible ends.