For generations, spooky stories about creepy public bathrooms or hitchhiking spirits have been swapped around hibachis and water coolers. Some are rooted in Hawaiian history; others are urban legends. And still others are so deeply personal, it’s almost impossible to dismiss them.

Here’s a list of haunted haunts, some known and others not, that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. (HONOLULU Magazine)

Old Waialae Drive-In Theater on Waialae Avenue

This outdoor theater, which closed in the 1980s, was next to an old graveyard. For years there were stories about a faceless woman who haunted the women’s bathroom, pounding on stall doors or appearing in the mirror. According to some accounts, the figure didn’t have feet, either.

The banyan tree at the start of Manoa Falls Trail

Banyan trees are said to hold lost spirits. But the one at the trailhead of Manoa Falls isn’t a peaceful holding area for these roaming souls. According to “Uncle Joe” Espinda, a tour guide on Oahu Ghost Tours, this tree is in the path of the night marchers, ghosts of ancient Hawaiian warriors. On some nights, he says, you can hear the faint sound of drumming.

Pacific Isle Mortgage, 379 Kamehameha Highway Suite B, in Pearl City

Workers in this two-story building reported strange, unexplained activity. One woman felt someone playing with her hair. Another heard children laughing and running through the hallways.

Wahiawa Elementary School, 1402 Glen Ave.

For several decades, sightings of a Green Lady, a scaly female creature, has been seen in the wooded area next to the school.

Atlas Insurance Building, 1150 S. King St.

Residents who lived on this property prior to the building’s construction say a tormented spirit haunted the area. Patrons of Karaoke Room 2, which moved out of the building a few years ago, reported feelings of uneasiness in the women’s restroom. Some claimed they’ve seen a ghost appear in the bathroom mirror.

The 16th Avenue bridge in Kaimuki

Six years ago, a little girl was killed in a hit-and-run on this bridge. Residents say her spirit still haunts the area, asking pedestrians for help home, only to disappear at the end of the bridge.

Kipapa Gulch in Mililani

This was the site of a major battle in Hawaiian history. The bridge that spans the ravine has been the site of numerous head-on accidents. The gulch is also supposedly on the path of the night marchers, who proceed with torches from the mountains to the ocean. Residents and those who work in the area have reported seeing lights move down the mountainside and into the gulch and hearing the sounds of people crying under the bridge.

Oahu Community Correctional Center,

2199 Kamehameha Highway in Kalihi

This 950-bed jail is on the site of the former Oahu Prison. The gallows, where 47 men were hanged from 1909 to 1944, was converted into an office. Guards say they have difficulty sleeping in the squad room, which is located next to the execution chamber. And prisoners have reported hearing cell doors rattle.

Hamilton Library at the University of Hawaii-Manoa

Custodians and students claim they’ve heard strange noises and seen apparitions lurking in the library aisles and in the bathrooms. One janitor reported seeing a young woman dressed in a pink mu`umu`u walking around the mauka wing of the first floor.

Try these tips to make your Halloween festivities a little healthier for your family, party guests and trick-or-treaters.

For the Trick-or-Treater

• Fill up first. What kid doesn’t want to eat their favorite candy right when it goes into their trick-or-treat bag? Having a healthy meal BEFORE your kids go trick-or-treating can reduce their temptation to snack while walking or to overindulge, because their tummies will be full.

• Bag the monster bag. Choose or make a smaller collection container for your child and steer clear of the pillow case method. If you encourage kids to only take one piece of candy from each house, they’ll be able to visit more houses in the neighborhood.

• Get moving. Get some exercise by making Halloween a fun family activity. Walk instead of driving kids house to house. Set a goal of how many houses or streets you’ll visit, or compete in teams to do as many as you can. Bring a bottle of water and a flashlight, and wear comfortable shoes for walking.
• Look before you eat. Check expiration dates and inspect all edibles before allowing children to eat them. Don’t let children eat anything with questionable or unknown ingredients, especially if they have food allergies.
• Have a plan. Halloween can be a great time to talk with kids about moderation and making smart eating choices. Plan in advance how much candy they’ll be allowed to take at each house, keep, and eat. If they’re old enough, let them help decide what to do with excess candy. Some local dentists have buy-back programs or donate to a local shelter. 

Enjoy Halloween with these “free” Hawaiʻi inspired palaʻai (pumpkin) stencils. Get the whole ʻohana carving this spooky season. Click the link below.

(Mahalo, KŪ-A-KANAKA LLC: When Natives Thrive Everyone Benefits)

Directions:

1. Place soda bottle on several old towels or sheets. This will catch excess starch sprayed on the ghost.
2.  Carve a hole in the styrofoam ball so that it fits on top of the soda bottle.
3.  Straighten the hanger. Wrap it once around the soda bottle right underneath the styrofoam ball and arrange it for the ghost arms.
4.  Drape the cheesecloth over the form, allowing the material to pool at the bottom. This will be the base of the ghost and allow it to stand up. We unwrapped the entire cheesecloth, folded it in half, then draped it over the styrofoam ball and wire.
5.  Spray the cheesecloth liberally–the more starch you use, the stiffer your ghost will be.
6.  While the cheesecloth is still damp you can arrange it.
7.  Allow the cheesecloth to dry or you can use a hairdryer to speed the process up. We left ours out overnight and it was dry.
8.  Carefully lift the cheesecloth off the base. Cut some eyes out of felt, material or paper and glue them to the ghost.

Tips:

• Make sure you have enough cheesecloth pooling at the bottom, as this will be holding the ghost up.
• Be patient. It takes some time for the starch to dry completely, especially if there is rainy weather or high humidity.
• If you want a taller ghost, put the soda bottle on top of a box or overturned bowl.
• Do not use newspapers or paper towels on the bottom instead of towels or sheets. The starch will stick to paper as it dries.

Mahalo honolulumagazine.com