Hawaii’s Haunted Plantation Village

Worker's huts in the old village.

This village in Oahu is used to teach people about how sugar cane plantations were run in Hawaii in years past. 

The village’s collection of houses—several have been reconstructed-- reflects the immigrants that labored on this plantation from 1850 to 1950.

These immigrants were from China, Korea, Japan, Portugal, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. Native Hawaiians also worked on the plantation.

Guided tours of this living museum are given year-round that recount the history of the plantation—but in the fall tours are offered that reflect the plantations’ hauntings.

Of the 25 houses located at this plantation half of them are considered to be haunted—the Portuguese house being the most active.

Village

Most of the activity occurs at night but one small female ghost that resides in the Portuguese house has been known to play with school children and their mothers that tour the village during the day.

Village houses.

One Filipino female docent states that this little ghost touched her shoulder numerous times and flipped her hair. After this, she would not go back into the Portuguese house.

Later she was informed this little ghost is attracted to females because her mother abandoned her when she was little. She died in a house fire that occurred on the plantation. 

The Puerto Rican house has a mysterious doll that has been known to move from the case it is kept within.

One guide that works at the village states a “choking ghost” that resides in the Okinawan house followed him home one night.

Portuguese house.

The executive director of the village, Jeffery Higa, states he did not believe in ghosts when he first took this job in 2006. He has changed his mind.

There is so much activity at night that he does not go to the village alone. He takes his Collie with him. This dog typically does not bark, but often when he is with his master at the village, he stops and barks at something unseen.

One actor

The plantation village for a decade has hosted a “haunted plantation” attraction in the fall. This attraction includes over 60 actors and is so terrifying children under the age of 12 are not allowed.

There is an aggressive ghost in the Portuguese house that has physically attacked actors hired to work during this attraction. It is believed to be a male. 

Because of this, the actors are no longer allowed to work alone—they now work in pairs.

This rule was made after two female actors that worked alone in the Portuguese house had their legs grabbed. Later both discovered multiple bruises on their legs, which looked like fingerprints. One immediately quit.

Higa had the Portuguese house blessed and purified because of this activity.

More than 15 actors have quit over the years because of being spooked by the real hauntings at the plantation.

The following video done by Honolulu Magazine has Jeffery Higa and Noa Laporga talking about the ghostly activity that people have experienced while at Waipahu plantation.

The Night Marchers of Kipapa Gulch

The Kipapa Gulch is located in central Oahu in Hawaii. It is haunted by the spirits of Hawaiian warriors that lost their lives in a bitter battle that was fought here in the 15^th century.

The bridge today.

Today the bridge that crosses this gulch has experienced more than its fair share of freakish head-on car collisions. Some blame these accidents on the "evil" spirits that linger from this battle.

A Beloved King

The people of Oahu were starving. They rebelled and killed their chief.

They chose another leader named Mailikukahi. He was born in Kukaniloko, a place highly regarded because it was hallowed ground.

Mailikukahi became a beloved King. His wise, firm and judicious government has been compared to England’s King Arthur.

He opened schools to educate his people, a privilege once restricted to those of higher status.

Mailikukahi abolished human sacrifice. As a religious leader, he built Heiaus, which are temples, where his people could take refuge and be healed when they were sick.

He encouraged his people to cultivate the land and raise animals so they could feed themselves. He instated a code of laws that demanded the islands’ leaders stop stealing from the people or death would be the penalty.

He didn’t demand an auhau or tax from the people for they willingly brought the fruit of their labors to him.

The people of Oahu now prospered. Word of Mailikukahi’s accomplishments spread throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

But jealousy reared its ugly head.

Kipapa Gulch

The Battle of Kipapa Gulch

The peace and prosperity of Mailikukahi’s government intimidated the chiefs of Maui and the big island of Hawaii.

They were worried about his power and influence. Jealous of his successes, they worried it was a threat to the power they held over their own people.

In 1410, they declared war on Mailikukahi’s government. These two island chiefs invaded Oahu, landing in Waikiki--they then marched inland.

They met Mailikukahi and his men at Kipapa Gulch, where a gruesome battle ensued.

Battle of Kipapa Gulch

Mailikukahi and his warriors were able to prevail over these invaders. The bloodshed of the fallen, literally flooded this gulch.

The corpses of thousands of warriors that invaded Ouha lay dead. The name Kipapa was given to the area--meaning “paved way’’-- or paved with the dead.

The two leaders skulls were taken and placed on poles as a reminder to others of their fate if they chose to invade Oahu.

Restless Spirits

The Hawaiian people believe this bloody battle left behind many torn or unsettled spirits.

They state these fallen warriors haunt the Kipapa Gulch Bridge and the surrounding area. The many head-on car accidents that happen on this bridge are attributed to them.

So is this just a legend or do these spirits haunt this area?

Residents have reported seeing torches floating through the air--following a path down the mountain to the ocean through this gulch.

These Hawaiian spirit warriors are called the “Night Marchers.”

The White Lady

Another spirit said to haunt this bridge is a White Lady. She appears on this bridge at night dressed all in white.

When drivers pass by this bridge, the lady then just disappears. This recent story is similar to two others I share here and here.

The Kipapa Gulch Bridge is located between Mililani Town and Waipio.