The Lingering Ghosts of Pearl Harbor

Posted: 12.22.2024 | Updated: 12.26.2024

Those who frequent the streets of Honolulu may associate it with the gentle sound of waves crashing, laid-back vibes, and the delicate scent of plumeria flowers wafting along the ocean breeze. But beneath this tropical atmosphere, a dark history refuses to be drowned out. 

The city of Honolulu remains haunted by the tragedy of Pearl Harbor, the memory of which still painfully lingers over 80 years later. Although the majority of the lives that ended that day were military servicemen and crewmembers, around 49 civilians also perished. Many attest the spirits of these abruptly lost souls still haunt the city, many of whom are unaware of their passing. 

Continue reading to uncover the mysteries submerged beneath this paradisal city’s crystal clear waters and learn of the ghosts who inhabit its islands, memorials, and waterways. Interested in touring this city on foot? Book a spectral ghost tour with Honolulu Haunts.

What Happened at Pearl Harbor?

On December 7th, 1941, Japanese forces issued a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. This unexpected aerial assault on O’ahu Island devastated the surrounding U.S. forces, destroying numerous aircraft and military vessels. More than 2,000 lives were lost within the hour, ultimately prompting the United States’ entrance into WW2. 

Dec 7th, 1941: A Devastating Assault on Honolulu

For several years, tensions had been rising between the United States and Japan, culminating in the shocking attack on Pearl Harbor. 

It was at 7:55 am when the first dive-bomber emerged over Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, acting as just one of almost 200 aircraft that would wreak havoc on the site. At the time, many U.S. aircraft were crowded densely together at the Naval Air Station located on Ford Island, as well as the connecting Hickam Field and Wheeler Field.

Destruction was massive, with over 180 aircraft being destroyed. Simultaneously, an assault on Kimmel’s Fleet was underway as Japanese bombers laid their attacks on anchored ships in the harbor. 

Several ships received immense damage. The USS Oklahoma was hit by four torpedoes and turned over completely, killing 400 individuals. The USS California was directed to be abandoned after being torpedoed. It sank slowly into the shallow waters as stunned witnesses watched. Both The USS West Virginia and USS Utah also sunk. 

Most devastating of all was the USS Arizona. The battleship exploded after a bomb hit its ammunition magazine, resulting in more than 1,100 sailors’ deaths. The ship remains submerged to this day. 

A second wave began at 8:50 am that Sunday morning. The battleship USS Nevada having suffered a hit from a torpedo during the first wave, had attempted to move. The second wave barraged it with around a half dozen bombs, grounding the ship. Meanwhile, the USS Pennsylvania became ignited, reducing the two destroyers fastened nearby to ruins. 

Just after 9 am, Japanese forces withdrew, leaving the island of O’ahu shocked and devastated. More than 2,300 lives were lost and a further 1,178 wounded. Many believe a considerable number of these souls remain tied to the site today. 

Ghostly Happenings at the USS Arizona Memorial 

A memorial now sits atop where the USS Arizona sank, situated directly over the wreckage of the submerged ship. President Eisenhower authorized the memorial’s construction in 1958, and in 1961, the memorial was completed. The commemorative structure, designed by architect Alfred Preis, conveys a symbolic meaning, expressing preliminary defeat and eventual victory. 

Those who travel by boat to this stirring memorial have experienced many otherworldly sensations. Visitors often describe feeling an inexplicable and profound sadness upon visiting the site, as if an immense tragedy were freshly penetrating their souls. This feeling mysteriously lifts upon leaving the memorial.

A swarm of unexplained activity is also known to occur here. Whispers, voices, and occasionally alarm bells have been heard, although none have been officially sounded. Some have encountered the smell of burning and heard clanging sounds stemming from the hull as if someone were knocking a wrench against it to capture their attention. 

Others have reported the sounds of battle, the screams and cries of men, and even observing figures running along the submerged decks of the ship. Some have described seeing men in the water or a figure standing on the memorial, looking into the waters below. 

Still, others have seen apparitions dressed in WW2-era naval uniforms or heard footsteps. Other stories circulate about a dark mist that appears over the water, resembling a Japanese plane. 

These strange happenings could be attributed to any number of persons whose lives unexpectedly ended that infamous December morning. Over 900 sailors lie below the memorial, eternally entombed in the ship. Another 40 or more Arizona crew members who survived that fateful day have decided to join their former crew members as well, having their ashes added to the sunken wreck.

Charley and the Spectres of Ford Island

Strange happenings are also said to plague the residents of Ford Island, another central target destroyed during the attack. Locals living here have encountered disembodied voices and phantom footsteps within their homes. Others have reported objects moving, lights or electronics switching on and off without explanation, and dark shadows. 

The Ford Island airstrip also has notable activity. Visitors have described an intense feeling of panic or urgency at this site and have encountered a bizarre glowing mist. 

A playful specter also haunts the site and surrounding area, which residents often simply call “Charley.” Charley is known to turn on water faucets unexpectedly or to accompany heavy doors opening by themselves and radio stations flicking on. Loud footsteps in vacant hallways or the sounds of jangling keys are also attributed to his presence. 

Still, not all of the uncanny events on Ford Island are as lighthearted as the ghost of Charley. Residents have claimed to have overheard the sounds of men moaning, as if injured or in pain, or to have heard the sounds of men running past in heavy boots. An especially unlucky few have observed ghostly apparitions wandering the island, appearing to be lost or unsure of their destination. 

Many attribute these strange sights to the fallen individuals who lost their lives so unexpectedly during the attack on Pearl Harbor. While some ghosts seem aware of their passing, like the benign spirit of Charley, others seem less cognizant. These lost souls appear to remain trapped in some in-between state, neither fully present nor fully at rest. 

Haunted Honolulu

The events of Pearl Harbor are unlikely to be forgotten any time soon, given how the spirits of Honolulu seem resolved to keep their stories firmly seated in our minds. In search of more accounts of the otherworldly and eerie? Continue reading more tales of Honolulu’s dark and ghastly past on our blog. 

To hear some of the Big Pineapple’s spookiest tales in person, book a haunting walking tour with Honolulu Haunts. And be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok to hear more from US Ghost Adventures.

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