Kawaiaha’O Church | Oahu’s Oldest Church
Posted: 07.25.2024 | Updated: 04.15.2025
An ancient Hawaiian saying warns, “Every time you cut the earth, you cut the dead.” This is nowhere more evident than at the historic Kawaiaha’o Congregational Church on Punchbowl Road. Oahu’s oldest church is just a stone’s throw from the haunted Iolani Palace and shares an eerie legacy.
Welcome to Honolulu, a paradise of white sand, crystal-clear water, and world-renowned seafood. Yet, beneath this picturesque exterior lies a land where the living mingles with the dead. Centuries of bloody history are buried just below the surface.
Keep reading to learn more about this haunted paradise. To discover some of Honolulu’s most haunted places in person, book a Honolulu ghost tour with Honolulu Haunts!
The Oldest Church on Oahu
Kawaiaha’o Church is Hawaii’s “Mother Church,” the first and oldest standing Christian Church on Oahu. When missionaries arrived in Honolulu in the 1810s, King Kamehameha II welcomed them. He then ordered the construction of three Mission Houses around a central chapel.
However, when they began digging in the 1830s to build the chapel, they unknowingly disturbed the final resting place of hundreds of souls. This disturbance awakened something angry that continues to haunt visitors to Kawaiaha’o.
Why is the Kawaiahaʻo Church haunted?
Kawaiahaʻo Church, often referred to as the “Westminster Abbey of the Pacific,” is one of the oldest Christian churches in Hawaii. It’s rich history dates back to the early 19th century.
It is located in Honolulu and has been a significant site for Hawaiian culture and history for centuries beforehand. The haunting of Kawaiahaʻo Church is attributed to several factors. The most common theories point to the Church once being a royal burial ground. These ali’i, or Hawaiian rulers, have long been distrubed and are not happy about it.
History of Kawaiahaʻo
Kawaiahaʻo Church was built on a royal cemetery and therefore is sacred ground. Before the church was constructed, the site served as a burial ground for Hawaiian royality.
Disturbance of these ancient burial sites during construction and subsequent activities is often cited as a reason for the otherworldly occurrences happening to this day.
The Kawaiahaʻo Church was built between 1836 and 1842 using over 14,000 coral blocks quarried from the ocean. This arduous process was labor-intensive and dangerous, leading to injuries and possibly deaths among the workers, contributing to the site’s eerie reputation.
Kawaiahaʻo Church has also witnessed many significant events in Hawaiian history, including the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and various royal ceremonies. The emotional energy from these events, including the sorrow and turmoil of the Hawaiian people during the overthrow, is believed to linger within the church grounds.
The church was the place of worship for Hawaiian royalty, including King Kamehameha III and Queen Emma. Many members of the royal family were associated with the church, and their spirits are believed by some to still reside there.
The church’s proximity to the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii, where many royals are buried, adds to the belief in the presence of their spirits.
Hauntings at Kawaiahaʻo Church
Visitors and churchgoers have reported seeing the ghosts of Hawaiian chiefs near the ancient burial sites. There are frequent reports of unexplained sounds such as chanting, footsteps, and whispers. They are believed to be the voices of spirits from the ancient burial ground or Kawaiaha’o church cemetery.
People have experienced sudden drops in temperature and the feeling of being watched or touched by unseen entities, especially in certain areas of the church known for their historical significance. Some have reported seeing strange lights or orbs in and around the church, believed to be manifestations of spiritual energy.
Kawaiahaʻo Church’s haunted reputation stems from its rich and complex history, construction on ancient burial grounds, and significant role in Hawaii’s royal and cultural heritage. The combination of historical events, cultural beliefs, and reported ghostly activity all contribute to the Kawaiaha’o church’s haunted activity.
The Hawaiian belief system, which includes respect for the spirits of ancestors and the concept of mana (spiritual energy), plays a significant role in the interpretation of these hauntings. Disturbing sacred sites and failing to honor the spirits appropriately can lead to hauntings, according to Hawaiian tradition.
Kawaiaha’o Church Cemetery
Church workers have also reported hearing wind howling through the Kawaiaha’o Church Cemetery like a scream. They see visions of young maidens wandering among the gravestones, leaving hibiscus flowers on the graves of former lovers.
But there is more. If you visit Kawaiaha’o, now a national historic landmark, take a moment to sit beneath the breadfruit trees and look up. According to local lore, these trees have witnessed countless acts of brutality. Pain inflicted by missionaries, the violence of American forces in the late 19th century, and internal Hawaiian conflicts, the trees remember it all.
Kawaiaha’o is notorious for the night marchers, the spirits of dead Hawaiian warriors who descend from the mountains on moonless nights. These ghostly armies march to the beach, where they hold drum circles, banging and chanting.
While many across the island hear them, few have seen them. Locals advise that if you do happen to see them, you must bow your head in deference as they pass, or risk having your head collected as a trophy.
The ominous sound of the Night Marchers’ stomping feet is enough to send chills down anyone’s spine. NIght Marcher sightings are so common at Kawaiaha’o Church that local police often receive calls from the national historic landmark.
Haunted Honolulu
Honolulu is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. For dedicated ghost hunters, it offers the perfect blend of beachside relaxation by day and thrilling ghost hunting by night. Honolulu Haunts will reveal the dark side of the sunny isles, taking you on a journey through the haunted history of Oahu and Honolulu.
Experience the haunted history of Kawaiaha’o Church and other spooky sites on a Honolulu ghost tour with Honolulu Haunts tonight!
Read our blog for more information about haunted churches in Hawaii and everything else the island nation holds. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to look at more spooky content from across the United States!
Sources:
- https://www.khon2.com/news/local-ghost-storyteller-explores-the-most-haunted-places-in-hawaii
- https://buffalonews.com/article_42288d83-e1c7-5014-88c8-26450422df22.html
- https://kawaiahaochurch.com/historic-walking-tour/
- https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/oahu/regions/honolulu/kawaiahao-church
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