The Most Haunted Hawaiian Roads

Posted: 05.14.2025 | Updated: 05.14.2025

With tragic and fatal car accidents occurring every day, it only makes sense for there to be ghostly activities on the highways and back roads we travel on. Ghostly apparitions of crash victims or spirits searching for their long-lost loved ones are common urban myths and legends that have been passed down for generations in all parts of the world.

On the beautiful islands of Hawaii, there are several roads with haunting tales attached to them. From the spirits of ancient warriors who died in battle at the Pali Lookout to the spirit seeking help on the dark and mysterious Saddle Road, you are sure to see something lurking in the shadows if you drive around Hawaii long enough.

Are you ready to learn more about the most haunted places throughout Hawaii? Schedule your next ghost tour with us here at Honolulu Haunts for a spooky good time. We look forward to having you join us on our tours featuring tales of Honolulu’s haunted history.

What are some of the most haunted Hawaiian roads?

According to Hawaiian folklore, many of the highways and roads throughout the state are considered to be haunted. People have reported seeing a variety of spirits on some of the most commonly traveled roads, such as the Road to Hana, Saddle Road, and Pali Lookout.

Nu’uanu Pali Lookout on Oahu

If you are traveling through Oahu while visiting Hawaii, one of the places you can’t miss out on is Pali Lookout. This highway is one of the most popular routes along the island’s mountain range. While on this road, you get to see some of the most breathtaking views of the island. But with all of its beauty, there is a certain eeriness and sense of unease that few people are able to overlook.

Over a century ago, the people of Hawaii requested a tunnel that would make it possible for them to easily travel through the mountains. It took more than a hundred years for the project to be completed, with the first tunnel opening for one-way traffic in 1957. The second tunnel was completed in 1961, and the new Pali Highway was officially completed in December 1962.

When the new highway was finalized, the Old Pali Highway was closed and is now only used by hikers. It is said that the old road is where most of the ghostly encounters take place.

In 1898, the road that connected Windward Oahu with Honolulu was made into a highway. As the crew members were working on it, they discovered 800 human skulls, thought to be the remains of warriors, known by locals as the Night Marchers, who died by falling from the dangerous cliffs overhead.

The Legend of the Night Marchers

Those who travel to the Nu’uanu Pali Lookout late at night often have a story or two to share about the eerie encounters they’ve experienced with the local ghost legends, the Night Marchers. Also known as huaka‘i po, the Night Marchers are believed to be the spirits of the Hawaiian warriors who died many years ago.

According to the legend, the loud pounding of drums and haunting echoes of marching footsteps can be heard along the highway. Some people claim they’ve seen the ghosts hovering overhead, while others have said they will leave footprints behind on the land they travel on.

Some locals have seen the spirits carrying torches to light their way, chanting loudly while marching obediently in rows. Many believe they are responsible for sending large waves crashing into the ocean and gusts of mist in the air. When you hear the sound of a conch shell blowing in the distance, be prepared for a ghost encounter like no other.

Historians in the area believe the spirits of the marchers are on a ceremonial excursion. They were once the highly esteemed King’s men who were appointed to protect the holy chiefs from the common man.

If you come in contact with these phantom marches, there’s a strange way to avoid any harm from them. The legend says you must remove your clothing and lie face down on the ground in their path, and you should never make eye contact with them.

The Road to Hana on Maui

The natural beauty of the scenery as you travel down Maui’s Hana Highway is truly a sight to behold. This 65-mile road will take nearly a full day to travel on, but those who have taken the Hana Highway road trip say it is well worth the time spent driving the distance. Along the way, you are treated to viewing twin waterfalls, tropical jungles, and some of the most impressive ocean views in the world.

But as with anything with that much beauty, there is a price to pay. The road can be treacherous at times with blind curves, narrow lanes and bridges, washed-out sections, and very little space to prevent your vehicle from taking the plunge down the one-hundred-foot-high cliff.

The highway may offer spectacular views, but it is a drive that is not for the faint of heart. A number of fatal car accidents have occurred on Hana Highway. And as any haunting expert knows, sites where tragic deaths have occurred are most likely to be haunted by dark entities.

The Lady in White

One night, while traveling on Hana Highway, a couple met a hitchhiker standing by the road wearing a white dress, hoping to catch a ride. The couple couldn’t leave the lady in distress and quickly pulled over to give her a ride. She told them she needed to go to a location just a few miles outside of Hana.

The couple tried to have a friendly conversation with the lady in white, but she would simply reply to them with a calm smile. As they were getting closer to her destination, they turned to let her know, only to discover that she had vanished from their back seat. They looked all around the area and couldn’t find a trace of her.

As they drove into town, they stopped to talk to some locals, explaining what happened to them in concern for the missing woman. The locals informed them that they encountered their local legend, the ghost lady in white, who appears to travelers on the Road to Hana and always disappears before she reaches her destination.

Saddle Road on the Big Island

According to the legend, if you are driving on this road and you see an old Hawaiian lady with white hair hoping to catch a ride, it would be in your best interest to pick her up. The locals say if you do, you should take her wherever she wants to go, or else face the harsh consequences.

It is believed the elderly woman is the Goddess Pele, and if you refuse to pick her up and take her where she desires, she will curse you.

The story says there were once two men driving on Saddle Road, and they came across Pele. One of the men wanted to pick her up, while the other was against it.

Not long after that, a volcano erupted nearby. The man who didn’t want to help Pele had his home destroyed by the burning lava. But the man who did pick her up was safe from the destruction.

The locals say if you are ever driving on Saddle Road and you see an elderly lady who needs help, you should always take the time to stop and assist her; you never know who you may be turning away or what dark fate may await you if you refuse to be kind.

Haunted Honolulu

The beautiful Hawaiian islands may be a top getaway spot for those who want some rest and relaxation. But weary travelers should be aware that Honolulu and the surrounding areas are widely considered to be haunted by spirits of the dead.

Along with the haunted roads and highways mentioned here, there are also many other spooky sites where ghostly encounters have been reported. Places like the Iolani Palace are believed to be one of the most haunted locations in the world, where the ghosts of the last Hawaiian dynasty can be seen.

There are also parts of Downtown Honolulu where it’s been said that the ghosts of former residents come together in the evenings to gather.

If you would like to learn more about the haunted history of Hawaii, be sure to schedule a ghost tour with us here at Honolulu Haunts while vacationing in this beautiful, yet sometimes creepy, paradise.

Check out our blog for tales, facts, and legends throughout Honolulu. You can also follow us on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for details about haunted locations all throughout the United States.

Sources:

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• https://residualwhispers.wordpress.com/2022/09/12/nuuanu-pali-lookout-the-sacred-cliff-of-gods-and-warriors-in-oahu-hawaii/
• https://www.honolulumagazine.com/the-5-most-haunted-hikes-on-oahu/
• https://danielshawaii.com/pali-lookout-haunted-highway-in-hawaii/
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