Downtown Honolulu - Haunted Loku
1810 map of Honolulu showing Haunted Loku sites overlayed on 2021 map
Royal advisor to the Kamehameha dynasty, John Papa ‘I‘i, describes Loku as a place where men and women of every kind gathered in the evenings to enjoy themselves, and such places were known from the distant past. There were two loku much frequented at the time ‘I‘i was at court, one at the corner of King and Nuuanu Streets and the other at Kauanono‘ula, located at Merchant and Alakea Streets. Some of the amusements indulged in there were hula, chants, the recitation of narratives in chant form, and the telling of legends.
The ghosts of earlier participants are said to congregate in these places every evening from seven o’clock until midnight. Even the legendary night marchers are said to pass through these spaces.
William Drake Westervelt confirms these gathering spots for “wailua” or ghosts in his book “Hawaiian Legends of Old Honolulu” and added that the ghosts in these places made night a source of dread for all people. Westervelt translates Kauanono‘ula as “rain with the red rainbow.”
Several people who happen to work in these locations today say that their buildings are indeed haunted. While most of Downtown Honolulu closes by 6 or 7pm, nights they have to work late are especially creepy. Today, both of those Downtown sites are First Hawaiian Bank locations, with one of them being the main branch.
According to Mary Kawena Pukui et al, Kauanono‘ula means “the dark red rain.” Literally, “ka ua” is “the rain,” and “nono’ula” means “to flush or blush.” One legend about this area says that when Kaulanaikapoki‘i came here from the legendary land, Kuaihelani, rainbows attested her rank, hence the name of the place. It may also be named after a chiefess who was fond of playing the game, konane.
Often, an unwitting tour guide will say that the location of Kauanonoula is the actual intersection of Merchant and Alakea Streets, or even point (incorrectly) to the Podmore Building on the eastern corner of the intersection because the building looks old and spooky. However, our historians confirm the location being the northern corner of Merchant and Alakea Streets.
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