Ghosts of ‘Iolani Palace
Iolani Palace stands as the only royal palace in the United States, a symbol of Hawaii’s regal history and grandeur. But beneath its elegant exterior, the palace has been the backdrop for a chilling tale of ghostly encounters.
Were They Ghosts?
This particular story dates back to 1893.
One night, a guard stationed near the bungalow—now the site of the Hale Koa Barracks—reported a strange and unsettling sight. He saw three men loitering near the area, their presence suspicious enough to prompt him to call out and order them to stop. When the men ignored his command, the guard fired his weapon, hoping to deter them.
Moments later, another shot echoed through the night. It came from the Kina‘u gate on Richards Street, where a different soldier had seen only two men and, believing they were the same intruders, fired at them as well. The confusion between the two guards led to a tense situation, but it was the disappearance of the third man that deepened the mystery.
The third man, who had been seen carrying a peculiar bundle, vanished without a trace. The initial guard’s report had described the man’s bundle as mysterious, adding to the enigma of the night. Despite a thorough search conducted by a squad of men, no trace of the intruders—or the strange bundle—could be found.
As the story of that night spread, some speculated that the guards might have encountered spirits rather than living men. The area around the bungalow, after all, was reputed to be haunted. The idea of ghostly apparitions lingering around Iolani Palace was not far-fetched in the local lore. People suggested that the men seen by the guard could have been ghosts, their presence a spectral remnant of times gone by.
The Ghost of a King and his Guardian Ancestor
In the 1950s, not many living Hawaiians were willing to admit that they’d seen the ghosts of Kamehameha III and the great warrior, Iwikauikaua strolling about the grounds of ‘Iolani Palace... Yet, despite the reluctance to speak of such encounters, their spectral appearances are well-documented in the State Archives.
Back when high walls and iron gates surrounded the palace grounds, the Kauikeaouli Gate at the front of the palace, facing King Street, were rarely opened, except on grand occasions—when royalty or esteemed foreign dignitaries were expected.
But occasionally, the silence of the night was shattered by a thunderous noise, like a colossal foot striking the lock of the front gates. With a gust of wind, the gates would swing open, revealing the formidable figure of Iwikauikaua, carrying his own head under his arm, followed by the regal form of Kamehameha III.
The guards, upon witnessing these ethereal visitors, would immediately fall to their knees, prostrating themselves in reverence before the spectral chiefs as the ghostly pair made their way up the steps of the palace.
It was said that Iwikauikaua, the guardian ancestor of Kamehameha III, would manifest to protect and guide the ruler, ensuring that his presence was felt even in the afterlife.
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