Restless Spirits at the Salvation Army
Prisons on ‘Oahu
The first prison on Oahu was at Fort Kekuanohu... also known as Fort Honolulu or “The Old Fort.” Fort Kekuanohu was once located at the bottom of Fort Street where Walker Park and the Topa Financial Center is now. In 1840, Kamehameha III initiated and implemented Hawaii’s first constitution. With these newly adopted set of rules, the penal laws written within outlined classes of offenses and punishments, with death being the penalty for murder.
The first hangings in Hawaii was Kamanawa, a high ranking ali‘i and the grandfather of King Kalakaua and Queen Lili‘uokalani, along with his accomplice Lonopuakau. The gallows were erected above the gate of the Old Fort so that they could be easily seen for some distance. The hangings occurred at the Old Fort up until 1857, when prisoners were finally moved to the new Oahu Prison in Iwilei also known as “The Reef.”
A New Prison
The new Oahu prison was built in Iwilei, on marshy land at the end of a coral road surrounded by fish ponds. It was sometimes called the “Oʻahu Prison,” “King’s Prison,” “Kawa Prison” or, simply, “The Reef.”
The gallows were built in the courtyard near an immense banyan tree.
In 1916, the prison was relocated to Kalihi and was named Oahu Jail. Today, it is known as Oahu Community Correctional Center.
The Reef no longer stands and the surrounding marsh and fishponds were filled in to make way for Honolulu’s ever expanding populace. In its place sits an old building that now houses the Salvation Army Thrift Store. The Institute for Human Services (IHS) and the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s office is also located on the former Oahu Prison site.
People who work in those buildings or shop at that thrift store have claimed to see shadows moving where they shouldn’t be. Additionally, many who set foot in those places often complain about experiencing negative feelings -- anger, sadness, fear -- for no reason. But once they leave the buildings, they’re fine.
Beneath the tropical beauty of Hawai‘i lies a world of ghosts and legends. Mysteries of Hawaii—voted the nation’s best ghost tour in 2023 & 2024—takes you deep into the chilling history of Honolulu and Waikiki. Experience stories of real hauntings told by master storyteller Lopaka Kapanui.
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