Ghost of the Governor
Ghost of the Governor
Hawaii’s haunted State Capitol building.
Rumors persist that the spirit of Governor Burns still lingers, quietly watching over the house he helped build. The Capitol was meant to be a living symbol of Hawai‘i—its elements in harmony with land, sea, and sky. But for some, it may be more alive than expected.
Built in 1969, Hawai‘i’s State Capitol was a bold departure from the neoclassical style common to other U.S. capitols. Designed to reflect the islands themselves, the building trades traditional elements—like a dome or enclosed rotunda—for features inspired by nature and Hawaiian identity. A broad reflecting pool surrounds the Capitol, symbolizing the Pacific Ocean. Flanking the center are two cone-shaped chambers that represent the volcanic mountains from which the islands were born. Instead of marble colonnades, tall concrete pillars resembling coconut trees rise around the perimeter.
At the heart of the building lies an open-air courtyard exposed to sun, wind, and rain—a physical reminder of the islands’ connection to the natural world. During the building’s dedication, Governor John A. Burns emphasized this symbolic openness, noting the absence of doors at the main entrances and the lack of a ceiling to obscure the stars once followed by ancient voyagers.
Long after his passing in 1975, former Governor John A. Burns seems to have never truly left the Hawai‘i State Capitol—a building he helped envision and one he proudly dedicated as a symbol of Hawaiian openness and identity. As the first governor to serve in the new Capitol, his connection to the structure runs deep. Today, many believe that connection remains, manifesting in a distinctive and unmistakable way: the lingering smell of cigar smoke.
Stories of Governor Burns’ ghost often center around the Capitol’s upper floors. One account comes from a staff member who recalls occupying a fourth-floor conference room near the makai elevators, space that once sat directly beneath Governor Burns’ old office. Though she never saw anything, she could smell the distinct aroma of cigar smoke, even though no one was smoking.
In another case, a late-night work session took a strange turn. It was around 2 a.m., and only a few people were left in the building. A staffer recalls the moment vividly: without warning, the entire office filled with the powerful scent of cigar smoke. Confused and unsettled, they checked the halls… no one was there. A call to Capitol security confirmed the upstairs offices were empty. There was no explanation.
Over in the Lieutenant Governor’s office, which sits just down the hall from where Burns once worked, an administrative assistant experienced a gentler kind of presence. Between 2003 and 2007, she and her coworkers would sometimes notice a faint, non-intrusive scent of cigar smoke in the reception area. Oddly, the smell was often accompanied by the sensation of something lightly playing with their hair—like a feather brushing the crown of the head. It was never frightening, just strange.
Even outdoors, near the Capitol’s Queen Liliʻuokalani statue, stories continue. During a ghost tour led by the my old boss, Glen Grant, guests sat on the steps as he recounted tales of the Capitol’s past and catch the faint scent of cigar smoke.
Today, the Capitol’s design—its open courtyard to the sky, coconut-palm-shaped pillars, and Pacific-surrounded reflecting pool—remains a tribute to the land and people of Hawai‘i. And in the quiet moments, especially near the Governor’s former office or on the Capitol steps, some believe the spirit of John A. Burns still walks among them, his presence marked not by words… but by the ghostly trace of cigar smoke in the air.
Spirits Roam the Capitol of Haunted Honolulu
From the ghostly scent of cigar smoke to the whispers of a lingering presence, the Hawai‘i State Capitol stands among the most haunted places in Honolulu. Just steps from ‘Iolani Palace and surrounded by sites steeped in legend, like the Nuuanu Pali and the path of the Night Marchers, this modern structure holds echoes of Hawaii’s past and spirits that refuse to be forgotten. Join a Honolulu ghost tour and uncover the Capitol’s secrets along with other hidden corners of haunted Hawai‘i. We’ll show you the most haunted places in Honolulu!