Haunted Summer Palace of Queen Emma
Hanaiakamalama: Haunted Summer Palace
Tucked into Nu‘uanu Valley stands Hānaiakamalama, better known today as the Queen Emma Summer Palace—a place of royal retreat, deep sorrow, and lingering presence. While it is now preserved as a historic site, its past has long tied it to some of the most chilling accounts in haunted Honolulu.
Royal Residence in Hawaii’s History
Hānaiakamalama came into Queen Emma’s possession in 1857 after it was willed to her by John Young II. She and her family cherished the home, but tragedy soon followed. Her young son, Prince Albert Edward, died in 1862, followed by her husband, King Kamehameha IV, in 1863. Queen Emma continued to use the home as a summer retreat until her death in 1885.
After sitting vacant for several years, the property was auctioned in 1890. It required extensive repairs, and the Hawaiian government eventually acquired it.
A “Ghost Hall” in Nu‘uanu Valley
By 1902, the home had gained a reputation that extended far beyond its royal history. A newspaper article in The Hawaiian Star described the old dilapidated house as a true hale lapu, or “ghost hall,” noting that reports of strange and unexplained events were both numerous and credible.
Unseen footsteps echoed through the halls nightly. Visitors described both seeing and feeling presences, even in an empty house with shuttered windows and overgrown grounds—its appearance alone reinforcing its reputation as one of the most haunted places in Honolulu.
Accounts from those who stayed in the home are remarkably consistent and quite unsettling.
One of the most well-known involves William T. Seward, or “Major Seward,” who spent a night in the house. He awoke to see a regal Hawaiian woman accompanied by a veiled attendant. Each time he attempted to rise, he was physically forced back; once even feeling a cloth thrown over his head. After the encounter, a dark mark appeared on his thigh. It caused no pain but would not wash off. A friend later called it a “spook mark,” said to bring misfortune. Within two months, Seward was arraigned for treason.
Another visitor awoke to find the disembodied head of a young Hawaiian boy beside her. One guest fell asleep in one room and woke in another, tightly wrapped in his blanket. Groups reported hearing heavy furniture dragged across the hall, yet nothing moved before their eyes.
In one account, a boy felt his mother pass by, her skirt brushing against him. He saw her leave the room only for her to appear moments later from a completely different part of the house.
Even in calm conditions, objects moved without explanation. A guest described a heavy screen crashing down, then being dragged across the floor by something unseen, despite not the slightest breeze.
The reputation of Hānaiakamalama extended beyond those who dared to enter. Neighbors avoided the property altogether. Mangoes in the yard went untouched. Children were warned to stay away, especially after dark. Those who entered out of curiosity rarely stayed long, and few ever left without experiencing something unexplained.
Royal Spirits That Remain
Over time, reports began to center on familiar figures who once called the home their own. Witnesses claimed to see King Kamehameha IV in a dimly lit room at night. The spirit of young Prince Albert was said to appear playing in the halls. And Queen Emma herself has been seen quietly walking through her home.
These accounts, collected before 1902, form the foundation of the palace’s haunted reputation.
Though the house faced possible demolition in the early 1900s, the Daughters of Hawai‘i stepped in to preserve it in 1915. Today, it stands as a museum and cultural site, honoring Queen Emma’s legacy and Hawaii’s royal past.
Yet even now, Hānaiakamalama remains one of the most quietly unsettling haunted places in Hawaii; a place where history is not only remembered, but perhaps still felt.
More Sights to See in Haunted Honolulu
crowds listen to ghost stories in front of the haunted Iolani Palace and more on our haunted Honolulu ghost tour
From royal residences to forgotten gathering places, the islands hold stories that refuse to fade. If you’re ready to experience haunted Honolulu for yourself, join a Honolulu ghost tour and step into the places where history—and the unseen—still walk side by side.
Attend a Honolulu ghost tour to learn more about these haunted location where the Royal family once roamed, like ‘Iolani Palace, Kawaiaha‘o Church, and other famous sites. Hear the haunted history behind each location and understand some of the most haunted places in Hawai‘i.
