The Haunting of Makua Cave

Honolulu County, Oʻahu, Hawaii

Makua Cave, located along the rugged western coastline of Oʻahu, Hawaii, is a site deeply rooted in Native Hawaiian spiritual tradition. Carved naturally into the rocky cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the cave is considered by many to be a sacred and powerful place. Unlike traditional haunted locations rooted in tragedy or institutional history, Makua Cave is associated with ancient belief, ancestral presence, and the concept of protective spirits.

In Hawaiian tradition, the term “Night Marchers,” or Huakaʻi Pō, refers to the spirits of ancient warriors who are said to traverse certain sacred paths after dark. Makua Cave is one of the locations often mentioned in connection with these spiritual processions. According to local lore, those who encounter the Night Marchers must show respect — lying face down and avoiding eye contact — or risk spiritual consequence.

Visitors to Makua Cave have reported unexplained phenomena, particularly at night. Some describe hearing distant chanting carried on the wind, footsteps on gravel with no visible source, or the sensation of being watched from within the cave’s shadowed interior. Others recount sudden drops in temperature or the feeling of overwhelming presence near the cave entrance.

The cave itself has long been considered a place of spiritual energy. Some believe it was used for ancient rituals or as a place of refuge. Oral traditions passed down through generations reinforce the belief that certain areas of the land should be approached with humility and awareness.

Skeptics suggest that the remote location, crashing waves, shifting winds, and the psychological impact of local legend can influence perception. The isolation of Makua Beach and the dramatic landscape create a powerful sensory environment, particularly after sunset.

However, for many residents of Hawaii, the presence associated with Makua Cave is not framed as a haunting in the Western sense. Rather, it is seen as ancestral guardianship — a continuation of spiritual stewardship over sacred land. The distinction is important. What some interpret as paranormal activity, others view as a reminder of cultural continuity and respect for history.

Makua Cave remains a place of striking natural beauty, framed by volcanic cliffs and open ocean. Visitors are encouraged to approach the site with cultural sensitivity, recognizing that it holds meaning beyond folklore.

The haunting of Makua Cave, if it is to be called that, may not be about fear or unrest. It may instead reflect the enduring presence of heritage, belief, and reverence — where land, legend, and memory converge beneath the Hawaiian sky.

Visitor Information:
Location: Makua Beach, Oʻahu, Hawaii
Note: Visitors should exercise caution and respect local customs when visiting this culturally significant site.

The Haunting of the Shanghai Tunnels in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon

Beneath the lively streets of Portland, Oregon lies a dark and eerie underworld — a hidden labyrinth of brick-lined tunnels, secret trapdoors, and crumbling passageways known as the Shanghai Tunnels. Once part of a bustling system that connected the city’s waterfront saloons and hotels to the Willamette River docks, these tunnels were the backdrop for one of the most sinister and chilling chapters in Portland’s history.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Portland was considered one of the most dangerous port cities in the United States. It was during this time that the practice of shanghaiing — the kidnapping of men to serve as forced labor aboard ships — reached terrifying heights. Unsuspecting victims were often drugged or knocked unconscious in local bars, then dropped through trapdoors into the tunnels below. There, they were held in underground holding cells, sometimes for days, before being dragged through the tunnels to the docks and sold to ship captains as unpaid crew for long voyages across the Pacific.

Women were not safe either. Tales of sex trafficking, brothels, and illegal gambling dens lurk in the oral histories of the tunnels, adding layers of darkness to an already disturbing past. The air underground is damp and stale, and the silence is broken only by the echo of your own footsteps. Some say it’s also broken by ghostly whispers.

Paranormal investigators and curious tourists alike have reported spine-tingling encounters in the tunnels: disembodied voices, the sounds of chains dragging along the floor, sudden temperature drops, and shadow figures lurking just out of sight. Some claim to have felt tugging at their clothes, as if unseen hands were trying to pull them deeper into the darkness. Others report an overwhelming feeling of dread or nausea, as though the walls themselves are heavy with suffering.

One of the most well-known spirits said to haunt the tunnels is that of a man named Sam, a supposed shanghai victim who never made it out. He’s often seen in one of the old holding cells, his presence marked by flickering lights and cold spots. Visitors also report hearing faint cries for help, or footsteps following close behind — only to turn and find no one there.

Today, sections of the tunnels are open to the public via guided tours that delve into Portland’s seedy and supernatural past. But be warned — the stories aren’t for the faint of heart, and the tunnels themselves, even with lights and guides, remain deeply unsettling. The past may be buried, but in Portland’s underbelly, it’s far from forgotten.

Address: 120 NW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97209 (Hobo’s Restaurant – tour entrance)

Phone: (503) 622-4798 (Cascade Geographic Society – for tour reservations)

Website: shanghaitunnels.info

Guided tours available through the Cascade Geographic Society. Reservations recommended. The tunnels are uneven and dim — not suitable for everyone.