Throughout Punahou’s history, ghosts have been reported to haunt the campus, leaving many students and staff feeling fear and wonder surrounding some of the school’s historic buildings.

Many students and faculty are familiar with documented ghost stories such as the haunting of the girls’ bathrooms in Castle and Pauahi Hall. But are there more stories, lesser-known stories, floating around among students and faculty? Senior Dean Jonah Ka‘akua has come forward with a few of his own ghost stories, never before published. 

In an interview Mr. Ka’akua confirmed his belief in ghosts, citing an experience he had as evidence.

One night after a football game 10 years ago, Mr. Nishikawa and Mr. Ka‘akua were in Old School Hall when a physical plant worker ran into the room wide-eyed.

He told Mr. Ka’akua that he could hear children laughing and talking while cleaning the Dillingham basement around midnight. Mr. Ka‘akua decided to investigate with him.

As they made their way down, they came across the mopping equipment that the man was using, and when Mr. Ka‘akua looked down at it, there was a child’s footprint in the water.

When asked if he gets a weird feeling working at night, Mr. Ka‘akua surprisingly responded, “Not really.”

He described getting a weird feeling in certain historic areas of campus, but overall feels very safe on school grounds. 

With that being said, he maintains a healthy suspicion when walking around campus. He cites a story he heard from a security guard 5 years ago as a reason for some of his beliefs in the supernatural. 

While the guard was on duty one night, he noticed a man walking around Wo Field. Of course, the guard began chasing after him, eventually finding themselves in the corridor. 

It was there that the trespasser ran through the Castle wall, disappearing into thin air. The security guard was unable to find him, even inside Castle.

Mr. Ka‘akua is not alone in his superstitions. When talking to Punahou senior Will Niethammer, who has a strong family connection to the school, he said that when he goes around certain buildings like Alexander after his volleyball practice, he can feel a certain energy.

“It feels like my ancestors are speaking to me like that one scene in Black Panther,” he said.