From Hulihe'e Palace to Kamakahonu, Kona's Ghost Stories After Dark
An evening walk down Ali'i Drive that pairs Kona's royal and missionary history with the ghost stories told about it.
Kona Haunted Hele is a guided evening walk through the old center of Kailua-Kona, run by Big Island Ghost Tours. The operator opens with a prayer of protection and a short overview of Kona's history, then works along Ali'i Drive to the places its stories are set: Hulihe'e Palace, Mokuaikaua Church, two cemeteries, Ahu'ena Heiau and Kamakahonu, where the listing says Kamehameha I died.
Travelers who have taken it describe a history walk first and a scare second. One wrote in 2025 that it "wasn't really scary but it was interesting". Another, in 2026, singled out the "lots of history about the Kona area and Hawaii in general."
The listing sells tickets from age five, in child, youth and adult bands, and every booking needs an adult. As of October 22, 2026, both the listing's calendar and the operator's own booking calendar show one 7:00 PM start, Monday through Friday, with no weekend dates through December. That rules out Halloween night itself, a Saturday this year. The closest walk is Friday, October 30.
Kona Haunted Hele Ghost TourEvening walking tour along Ali'i Drive in Kailua-Kona, 90 to 120 minutes, starting at the Kona Inn Shopping Village.www.viator.comA Palace and a Church, Seen From the Outside
Hulihe'e Palace, which the operator calls a one-time royal summer palace, and Mokuaikaua Church, which the listing calls Hawaii's very first Christian church, both sit on the route. Both are closed at night, and the walk stays outside them. When a 2024 traveler wrote that the group did not go inside, the operator replied publicly that the palace and church are closed at night and that it has never advertised going in. At the church, the listing points to lava rock cornerstones it says came from an older Hawaiian temple. The operator also leads the group among the headstones of two cemeteries.
The Stops Built on Temple Ground
The listing describes Ahu'ena Heiau as a former luakini, a sacrificial temple dedicated to the god Ku, later rededicated by Kamehameha to Lono as a temple of peace. The listing ties three stops to human sacrifice: the heiau, Kamakahonu, and the Kona Inn grounds, known as papa'ula, the red flats, where it says sacrifice may also have taken place. The operator also talks about the path where the ghostly, torch-carrying Night Marchers are believed to walk.
Detectors, Old Photos and a Sage Smudge
At stops along the way, the operator hands out paranormal detection equipment for guests to try, and a 2026 traveler wrote that the guide let the group use EMF detectors. The listing says guests see photos captured on earlier tours, including one it calls the "lady in white", and the walk closes with a white sage smudge.
A Two-Guest Minimum, and All Sales Final
The listing's booking details allow up to fifteen travelers on a shared walk, one booking can hold all fifteen, and a single person can book. The listing's overview, however, promises a small group of no more than ten people. The operator says it needs at least two guests to run a departure, and the listing names too few travelers as a reason the operator may cancel. Bad weather is the other reason it names. If the operator cancels for either reason, you are offered another date or a full refund. Outside those cases, sales are final, with no refund for cancellations at any time.
The listing advises against the walk for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. The operator says the route is wheelchair and scooter accessible, with guests bringing and operating their own equipment.
📍 Meet at the Kona Inn Shopping Village on Ali'i Drive, next to the Friendly Activities kiosk near Hualalai Road. The operator's booking notes ask guests to arrive about ten minutes early and to call the guide if running late. Go by the kiosk, not a suite number: the listing prints Suite #63, but the shopping center's own directory places Friendly Activities at Unit 183 and lists no ghost tour shop. One traveler in August 2026 waited at an empty storefront while the group met elsewhere. Parking nearby can take time, another traveler noted. Bring comfortable shoes, a camera and a light jacket or umbrella. The walk ends at Kailua Pier, across from the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel.