Thursday, April 10, 2014

Hauntings: Iolani Palace


Iolani Palace (Hawaii)

In 1882, King Kalakaua had the Iolani Palace built in Honolulu. When he died in 1891, his sister, Lili'uokalani, became Queen.  She was a beloved Queen of Hawaii until she died of a stroke in 1917.

The palace is now a museum and no one lives there—no one except the ghost of Queen Lili’uokalani, who seems to enjoy playing pranks on the security staff.

~  In the Palace’s blue room, a piano is on display in a locked glass case. The security guards have often heard music coming from the piano even though it remains completely sealed in its glass case.
~  The Queen was known to love smoking cigars.  Many tourists and people who work at the palace have reported smelling cigar smoke.  When security guards search for the offender, they never find anyone.
~  The Queen’s bedchamber is locked, however, often in the dead of night, alarms go off in the room. When the guards go to check, they find the door open, but no one inside. Even after they relock the door, the alarms will go off later, and again, they find the door ajar but the bedroom empty.
~  Towers bracket the roof of the palace.  On several occasions, security men patrolling the palace grounds, or staff members leaving late at night, report seeing a very bright light in one of the towers.  No one's ever been found there.  In fact, considering the towers aren’t even wired for electricity, there’s no explanation for the light.





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35 comments:

Sophie Duncan said...

The Queen sounds like a friendly ghost, not out to scare, just remind folks she's around :)
Sophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic

SK Anthony said...

WOW no electricity...and yet there's light! That one I would like to see even though I keep saying I'm such a chicken with these things o_0

Andrew Leon said...

You know, I never thought of Hawaii as a place for ghosts. I don't really know why.

Mina Menon said...

as long as they are harmless pranks....

Unknown said...

I love the hauntings theme - great idea! This one's interesting, isn't it. It goes to show that there are stories of hauntings everywhere, even in cultures and places that - as Andrew says - we don't really think of as having hauntings and ghost stories. Just the tropes we're brought up with, I guess - the creaking door, the slow opening of the coffin lid, the underground passage, the curtain of cobwebs....
None of that makes you think, 'Hawaii!'

Nana Prah said...

With all of these creepy things going on, I'm surprised they get security guards to work there.

Cathrina Constantine said...

So Creepy and cool....

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Should ask Mark Koopmans if he's ever visited the museum.

Jackie said...

I think the creepiest thing on the list is the piano playing inside the locked case. *shivers*
And to answer the giveaway question - yep, I love ghost stories!

Shah Wharton said...

Oh I love it. Creepiness abounds in land of grass skirts! :) X

shahwharton.com

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

The Queen certainly has a beautiful place to haunt in her afterlife.

Luanne G. Smith said...

I do not think I would like to be a security guard there. That's freaky.

Rhonda Albom said...

Wonderful collection of ghost stories.

Al Diaz said...

The queen sounds kind of friendly. I wouldn't mind that ghost.

Rachna Chhabria said...

A ghost who plays the piano can't be scary right? Quite a music loving ghost :)

Mere Joyce said...

Fantastic. Would love to add this to my list of things to do if I ever find myself in Hawaii again!

Bish Denham said...

I'm liking the queen. If I ever get to Hawaii I'd like to visit the palace.

cleemckenzie said...

I was there! Yep. But I didn't smell cigar smoke and no one played the piano. Have to go back and see if any of that happens.

Julie Flanders said...

A ghost who loves to tease - how fun. I love the image of the Queen smoking cigars. :D

stephen Hayes said...

I've visited Iolani Palace. Very interesting about these hauntings. This place has the distinction of being the only royal palace on American soil.

Robin said...

I've read theories about ghosts... for instance, they don't understand that they are dead, which is why they remain earthbound. Sounds to me like she is just going about living her life. Or the life she would live if she were actually alive.

LD Masterson said...

I don't know why the Queen shouldn't roam around and smoke cigars if she wants to - after all, it's her palace.

messymimi said...

She was an amazing woman in life, and sounds like she has wanted to continue to be the same way now!

Kate Larkindale said...

I've heard about this place and the weird carryings on. I think I'd like to go there one day.

Crystal Collier said...

Now there's a haunting for you! I'd love to check out this place, but probably not when anything strange is happening. =)

Unknown said...

When I think of Hawaii it is never about ghosts. I like the sound of this ghost and wouldn't hesitate to smoke a good cigar with her. Thanks for sharing this. Isn't the A to Z challenge terrific? I've booked your page to keep reading about your ghosts!

Romance Reader said...

Oh, I would love to visit this Palace! But certainly not at night!

Ava Quinn said...

I really like this ghost. She's fun. And a queen. Can't go wrong there!!

Anonymous said...

Awesome. This is a great theme.

Rhi
scruffy-duck.net // Welsh Bloggers

Sean @ His And Her Hobbies said...

I am loving this series on haunted places. Makes me wonder if there are any haunted places near to where I live.

Sean at His and Her Hobbies

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

That place even LOOKS haunted!
I'm curious now... have you personally had any ghost sightings/experiences? Or are you more like your MC in the beginning of Soul Cutter, eager to debunk?

J.L. Campbell said...

The queens seems as if she likes to have her fun. If I worked there, there would be no way I'd be investigating anything.

Unknown said...

Ow, I love how you make these sounds story-ish and creepy. I would totally visit here if I ever got to Hawaii (which seems unlikely at the moment sadly).

Unknown said...

The Queen sounds like a hoot : ) BTW, you earned a new follower : ) Looking forward to more hauntings this month!

MunirGhiasuddin said...

The building is gorgeous. No wonder they are using it for a museum.

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