The Haunted History of Washington Place: Honolulu’s Most Storied Mansion

Tucked behind the lush greenery of downtown Honolulu stands Washington Place, a stately white mansion that has quietly presided over nearly two centuries of Hawaiian history. Passersby know it today as the residence of Hawaii’s governors, but beneath its dignified exterior lie tales of royal sorrow, political turmoil, and whispered hauntings that have earned it a lasting reputation as one of the islands’ most atmospheric historic homes.

This is the haunted history of Washington Place—where the past seems reluctant to let go.

A House Born of Love, Loss, and Royalty

Washington Place was built in 1847 by Captain John Dominis, an American sea captain who had settled in Honolulu. The home was intended to be a grand gesture of stability for his wife, Mary Lambert Dominis, and their young son, John Owen. But even in its earliest years, the household was marked by loneliness and grief rather than domestic bliss.

Captain Dominis spent long stretches at sea, and after disappearing on a voyage to China, he was presumed dead—leaving Mary a widow alone in the cavernous home. Legend says she began hearing footsteps pacing the corridors at night, long before anyone else reported eerie occurrences. Some believe her sorrow set the emotional tone that would linger in the mansion for generations.

But the story only deepened when her son married Princess Lydia Kamakaʻeha, who would one day become Queen Liliʻuokalani, Hawaii’s last reigning monarch.

Queen Liliʻuokalani’s Long Shadow

For Liliʻuokalani, Washington Place was a refuge—first as a newlywed, later as a deposed queen, and finally as a kupuna whose life had been shaped by the tides of history. She lived here for more than 50 years, dying in an upstairs bedroom in 1917.

Visitors and staff have long claimed that her presence never fully left.

Common Reports Include:

1. Soft Hawaiian chanting heard in hallways when no one else is present
2. Rocking chairs moving gently on the lanai despite windless evenings
3. The faint scent of Hawaiian flowers, even when no leis or blossoms are in the room
4. A regal female figure in Victorian-era Hawaiian dress glimpsed on the second floor

Many say the queen returns not in anguish, but with watchful serenity, as if continuing to oversee the home she cherished.

The Mourning Room

One of the mansion’s most unsettling spaces is often referred to as the mourning room—the upstairs chamber where Queen Liliʻuokalani spent her final days. Several governors’ families have reported avoiding the room, describing it as inexplicably cold or heavy.

Former staff members have whispered about:

1. Doors opening on their own
2. Curtains rustling without a breeze
3. A sudden feeling of being observed from the hallway

Though there are no official government statements acknowledging hauntings (unsurprisingly), the oral accounts persist, passed along quietly among those who have worked in the residence.

Soldiers, Statesmen, and Shadows

Over the decades, Washington Place has served as more than a royal home. It has been:

1. The site of political meetings and clandestine conversations
2. A place of tension during the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy
3. A social hub during territorial days
4. A wartime refuge during World War II

With such a layered past, it’s little wonder that people have reported shadow figures, especially near the staircase and in the garden paths.

Some attribute these apparitions to the soldiers who once guarded the premises; others believe they are echoes of political leaders or household staff from long ago.

The Ghost of Mary Dominis

While Queen Liliʻuokalani is the best-known spirit said to inhabit Washington Place, she may not be alone.

Mary Dominis—who lived most of her life feeling isolated, widowed, and overshadowed by her royal daughter-in-law—is rumored to appear occasionally in the downstairs parlor. Witnesses describe a pale, dignified woman with a stern expression who vanishes when approached.

The most common story claims that she is sometimes seen staring out the front windows, as if waiting for her husband to return from sea.

Modern-day Encounters from Governors and Guests

Though official accounts are scarce, several governors and their families have privately acknowledged strange occurrences during their residence.

These stories include:

1. Lights turning on in locked rooms
2. Footsteps on the second floor after midnight
3. Rocking chairs swaying as if someone just stood up
4. Pets growling at empty corners

One governor’s spouse reportedly asked that a particular upstairs bedroom not be used for guests after a “deeply unsettling” experience involving a cold touch on her arm while she slept.

Is Washington Place Truly Haunted?

Whether one believes in ghosts or not, Washington Place’s atmosphere is undeniably charged. The mansion has witnessed:

1. The rise and fall of a monarchy
2. Generations of political change
3. Intensely personal tragedies
4. The quiet resilience of Hawaii’s last queen

Its walls hold memories—some proud, some painful, all deeply rooted in the islands’ cultural fabric.

For many locals, the idea that Queen Liliʻuokalani still watches over her beloved home is not frightening at all. Instead, it is a reminder of a dignified spirit whose life was intertwined with the fate of Hawaii itself.

A Living Landmark with Ghosts of the Past

Today, Washington Place remains both a working residence and a historical symbol. Tourists admire its architecture. Historians pore over its archives. Governors continue their duties within its venerable halls.

And yet, when night settles over Honolulu and the estate grows quiet, the old house seems to hum with life of another kind—the soft footsteps of memory, the whisper of history, and perhaps, the lingering presence of those who loved it too deeply to leave.