In our Holoholo series, Jolanie Martinez takes us across the islands to find hidden gems, fun places, and interesting people. Do you have a hidden gem or story in your town? Let us know about it at .
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Nearly 30 years ago, a Mililani family started crafting their very own haunted house on the corner of Hokuili Street.
It all started in 1997.
“We actually went to Mililani High School, and it was a crawling, you know, in the cardboard boxes and then yelling and screaming, and dad didn’t like that,” said Sandy Maeda.
“He didn’t like crawling and getting on his knees, bad for his back. Everybody grumbled. So that’s why he decided to do haunted house,” said Ian Nakamura.
Maeda and Nakamura said their mom wanted to make an attraction for Christmas, but their dad was set on Halloween.
“It was work when we were kids,” said Nakamura. “It was a little bit different than a normal kid instead of playing baseball, we’d be putting up walls.”
“First weekend always, right after Labor Day is when we first start Sept. 1 till Halloween,” said Maeda.
“A labor of love,” said Nakamura.
Over the years, their parents collected props for the haunted house, including their famous Purple People Eater that they bought from Colorado.
Props also include an antique shave ice maker and an old Woolworth’s storage locker.
They also have canvases painted by their late aunt, Darlene Oshiro.
“I say as we got older, it got more fun,” said Maeda. “So we started getting more creative.”
In 2016, life took the family on a difficult journey.
After a nearly 10-year hiatus, they’re ready to bring the thriller back this spooky season.
“Oh, well, it was more for our dad. I mean, our mom passed away this year. She was sick. So we thought we’d bring it back for him,” said Maeda.
“Yeah, it was about time to bring it back after COVID and all the things that’s been happening, and it’s good to give back to everybody in the community,” said Nakamura. “And I like to scare kids.”
Teddy Barbosa first started helping with the haunted house in 2009 and is excited to be part of the spooktacular adventure again as an actor.
“It’s very nice because now we have the next generation kids,” said Barbosa. “So it’s seeing our friends’ kids actually go through it and it makes them scared and make them cry so they can’t get mad.”
Enter if you dare.
The Nakamura Haunted House runs Oct. 24, 25 and 31, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at 94-396 Hokuili St.
808-207-8558
Service Areas
