Travel
Ghostly Gossip: Exploring the real haunts of Guam
Stripes Guam
October 23, 2024
(The old Spanish Bridge in Agat, similar to this one in Hagatna, is said to be haunted by the daughter of a Spanish official who had her Chamorro lover killed to prevent them from marrying.)
Unlike many U.S. military bases in the Pacific Theater, there seems to be a dearth of “haunted” buildings or other places at Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam that make for ghostly gossip or “mystery tours” during the Halloween season. But there is at least one exception.
It is said that the store at Naval Base Guam is located where a hospital and morgue once stood during and after World War II. Workers have claimed to hear footsteps and children’s voices, and one heard noises from a toilet stall, but no one ever left the restroom. Off base, there are more sites subject to such spine-tingling tales.
One of these is the Old Spanish Bridge in Agat, which is said to be haunted by the daughter of a Spanish official who wanted to marry a local Chamorro boy. The pair often met at the bridge.
Her father could not accept her marrying a “native” so when he heard they had made wedding plans, he arranged to have the boy killed. In despair, the girl drowned herself, and is said to be seen by the bridge crying, while trying to find her lover.
In another story, a Spanish officer and his Chamorro wife lived in Maina in the late 1600s. After their love had faded, the husband sent his wife to get him fresh mountain stream water during a storm, and she slipped into the river and drowned.
Today, it is said the if you drive over the Maina bridge during a new moon and look out into the night, you may see a ghostly figure wearing a long white flowing dress like a bridal gown. She has silver hair and sad red eyes. There are more “sightings” when a big storm is approaching.
Chamorros call her the “White Lady,” and she warns of impending danger. She can be seen at Two Lover’s Point, Harmon Heights and the Fonte River.
Government House in Agana Heights is another such place. There are reports of the heavy double doors of a building connected to Government House opening noisily and the footsteps of someone walking along the hallway being heard. Supposedly, if you look at the door when it is open, it will slam shut.
Two soldiers from World War II apparently walk near the Leo Palace Hotel in Talofofo during the hours of midnight to 4 a.m. It is said that you can see them, in uniform, walking side by side, if you look in the rearview mirror, though, one soldier has no head. But if you turn around to glance back, they disappear.
The Hotel Nikko Guam in Tumon is said by some to be built on top of an old Chamorro cemetery, and it’s believed the spirits of those buried there can be seen and heard throughout the hotel.
And at the old Agana Hospital in Agana Heights, photos have apparently been taken of figures said to be ghosts.
Beware of ancient island spirits
Spirits are part and parcel of local Chamorro culture here on Guam, and as would be expected – they’re not always nice.
One traditional Chamorro belief is in the existence of “taotaomona,” or the people before recorded time, who are the respected spirits of the ancient inhabitants of the island. They are said to live in the jungles, caves and mountains of Guam, especially in the southern part, as well as inside banyan trees and around ancient latte ruins.
It is believed that they can cause bad things to happen if they are offended, so more “traditional” Chamorros say you must request permission from the taotaomona before entering the jungle or taking plants, fruit or wood from it.
This may be based on the respectful nature of Chamorro culture, which extends to those who have died.
Some taotaomona are said to be malicious, while others are said to be kind and aid local shamans, who are called “suruhanos” (male) or “suruhanas” (female). If a taotaomona attaches itself to a person and makes them sick, only a suruhano can force the spirit to leave via a kind of exorcism.
The taotaomona also apparently dislike pregnant women, and Chamorro women with child are told to use perfume to mask their scent or to wear their husband’s clothing, as well as to stay indoors at night.
Source: Wikipedia, guam.org.gu For those who do not get their fill of ghosts and things that go bump in the night from the brief period around Halloween, here is a short list of websites, including those that give first-person accounts of contacts with “the other side,” which focus on paranormal activity on Guam. Your Ghost Stories Haunted Places in Guam Guam Zombies