Manoa Falls is described as potentially haunted by stories of orbs of light and the legend of a moahine (a female spirit) who lures men to their death by the falls. Ancient Hawaiians also believed the valley to be sacred, a place where spirits, gods, and supernatural beings resided, and the waterfall a gateway to the divine, contributing to its spiritual and eerie atmosphere. One account describes orbs of light with blue or white flames appearing to form a circle before returning to the earth, similar to curses. A well-known story details a moahine (a seductive female spirit) who allegedly drowns men in the pond at Manoa Falls. A detective investigating a drowning witnessed this spirit firsthand when her face emerged from the falls with her eyes rolled back. Ancient Hawaiians considered the entire Manoa Valley sacred, believing it to be inhabited by gods and supernatural beings, with the waterfall serving as a doorway to the divine. Early Hawaiians visited the valley to connect with nature's spiritual power and to honor their gods, which added to the area's spiritual significance.