WAILUKU – If you love things that go bump in the night, especially unexplained happenings tied in with local folklore, then prepare for major chicken skin on Wednesday, August 29th .
On the big screen at historic Iao Theater, Maui County Film Office and Maui OnStage (MOS) will debut the much-anticipated episode “Haunted Islands: The Ghosts of Maui County” featuring Iao Theater, in simulcast with the SYFY Channel cable broadcast at 5 pm, check your provider's listings for accuracy. This will be the final episode of SYFY’s “Haunted Collector” season featuring the story of Iao Theater’s resident “ghost” and other mysterious activity on the historic grounds.
Harmer Communications will provide the live satellite feed for the Theater debut. Free seating will be limited to the first 350 attendees.
Doors open at 4 pm, followed by an introduction by Michael Pulliam, Special Events Manager for Maui On Stage and Harry L. Donenfeld, Film Commissioner for Maui County at 4:30 pm. A special blessing will then kick off the 5 pm screening.
Last year, Pulliam and Donenfeld worked with SYFY Channel producers of the Haunted Collector to bring to life the mystery and ghosts that inhabit Iao Theater. Some of the most convincing paranormal activity and audio footage have been captured on film for the episode, as well as a reveal of intriguing items from the past found buried outside the Theater.
Along with the Iao Theater ghost stories, the broadcast debut will feature a corresponding segment on the Lanai Island’s Social Hall and Carriage House, also thought to be haunted with its own spirits.
According to the Oceanic Time Warner website, the Haunted Collector will air on the SYFY Channel on August 29, 5 pm HST and a second time at 7 pm, check your provider's listings for accuracy. For those who missed the special broadcast at Iao Theater, Maui OnStage will be screening the episode several times over Halloween.
How Iao’s Haunted episode originated
In early 2011, Maui OnStage was contacted by the SyFy Channel to conduct a paranormal investigation of the building. A round concrete casing was found and believed to be a time capsule with items from the early years of the Theater’s operations.
By approval of the MOS board, the “Haunted Collector” investigating team opened the capsule for the cameras and discovered an 80-year-old piece of 16mm celluloid film, 2 postcards of Maui pineapple fields from the 1920s and a sterling silver barrette.
According to the team, the theater definitely has some paranormal activity and they have some pretty convincing evidence caught on tape to prove it. The evidence was so convincing that the producers used this episode as the season finale…always save the best for last!
The unknown actress of Iao Theater
For years, several Theater employees have also encountered a sweet, feminine, friendly ghost residing in the area that they affectionately call “Emma”.
In the summer of 2011 a medium that specializes in conversing with the dead came to visit Iao Theater with no prior knowledge of any encounters. Her talk with “Emma” revealed that the spirit likes residing in the building, loves to dance, loves to watch the shows, wanted to be a movie star and is happy that her things were found.
This photo is thought to be Emma in life.