HONOLULU (KHON2) — Halloween is the spookiest time of year in Hawaiʻi, when superstitions come alive and every shadow seems to whisper.
Once upon a time, people believed that ringing doorbells and lighting candles kept witches, ghosts and evil spirits away.
Today, Halloween is less about fear and more about fun, with Americans spending big on costumes, candy and frightful attractions.
WalletHub’s 2025 report uncovers the eerie numbers behind the celebration. Here’s what we found.
Halloween by the numbers
Americans are expected to spend $13.1 billion this year on Halloween festivities. Meanwhile, the average person will shell out about $114 each to celebrate, with 73% of people plan to join the celebration.
Candy remains the sweetest part of the season. These sweet treats account for $3.9 billion in spending during the holiday.
Costume sales follow closely at $4.3 billion, with adults and keiki dressing up as everything from ghosts to superheroes.
Trick or treat
About 66% of Americans will hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, while 15% of parents say ages 9 to 11 are old enough to go out alone.
More than half of parents admit to sneaking some of their children’s candy after the night is over, and around 127.5 million people are expected to take part in trick-or-treating this year.
Haunted happenings
There’s no shortage of thrills for those seeking a scare. The Halloween attraction industry brings in over $400 million a year.
More than half of haunted houses support or are affiliated with nonprofit organizations. Even with the eerie reputation, 67% of Americans say they’d consider buying a haunted house to live in.
Safety and scares
Halloween also brings real dangers. Fire departments report an average of 835 house fires each year on Halloween that causes about $14 million in property damage.
Motorists should beware as well, with a 43% higher risk of pedestrian deaths for children on Halloween night.
The average age of a haunted house worker is 30, and the average length of operation is 12 years.
By the pumpkin and by the numbers
The average retail price of a pumpkin sits at $5.58. That’s down 3% from 2024. Americans are expected to buy 1.44 billion pounds of pumpkins this year.
More than two billion pieces of candy will be distributed across the country, and 30,581 pounds of it will come from Hawaiʻi alone.
A holiday of fun and fright
From eerie attractions to glowing jack-o’-lanterns, Halloween continues to enchant both keiki and kūpuna.
Whether you’re handing out sweets or exploring haunted houses, remember that every spooky story begins with a simple spark of imagination.
You can click here to access the full database of fun Halloween facts.
As WalletHub’s report reminds us, the more you know about Halloween, the less scary it feels.