For some it’s model airplanes or Lego building. For Jorge Garcia, it’s haunted houses. Yes, that Jorge Garcia (“Lost,” “Hawaii Five-0”): He’s the mastermind behind the Kailua haunt put on by Skeleton Key Hawaii. Its second incarnation this year is themed “Carnevil of Screams.”

For many, the day of the ghouls is one of the most anticipated times of year. But Garcia’s level of fandom ups the ante. He manages his calendar so that he can piece together his list of must-visit haunts and events in California each year, and he frequents local happenings as well. The ones that stand out most for him are the uniquely creative grassroots endeavors — those labors of love that began as a home project for the family and neighbors and ballooned into massively popular attractions.

His fervor for all things that frighten segued into a knack for fashioning his own brand of boo!

“Creating events is a completely different level of satisfaction,” Garcia said.

GROWING UP, Garcia loved monster and classic horror movies — “The Haunting,” “Godzilla,” “King Kong,” to name a few of his faves — but it wasn’t until adulthood, when he had his own house, that his interest really ramped up.

He’d host pumpkin-carving parties and shop around for the best scare gags to spice up the parties. Decorating came naturally to him and he even turned his hallway and bedrooms into a maze one year.

Last year’s inaugural partnership with Skeleton Key Hawaii was his first stab at a professional maze, and his mummy theme was a screaming success.

“That was my first time creating something at that scale. It was quite an undertaking,” says Garcia, “but people responded well.”

This year’s haunting features some changes from last year. It’s longer, which not only will provide new frights but will keep the line moving smoothly. Costumer extraordinaire Rose Wolfe is reprising her outfitting duties for the 24 actors, who will portray the circus clowns. New props are all being built from scratch.

Garcia’s inspiration runs deeper than blood and guts. In his time on film and TV sets, Garcia has been privy to the corridors of a vacant mental institution and an empty fun park.

“I’d go wandering around to see if I could have any ghost interactions,” he says.

In one abandoned building, he felt a spine-tingling tug on his shoulder, “but it could have just been something weird with the elastic of my suspenders,” says Garcia. “It was enough to keep me interested.”

Last year, his scares did leave a few guests in tears and one attendee froze in fright, necessitating a pause in operations until the person was helped back outside. But that’s not the reaction he’s actually hoping for.

“When I go to a haunted house, I’m laughing,” he says. “It’s a joyful experience. And I walk slowly because I want to take in all of the details. I don’t get pride in someone being too afraid to walk through the haunt. I want it to be a fun experience, like going on a roller coaster ride.”

He likes a haunt that’s scary, but with a sense of humor and that makes great use of the space. That’s the mission that gets his wheels turning. He then presents his ideas to the Skeleton Key production team.

“Everyone on the team looks forward to Jorge’s announcement about the year’s theme,” says producer Kevin Keaveney. “We all have a blast coming up with new ways to scare people. We pepper the Haunt with ‘easter eggs’ — homages to classic horror tropes or funny details that make us laugh. The majority of visitors will miss these finishing touches, but those with eagle eyes will be rewarded for their attention.”

Garcia’s innate love of riddle solving and quest for authenticity guide him. He scours the internet to ensure a unique experience.

“I’ll come up with something that I want to create and I’ll look for pictures to see if anyone had the idea before me,” he says.

Many turn a blind eye to finesse and throw the whole kitchen sink at the maze. With a good haunted house, he says, “you see the heart behind it. Someone does this because they love what they’re doing, and that shows through.”

Bumps and thumps in the dark aren’t enough either, because he enjoys having people appreciate the fine craftwork his team has put into the props, scares and dazzling elements.

“I want it to be an experience where you walk through and turn this way and that and keep visual stimulation throughout. I like to get down to nitty gritty specifics,” he notes, adding, “When I’d do scenes in acting class, I liked getting very detailed with my props, like this feels like this is this guy’s flask.”

Speaking of acting, having a celebrity of Garcia’s caliber present as the haunt comes together hasn’t been intimidating for the team of 40 employees, he said. Garcia seeks out actors who will bring dynamism to the nooks and crannies of the set.

“It gets low-key pretty fast,” says Garcia. “I’m in a dirty shirt, painting. They see how hands-on I am, how much sweat I’m physically putting into it. It’s like the Little Rascals, ‘Come on gang, let’s put on a show.’”