The Sheraton Princess Kaiulani will transform into a hotel of horror, with werewolves, zombies, killer clowns and other creepy creatures due to check in as Halloween approaches.

Jason of “Friday the 13th,” Freddy Krueger of “Nightmare on Elm Street” and like-minded evil-doers also have reservations for the five-night “Villains” fundraiser for Aloha United Way, open 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27 to 31.

The annual event started as a simple Halloween activity for kids and but has grown over the past five years to a full-fledged scare production suitable for children ages 12 and older. Alex Cuevas, the hotel’s front office director and head haunter, said it takes about 10 volunteers working over the course of a month to develop the walk-through attraction, which spans three corridors and 20 rooms.

“The engineers have a vision: They drop the ceilings and add distraction points. It’s more lit in the beginning,” he said. “As you go deeper, it gets darker, the music changes and you’ll enjoy more special effects.

“You’re always walking in a mist. You can’t see your feet.”

Adding to the spooky atmosphere will be a crowd of made-up mannequins obtained from stores that were closing, according to Cuevas.

“It looks like the eyes are following you around the room,” he said.

Half of the haunted-house actors are hotel employees and the others are volunteers from a Japanese cultural class at Kapiolani Community College. Some bring their kids to join in the fun.

“The little kids really frighten people,” Cuevas said.

This year’s fundraising goal is $6,000; a $5 per person donation is requested — a small fee, really, for a hair-raising time.

“People come out flushed in the face and sweaty. Then there’s the ‘centipede crowd,’ where they hold onto each other’s waist and just look down,” he said.

“We’ve become proficient on what scares people.”