Arnott’s Lodge is A Unique
Budget-Friendly
Hotel in Hilo Big Island
Doug Arnott who founded Arnott's Lodge in August 1990 was born in Australia into a family that had worked hard to create an iconic Biscuit (Cookie) manufacturing company that is an Australian Household name. Arnott’s are popular for their famous Tim Tams which we keep stocked at our front desk.
At 24 years old, Doug had a chance to immigrate to the U.S., specifically Hawaii, as he had specialized in a form of Construction Accounting and obtained a great job helping build the famous Ala Moana Center on Oahu.
After several years of Ala Moana Center, other projects, and extensive U.S. travel, Doug took a chance to run a small new Hotel in Tahiti in 1972. Doug has immense experience under his belt from providing everything for the hotel from water wells to generating electricity.
It was relatively easy on his return to Hawaii to help manage some major Condo/Hotels such as the Whaler at Kaanapali. He assisted in finding computers for hotels, which led him to a stint in SE Asia for three years selling Hotel Computers and Direct Distance Dialling to major Hotels.
With all this experience in construction and Hotels, and after an accidental visit to Cairns, Australia’s Backpacker capital, Doug finally took the plunge in 1990 by opening the main building at Arnott's Lodge in Hilo, Hawaii.
A need for affordable activities, tuned to our type of adventuresome guests, saw the addition of Hiking Adventures by 1992, using a windowless panel van with a mattress in the back..!!
As the advent of the internet drove an ever-changing demographic, and now in response to the challenge of maintaining a great Trip Advisor rating, we changed the overall format of the Hotel several times, paying more attention to cleanliness and upgraded kitchens and bathrooms but always mindful of our humble beginnings with Backpackers.
Today, Doug has traveled the world extensively except for Africa and counts Turkey, Egypt, and Libya, for its Roman ruins, and a return to South America for a more leisurely visit, as his bucket list items.
Running the Lodge is Doug’s passion and he likes to add amenities to keep his guests up with the latest in the Hotel Industry. You’ll see Doug in either a blue shirt or an “aloha” shirt on the premises. Say a warm “aloha” or “g’day” when you see him working on the property.
This is the current logo of Arnott's Biscuits Australia and incorporates the original parrot eating a biscuit, which was allegedly drawn by founder William Arnott's daughter-in-law, Leslie Arnott, in 1888.
While many people today would say the parrot is based off the native Australian bird, legend has it that the model used, was actually a Mexican parrot given to William by the captain of a Newcastle coal fleet.
Doug Arnott, owner of Arnott's Lodge, is a direct descendant of William Arnott, who founded Arnott's Biscuits.
We are a very unique place in Hilo, providing lodging and our own tours for genuine travelers on a budget. We have accommodations from bedrooms in our 6-Bedroom House, one, two and three bedroom suites to semi-private shared apartments, and camping. Arnott’s Lodge has kitchens for you to prepare your own food and we offer you a clean and friendly place to kick back and relax in Hilo. We are within walking distance to secluded beaches and green sea turtles. You can head into downtown to check out the Farmer’s Market or walk the other direction to visit Richardson’s Black Sand Beach. If you don’t drive, can’t be bothered to rent a car, book a tour with us!
We are the only hotel that offers our own adventure tours to the popular summit of Mauna Kea, evolving Puna and our plunging Waterfalls. Let our experienced tour guides do the driving and sharing their mana’o (thoughts/knowledge) with you. We will also pick up guests that want to join in our adventure tours from major hotels in Hilo. Escape the busy-ness and relax in our “Old Hawaii” setting. Come and make friends and meet other travelers: this is the place to be. E komo mai (We welcome you).
Arnott’s Lodge & Hiking Adventures has also provided tours in the past for Cruise Ship lines which visit Hilo, such as Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Celebrity and Carnival. This industry, with its high demands for safety and training and elevated insurance requirements, assures our guests of a superior experience.
Arnott's Lodge
What It Is and What It's Not!
The Lodge is run by its founder, Doug Arnott, and Sarah Garcia, our General Manager, and a small dedicated staff who work hard so you can have fun. Arnott’s Lodge is set up to make your stay as enjoyable as possible at the most reasonable cost.
What It Is
- A high-energy, fun, international traveler’s lodge with rooms for regular guests and a lawn for campers. We have daily expeditions, free WiFi, gathering areas, a lamplight patio, a large TV room with cable, and extensive grounds for your pleasure. It is located near a beautiful wilderness coastline that is a must to visit, with turtles year-round and whales seasonally. We created the lodge for international travelers on a budget who are out to have fun and share their adventures.
- We maintain a secure format where mothers in London or Sydney or school and college groups can send their daughters and sons with confidence. For this reason we are hard on anyone caught with drugs or who becomes drunk.
- If your idea of a good time is to party till 2:00am and get drunk, please stay elsewhere!!
- It is also available for domestic and local travelers who are easygoing and fit into our format.
- Proof of an outward bound air ticket to show that you’re a genuine traveler may be requested upon check in. Please be prepared to provide this if it is requested.
- Quiet hours are from 10:00pm-7:30am. We ask all registered guests to respect our quiet hours and to allow other guests to rest during their stay at Arnott’s Lodge.
What It's Not
- Arnott’s Lodge may not suit those who like luxury full-service hotels.
- We have great prices but “no frills” service. We do not provide daily housekeeping service or linen changes. You may request full service housekeeping at an extra charge (inquire at the front desk). Or request fresh towels with our housekeeper or at the front desk by swapping in your used towels.
- It is not for people who use drugs or consume alcohol to excess.
- We do not accept long stays, preferring to have a constant turnover of interesting guests being energized by their discoveries. There is a 7-day stay limit, although genuine travelers with an onward ticket may request an extension, at management’s approval.
We DO NOT Have
- Telephones in rooms
- Television in rooms (we have a communal in our TV room).
- Breakfast
- Full service housekeeping
- 24 hour front desk, wake-up calls, phone message or fax service.
- Late partying or disturbing others. Our guests are adventurers who rise early to visit the wonders of Hawaii.
- If what we are is to your liking – – WELCOME – – you join over 1350,000 happy travelers who have enjoyed our Lodge over its 34 years of existence.
- If it is not to your liking there are several concrete, conventional Hotels in Hilo at double our prices.
And you can still take our “Great Expeditions”!
We look forward to seeing you!