Adventure Archives

Happy Thanksgiving 2024

November 26, 2024 By Doug Arnott Leave a Comment

Aloha, this is Doug Arnott updating our Blog and apologizing for such a big gap since Christmas 2023.

So much has happened that time flew and here we are with word that a major East and Gulf coast Dock Strike was avoided but that workers will get $62 an hour. On the other side of the world we await anxiously to see Israel’s response to Iran’s attack and how that situation and Ukraine play out and what impact it may have on Tourism.

These things matter to travelers as airports can descend into Chaos when a destination is impacted by weather, war or maybe a Volcanic eruption as happened in Iceland some years ago.

This reminds me to remind you, our future guests to PLEASE buy Travel Insurance….there is a world of difference between finding a flight has been delayed or cancelled and you are going to have to overnight in a strange city…WITH INSURANCE and Without Insurance…..”With” is a breeze while without can be a stressful nightmare….many airlines offer it as a clickable item during the reservation process. Doug also recommends TSA precheck if you are a US citizen as it really simplifies those Security Check Lines.

*Doug and Mahana are hard at work beautifying the Lodge for your visit!*

Doug was highly honored a few days before Christmas 2023 to personally provide Hike transport to the Crew of the recent Orbital Flight of the SpaceX Capsule that spent five days in orbit on the Polaris Dawn mission. The Crew arrived at 4:30am in a beautiful corporate Jet to be greeted by me armed with Starbucks Coffee casks and enough McDonalds Egg McMuffins and Sausage Mcmuffins with egg to feed double the number of people….there is just “something” about Starbucks and McDonalds at 4:30am ahead of a grand adventure. Subsequently they Launched to space and had a highly successful mission, testing new minimalist spacesuits and some new Laser communications.

It is worth restating that here at Arnotts we have a range of accommodations and in many cases can customize our various room and Suite shapes and sizes to take care of your requirements….In business 34 years since August 1990 we have hosted every shape and size of group and every variable from Basic to Comfortable Cozy accommodations We do not pretend to compete with fancy or Luxury Hotels which have “Resort Fees”, charge for parking, and where it takes you an elevator and 10 minutes to get to your room. If you are older, like Doug our owner, we have ground floor rooms within 10 to 70ft of your car and no stairs or obstacles….if stairs are no problem we have just one level up….you do have to carry your own bag so bring appropriate sized bags.

*Arnott’s celebrated 34 years in business this year*

The huge difference between Arnotts and all other Hotels in Hilo is that we are East along the coastline and outside the Harbor Breakwater. This means that within walking distance of our Lodge you have direct access to the sparkling blue Pacific Ocean, turtles, whales in season, and playful porpoises just offshore….in fact our location is at the head of a string of jewels of “Beach Parks” from kid friendly Onekahakaha to Carlsmith and on past a series of smaller parks to Richardson’s Ocean Center with full ADA facilities.

For those who may not want to rent a car, the County Bus, which is Free, passes nearby every hour and can take you quickly downtown to restaurants and the famous Hilo Farmers Market, or with a transfer to Prince Kuhio Mall and nearby Target, Safeway, Home Depot and of course Walmart….we even have a Ross..

As a guest at Arnotts you get a special rate on our Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stargazing Adventure in our rugged 4×4 vans to 13,700ft or 4200m. We can also assist you to book tours to the Volcano National Park or any number of tours of Farms, Ziplines, Kayaking or Foodie trips around our Multi Ethnic Town….be sure to try the amazing Mochi from Two Ladies Store…..you can even learn to sail during your stay.

*Sunset at Lili’uokalani Gardens in Hilo*

Watch for major changes in flights and prices to and from Hawaii as Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines merge operations to make more efficient use of their mix of Aircraft….Alaska is exclusively Boeing 737 Max aircraft while Hawaiian has a mix of Boeing and Airbus and has larger wide body long haul aircraft for International flights to Japan, Australia, Tahiti and other South Pacific destinations.

We have two new Coffee venues nearby, one at our local Keaukaha Market and a new one across from SCP Hotel about a mile from Arnotts, both have similar coffees to Starbucks but using local premium coffees. The locally made Cookie selection at Keaukaha Market is outstanding.

These are very interesting times we are in right now so we will be blogging more frequently to keep you updated on Hawaii and Hilo and changes that may impact your travel….and PLEASE buy Travel Insurance!!

Happy Thanksgiving from Arnott’s Lodge

November 21, 2023 By Doug Arnott

Aloha to all prospective and past guests.

As we approach Thanksgiving 2023 we are truly blessed to be here in Hilo Hawaii in such a beautiful area and having had enough recent rain to keep all the vegetation green while most of the State is experiencing drought.

This past year has seen ongoing changes and evolution in furnishings in our open areas as well as major changes in Landscaping and beautification of neighboring areas under our care.

New guests will experience the beauty of our area and proximity of nearby Beach Parks while our many repeat guests and Educational Groups will still experience the Home away from Home that brings them back year after year.

The County has steadily improved the Hele On Bus system and we now have nearby reliable bus service that goes direct to Downtown Hilo and returns on a longer route that includes the Airport….so you can arrive by Bus. We do recommend our guests rent a car for at least part of their stay as this is a BIG Island and there is a lot to see.

The County has also repaved many of Hilo’s major highways and byways including the one coming to us and continuing on past the various Beach Parks to Richardson’s Beach Park, about two miles past us.

The Famous Hilo Farmers Market has had a major upgrade with solid covered roofing on its many segments and continues to operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays…..many vendors are there every day for your convenience. The Market is a near neighbor of KTA Market a smaller version of KTA Supermarket….so you can complete your shopping for items not sold at the Farmers Market.

Arnotts continues to offer our Mauna Kea Summit Evening adventure for Sunset and Stargazing in our 4×4 vans and can also provide Sunrise charters. Receive a discount on this unique adventure if you also stay with us at our lodge. As many are aware we used to be a premier operator for Cruise Ship Shore Excursions and can still perform custom tours to any attraction on the Island. As well as our vans we have two Luxury Toyota Sequoia SUVs that offer great comfort for smaller groups or Individual charters to Mauna Kea or any other location. Arnotts is the go-to Operator for the west side Luxury Hotels whose guests prefer a less crowded Adventure in a more comfortable vehicle than a hard sprung Tour Van.

For our Group Guests we retained two “15 Passenger Vans” (Driver and 14 seats) although we do not recommend more than 12 adults for comfort. When you are booking your groups with our staff be sure to ask about these vans as we rent them under local van rates and this type of van is the first to sell out during busy periods.

As we are a smaller property you are never far from your vehicle and we do not have Resort or Parking fees or any other Hidden Charges that larger Hotels add to your bill.

All major restaurants in Hilo are within a 15 minute drive, some even closer….we sure to ask our front desk when you arrive as ther have been some changes due to Nationwide short staffing after Covid abated… Kens House of Pancakes for Instance, an Institution for 40 or more years, has gone from 24 hours to 6am to 9pm..

Here at Arnotts for the same reason we can offer you a steep discount for Second and Third day stays…but you’ll need to call us during our 9am to 5pm Front desk hours.

We will be blogging again between now and Christmas, be sure to join us for an after Thanksgiving update..!!

Doug Arnott

Throwback to ’95

October 6, 2023 By Sarah Garcia

This past week we were given a gift in the form of several photos of Arnott’s Lodge and our Mauna Kea tour all the way back from 1995! We want to say a special thank you to Geerten Kalter of Delft, Holland, for sending us his pictures. We have been in operation since 1990 and are so grateful to all the people we’ve met along the way. Things sure have changed!

One of our original tour vehicles. You have to love the old suburban.

The front of Arnott’s Lodge. A lot has changed!

Blog on Late Check-ins

February 3, 2023 By Doug Arnott

You have probably found Arnott’s as you are looking for a good price, and we are often the lowest of the well-rated Hotels in Hilo.

There is a reason for this, as we are a small operation two miles from the nearest “Big Hotel” in an uncrowded coastal area and residential neighborhood, away from the center of town, and we do not charge “Resort Fees” nor do we charge for parking, so right there you are saving money.

Another important saving that we pass on to you is that, like the rest of America, it is hard to find staff, especially for late hours. As security is more important after 9pm than check-ins, we focus on a Security Person rather than a Front Desk clerk with computer skills, so you can sleep knowing we do have someone watching out for your safety.

This has created a situation where it is increasingly difficult to check anybody in after 9 p.m. and it is increasingly unfair to those here in a timely manner to have lights, noise..beeping car locks and etc. going on all night.

So with all these weather cancellations and delayed flights what are YOU to do…??

Our first recommendation is buy Travel Insurance, it is worth its weight in gold.

Next, if you have a flight that arrives in Kona after 6:00pm get a room in Kona for your first night rather than plan to make the drive to Hilo that late. It is hazardous to drive 7000ft up and back down again on a dark remote road in the evening and/or middle of the night. For Hilo flights, book to arrive at the airport by 8:00pm.

For both Hilo and Kona make sure you have your transport set up well in advance. Rental cars are almost always sold out (we have a limited supply on the island) and Uber and Lyft charge very high rates around aircraft arrival times and have often gone home for late or delayed flights, leaving people stranded at the airport overnight.

Next, a good travel tip for any Hotel: Have a VALID Credit Card and all your paperwork ducks in a row and your check in will be easy.

The credit card needs to be in the name of the person checking in and agree with a valid Passport or drivers license or other government-issued photo ID.

If you are using a debit card or a prepaid cash card, we will process a $200-$250 Incidental deposit that will be refunded upon room inspection after 9am …DO NOT plan on using a debit card if you are leaving early as your room needs to be inspected for cigarette or drug smells, stains and/or breakages before a deposit can be refunded. There will not be any staff available to make this inspection before 9 a.m. Be aware that recreational drugs may be legalized for private use in YOUR private home….but we will charge you heavily for use in our Hotel. The same principle applies if you are giving a Cash deposit; we cannot inspect before 9am.

If you are running a few minutes late you absolutely must establish contact with our front desk by TEXTING 808 339 0921.

We always strive to do our best for our guests, but please be aware that we are not staffed 24/7. Please make your plans to arrive during our posted check-in hours accordingly. Communicating your estimated arrival time is a great help to us and always appreciated.

2023 starts with a new Kilauea eruption

January 15, 2023 By Doug Arnott

Aloha to Arnott’s Guests and future guests!
This is an update to the current status of the Kilauea volcano and its eruption. As of January 10th, 2023, there is a spectacular lake of molten lava with one fountain that varies from a few to 30 feet or more in height (10m +.)
The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park staff have have prepared great viewing areas that are very close to the crater and allow spectacular photography. Be aware, however, that the full show does not begin until the sun sets (currently around 6:00 p.m.) and that large crowds and long waits for parking can be expected until about 9:00 p.m.
After 9:00 p.m. and until around 4:00 a.m. there are very few people in the park. It can be very cold at that elevation at night, so bring warm clothes and a hat or beanie for your head.

The lava lake at Halema’uma’u Crater, as of January 19th, 2023

According to information we learned, but did not observe; around 4:00 a.m. those who want to see the lava and also the sunrise begin to arrive and it may get more crowded.

The first thing to know is that eruptions can stop and start over very short time spans, and there are excellent websites with cameras constantly broadcasting up-to-the-minute information. https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/webcams

The next thing to know is that Hawaii, like the rest of the world, is critically short-staffed so do not book late flights into Hilo. If they are delayed, there may be no Uber, Lyft, or Taxis available, and rental car agencies do not wait up for you. You may spend the night at the airport! Buy travel insurance that covers delays.

Pack light, and use bags that YOU can carry and load, as there is no one to load your bags for you.
Almost all restaurants in Hilo close around 9:00 p.m., and only McDonalds drive-through is open 24 hours.

Be aware that the Kona airport (KOA) is a good 2.5 hour drive from Hilo, and we do NOT recommend that any first-time visitor drive this road (the Saddle Road, also known as Highway 200) at night.

Some hotels, many B&Bs, and vacation rentals have limited check-in hours. Be sure you know the limits of your accommodation.

We look forward to hosting many new and returning guests in 2023!

Halema’uma’u Crater, Kilauea, January 2023

The New Eruption of Mauna Loa

December 5, 2022 By Doug Arnott

On the evening of November 27th at 11:30 p.m., we were just getting ready to sleep when social media became alive with news of a lurid glow over Mauna Loa and that an eruption was in progress. This announcement followed months of increased activity after years of mild tremor recorded by sensitive instruments placed at strategic points on the mountain.

Of course in a very short time the Internet was flooded with pictures from 360 degrees around the mountain of very strong glow.

A quick visit to ever-patient HVO research Webcams on Mauna Loa’s NW corner of the Caldera Rim showed the entire Caldera of Moku’aweoweo flooded with very hot fresh Lava, and for a while it seemed like it would spill out the Southwest corner toward a very steep slope down toward South Kona communities and some residents even evacuated mindful of as little as 3 hours travel time from summit to sea.

Rivers of lava from Mauna Loa traveling towards Saddle Road.
Photo by Glory Arnott

In the morning of November 28th, some stunning footage began to appear on official and social media pages, including amazing footage from Paradise Helicopters’ early morning overflight of a breakout eruption on the old fissure line toward the Northeast, which includes historic flows toward the Mauna Kea turnoff and points East, including Hilo and a few miles short of Kea’au.

Everyone was on their devices getting updates as the flow developed and intensified, with high-volume fountaining and many rivers of lava headed downslope more or less toward about the 26 mile mark on the Saddle Road, or a few miles short of the Mauna Kea turnoff on the Hilo side.

As the hours went by, some fountains died while others sped up and a high volume of lava cut the access road to the Mauna Loa NOAA Observatory, a key player in monitoring CO2 in the atmosphere.

As of today, December 2nd, the fountaining has died down and the drain out to a lower 7000ft elevation has the flow stalled almost 3 miles from the highway.

View of the Mauna Loa eruption from Mauna Kea.
Photo by Andras Toth

Thousands of residents and visitors (some say 10,000 at a time), flocked to view the once in a lifetime spectacle and some have taken our Mauna Kea Sunset tour which gives a unique perspective from slightly HIGHER than the Eruption 25 miles across the Saddle between the two mountains. The last eruption of Mauna Loa was in 1984, 38 years ago. Right now is the first time in decades that both Mauna Loa and Kilauea are erupting at the same time.

Spectators on the summit of Mauna Kea have a fabulous view of the eruption of Mauna Loa.
Photo by David Collier

We have seen Photos or Images from Pro Cameras with huge lenses as well as iPhones and Androids, and all are spectacular…definitely as its night, your phone will catch colors but be a bit fuzzy on detail. Professional cameras on a tripod are producing AMAZING images and several webcams on Mauna Kea have been repositioned to catch elements of the eruption.

Land of Fire and Ice: our guide Andras captured this moment of snow on the summit of Mauna Kea while viewing the rivers of lava streaming from Mauna Loa.
Photo by Andras Toth

Here at Arnott’s Lodge we have a few rooms available at more affordable prices than larger fully staffed Hotels AND we have daily space on our Mauna Kea Sunset tours that now include an overview of this amazing Eruption As you visit Hawaii please be aware that the world is short-staffed right now, so be patient with Airport Staff, Stores, Restaurants and yes, even at our Hotel, especially if you are arriving late as we also are short-staffed and may be personally checking you in.

Please also be aware that If Hawaii Island was a football field this eruption is taking up less area than a Hot Dog Stand. There is NO risk to your safety right now.

A twilight view of the eruption of Mauna Loa
Photo by Sarah Garcia

Doug Arnott Discusses our SUNSET and stargazing Mauna Kea tour

June 8, 2021 By Doug Arnott

Aloha guests and future guests.
My Blog today is about our Mauna Kea Summit tour and why some companies advertise the use of expensive telescopes while we use a Laser Pointer, and also why our emphasis is on SUNSET and not so much on stargazing.

Most people who go up Mauna Kea, have never experienced anything like this amazing adventure, nor have they experienced the clarity of our atmosphere that has you gasping in wonder with your eyes; not even with binoculars.
Many realize for the first time that we are part of a highly visible VAST galaxy that looks like a River of closely associated Stars in their Billions: this is what drove ancient Egyptians to build the Pyramids in perfect alignment with this River.
If you want to look through a telescope at one object among the billions; fine, step into the line of 9 other guests (Covid rules) or soon to be 14 other guests and wait your turn in the freezing cold. Try to adjust your wide open vision to the focused light in the telescope and often leave in frustration…using a high powered telescope is an art that takes time to assimilate.
We have evolved a far superior method of introducing you to the wonders of the Universe….a laser pointer powerful enough to seem to go all the way to the object….so as the heavens roll around their seasonal changes and we make our way around the Sun once a year we may be able to show you the North Star and the Southern Cross in one sweep and ooops there goes the International Space Station…try doing that with a Telescope. We show you the clusters and individual bright Stars that ancient Hawaiians used to navigate the Pacific and to Tahiti and back. We show you zodiac signs as they occur during the year.

Photo of an Arnott’s guide giving a starshow

There is another important reality which is why we emphasize SUNSET and diminish Star Gazing; the simple fact that there are MANY nights on Mauna Kea that either the Moon’s brightness or cloud cover lower on the mountain preclude any Stargazing at all. Mauna Kea is an almost 14,000ft spire sticking up out of the Pacific and makes a lot of its own weather out of passing Trade-wind driven moisture or East Bound cold fronts crossing the Pacific to become mainland storms. The moon itself for a week before the full moon makes stargazing virtually impossible…is that the week you’re going with another company because we don’t have a telescope? There are also individual Rangers on Mauna Kea that can alter your experience by insisting all leave the summit immediately after sunset and go all the way down to the Visitor Information Station, while other more public oriented rangers will allow some limited Stargazing well below the summit but well above the VIS….these are variables that most companies will not bother to explain….that in fact ANY Stargazing is subject to pure Luck.

Photo by @kbgoesoutdoors on an Arnott’s Mauna Kea tour

Go to Mauna Kea for the Sunset and if you get some Stargazing with or without a telescope that is a bonus. AND please be aware that rarely but on occasion incoming storm systems that have not closed the road can block a good Sunset. Your Operator, no matter who they are, have no control over this and YOUR Karma may be involved, so if we get you to the top safely we have done a good job.
If you want to do In-Depth Stargazing with an amazing Operation set up for the specific purpose, in the warm air at Sea Level, go to Stargazehawaii.com. Email: stargaze@stargazehawaii.com Operator: Wayne Fukunaga (808) 323-3481 is well known. He operates at several west side resorts and enables even the youngest members of your family to participate. Wayne has four Telescopes so you are not standing in line and not cold…he also showcases the various Apps available and how to use them, giving you a lifetime of enjoyment ahead.
Lastly we do HIGHLY recommend that you invest in a small but good quality pair of binoculars and learn how to use them both for daytime and night star gazing.
Enjoy your Mauna Kea experience: just to go up in a rugged 4×4 is an Adventure.

Doug’s Blog on Visiting the Big Island during COVID

March 21, 2021 By Doug Arnott

Aloha All Visitors reading my Blog.
The problem for any destination that has a Main Feature is how to draw visitors to come when that feature is not doing its thing.
The burning question is whether the destination has other charms for Visitors besides its main feature.
Paris without the Eiffel Tower is still amazing Paris, Japan without Mt Fuji is still rich in culture and scenery.
Many have visited Italy many times without seeing Rome or the Volcanoes.
And so it is with the Big Island, or as our Visitor Bureau likes to call it, “Island of Hawaii”.
For a start this is a BIG Island with three Huge Mountains: two over 13,000ft above sea level. One is Mauna Kea, which you can drive (4×4) or take a tour
to the top, the other is Mauna Loa, which hosts the famous NOAA Science Station that monitors World CO2.
We have a Windward side and a Leeward (west side ) that are completely different in character providing variety for your visit.
We have world ranked beaches with Lifeguards and small rocky coves where you can observe Green Sea Turtles feeding in nature.
There are White sand beaches formed from Coral and Seashells, Black Sand beaches formed from eroded Lava and
Green sand beaches formed from wind separation of Olivine from old Lava.
Once a year around Easter Hilo becomes the Hula Capital of the world for the Annual Merrie Monarch Festival where all hotels are booked out a year in advance and the most amazing costumes are created using flowers and foliage from the surrounding countryside.
In a little known fact Hilo has the highest per capita participation in youth soccer of any town in the USA.
While Covid played havoc with restaurants nationwide, Hilo responded with a rich variety of delivered food and beverages of every kind.
Hilo has several unique Bistro style restaurants with great food and wine selections. We have one Liquor Store: Kadota’s, run by a family famous for its
absolutely world class selections and its “Back Room” where serious wines from around the world can run to hundreds of dollars…and we have unique
Farmers Market food stalls selling a vast variety of foods representative of our diverse cultural heritage. Hilo’s Farmers Market is a must every Wednesday
and Saturday for fresh vegetables, fruits of every kind and even the Coconut vendor to lop off the top and give you a “fresh from the tree” nut with a straw.
Getting to the Island of Hawaii has never been easier with many major Carriers having direct flights from Mainland Cities to Kona and both Hawaiian and Southwest offering numerous daily flights from Oahu to Hilo. Just be aware that Hilo while under 100 miles from Kona is a good two hour drive in daylight and we discourage our guests from driving it at night for their safety, and that of wandering nocturnal Donkeys, Goats and Pigs.
As our accommodations have evolved, most budget priced accommodation is on the Windward (Hilo) side of the Island and most Luxury Resort Hotels are on the Kona (Leeward) side…so if coming to Hilo, plan your Kona flights accordingly to arrive with enough daylight to get to Hilo.
If your plans take you to Oahu first you can fly into Hilo on Hawaiian or Southwest many times a day and all the usual Car Rentals are available here.
When Covid is over, United Continental has a once a day direct flight into Hilo from LA which arrives around 7pm and departs at around 10pm…this is a great flight if you can capture the price break times.

So lets get down to why you are coming to the Island of Hawaii and that pesky Volcano that may or may not be erupting visible Red Lava.
With or without any visible Lava the Volcanoes National Park is a must visit especially if you are Hikers or interested in Geology…it is well set up with descriptive plaques at all main features and is at the 28 mile point going south, at the 53 mm is the town of Pahala frozen in time from the Sugar Plantation Era and be sure to buy its new product Kau Coffee which has already reached world attention…at the 56 mm is Punalu’u Black sand beach famous for the many Green Sea Turtles that regularly haul out on the sand for a rest…continue on 10 miles to Naalehu Town the Southernmost Town in the United States with its Famous Punalu’u Sweetbread Factory…a must visit. From Naalehu to Green Sands Beach trailhead is 16 miles and takes you past South Point, the South most point in the USA. Google maps knows “Green Sand Beach Trailhead”…there are often people with pickup trucks offering rides, it is a rugged trail and banned to Rental cars…DO NOT leave anything valuable in your car.
Back in Hilo for your next day you may decide to visit the aftermath of the enormous 2018 Eruption that destroyed over 700 houses and you can pass through the famous “Wild West” Town of Pahoa on the way to highway 132 which is a road cleared over and through the 2018 Lava Flow…AMAZING. During recent heavy rain (3/21) rainwater filtered down to still 800f rock and came back up as dense steam making it difficult to drive, Highway 130 will take you to Kalapana, where another famous Lava Flow stopped at Uncle Roberts Hawaiian Village and leads you to Highway 137 that will take you to Pohoiki the enormous new Black Sand Beach formed by the 2018 Lava Flow.
You can drive out a short distance from the listed end of highway 130 out to the flat Lava Fields that once allowed visitors to walk right up to slowly advancing flows…today some property owners have returned and erected shacks and in some cases elaborate house on top of the Lava that inundated their land…Please act with respect if visiting this area and drive very slowly so as not to create dust.
Off for another full day we are going North along the Hamakua Heritage Coastline on Highway 19. First turn is just out of Hilo not even a mile there is a scenic turn out on the right that overlooks the Harbor and the massive Breakwater that protects it. Depending on weather and ships this point can provide spectacular views of Shipping and sometimes huge surf conditions. Continue on to the Scenic Route just past the 7 Mile Marker which will lead you through magic dense forest to views of Onomea Bay and the Botanical Gardens…a short distance on is “Whats Shakin” a wonderful fruit smoothie shop. You will rejoin the highway and drive to the Honomu and Akaka Falls turnoff just by the 14 Mile Marker. Honomu is an old sugar town and that big cut you came through on the highway below is the old railway line before they needed roads…keep going up to Akaka Falls….you can park on the side and walk a ways or drive right in and pay for parking…either way its an over 400ft waterfall and very beautiful.
As you travel north from Honomu you will pass over bridges that once held Sugar Cane Trains while a crude road snaked around below. Each of these bridges crosses a valley and most are worth stopping for a look…..almost all have upstream waterfalls in view…DO NOT slow down on the bridge pull off the road before or after…plenty have been before you and pullouts are obvious…you will also pass Iconic small towns each held the cane workers for an area and some had sugar mills to partly process the cane before roads. At the 25 mile mark you will enter Laupahoehoe a small town with a STRICT 45 mile speed limit and the only gas station and food stop before Honokaa the next medium size town where our manager Glory was born and went to High School. Honokaa has weathered the loss of sugar and the new cross Island Saddle road (which cuts passing traffic) better than others and has converted its main street to shops of more interest to visitors….if you are headed to Waipio Valley the Malama Market at the main intersection is the place to stock up.
If you follow the road into Honokaa you will miss another Icon of old Hawaii…Tex’s drive in with its famous Malasadas which is on highway 19 above Honokaa…either way BOTH are worth a visit….but back to Waipio Valley…drive through Honokaa Town by taking a right off the highway, pick up supplies at Malama Store and you have 9 miles to go to the Waipio Valley overlook…this alone is worth a visit and is also the entry point for Hikers and Adventurers to try some famous trails and waterfalls….be sure to get latest info on arrival as there has been a swirl of proposed law changes lately to restrict the access which is a precarious 4×4 only, 25% grade hill down and up with narrow one way in the middle. This is a hike takeoff point for Waimanu Valley: a rugged A grade hike by any standard.
Continuing on our trip around Mauna Kea you will return to Honokaa and make your way back up to the highway and turn toward the next town Waimea. This is a cute mix of old and new, has two competing shopping areas across from each other and hosts both Burger King and McDonalds as well as specialty shops and a food court. One restaurant you should not miss is the Lilikoi Cafe around the back of Parker Ranch Center…with a great selection of healthy food and pastry.
The town of Waimea hosts the headquarters of several world class telescopes that can be seen on the distant summit of Mauna Kea as well as Parker Ranch with its history and huge acreage…there is also a Western Style store, a Food Court, Health food and regular Food Markets
At this point we turn back toward Hilo on highway 190 to return via the famous Saddle Road where we will rise to 7000ft to cross between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa mountains on our way back to Hilo…but before we start to climb from Waimea at 2500 ft we cross a vast flat plain of wind blown grasslands that is part of Parker Ranch, arriving at about the 10 mile marker we have a choice as the Old Saddle Road Hwy 200 forks off to the left…this a very scenic but narrow and twisty road that meets the cross island highway about 15 miles toward Hilo….OR you can continue on 10 miles to the intersection with Daniel Inouye Highway which is a wide modern Highway all the way to Hilo, most of it 60mph but be aware of slowdown passing the Military training area as it is well Policed. Both Routes are incredibly scenic with 3 major mountains surrounding you, A stop at the mid way Gil Kahele County Park is a must for well maintained bathrooms and to take in the scenery at 7000ft…this Park and its surrounding are also a great place for night Stargazing and Meteor watching.
The scenery on the Saddle Road is so diverse it takes a book to describe so just enjoy and pull out on wide shoulders to take in amazing scenery, as you continue on toward Hilo mile markers will be counting down so as you approach 29 and 28 slow down as you are on a VAST very flat plain of relatively smooth Lava that stretches in all directions….this is the 1934 Mauna Loa Lava flow that formed a huge glowing lake that had to get deeper and deeper to overwhelm the small ridge at the 28 mile marker where it then flowed toward Hilo.
At this point at the 28 mile marker is the turn off to Mauna Kea Visitor Center and if you have a 4×4, access to the summit. It is up to 20% grades to get to the Visitor Information Station ( VIS ) and you need good brakes and use of lower gears to get safely back down…if it is late in the day you may want to come back on a separate visit as Mauna Kea can be a day by itself…
You now head down a continuous Hill for the next 28 miles into Hilo and you drop over 6500ft in altitude, the highway is very well made and most is 60mph but be cautious of over use of brakes to hold speed to the limit as many vehicles get burned out brakes on this one descent…as your vehicle tries to exceed the speed limit first turn off Overdrive if you have one…if there is no overdrive downshift your automatic from D to a lower gear 4, 3, or 2 so as the engine is holding you at the limit and not repeated use of brakes. Arriving at the end of the highway you can take a short jog to the right then an immediate left which brings you in a couple of miles to Hilo’s Fast food center at Puainako Center and only 10 or 15 minutes from our Lodge.
Thank you for taking this journey with us, we will be adding pictures soon so that even if you can’t come soon….you can enjoy the Big Island with or without Lava Flowing.
Doug Arnott

Mr. Arnott’s January Blog

January 24, 2021 By Doug Arnott

Aloha to those joining my blog…..

There is a move afoot on Oahu to encourage mainlanders who want to (individually or with family) come to Hawaii for remote work, to fulfill their dream by offering good rates for longer stays into months for qualified applicants.
We recently had an experience with 30 college-age students who would have gone on overseas trips but, because of Covid, had to stay in the US. This group stayed with us for 3 months, from Sept. through Nov. last year and taught us a great deal about longer-term stays, which we have never entertained before.

One of the things we had to provide was really fast Internet for them, and after a new contract with Spectrum and about $4000 to a local Tech company, we had gigabyte speeds translating into 200mbs for laptops on WIFI…these 30 students had over 70 devices hooked up at any one time…leading us to believe we have THE best WIFI in Hilo.
Added to this we have extensive grounds allowing for far greater than 6ft distancing, and our location is near several ocean access points which are used for recreation by people from other suburbs as our area provides the Lungs of Hilo where pure tradewinds make their first landfall.
Beware of offerings on Hilo Harbor, which is perennially brown from glaciated runoff from Mauna Kea Mountain. We are right by the Blue Pacific Ocean….but not too close as recent HUGE surf has demonstrated.

The group that we had used EVERY food service and delivery option available in Hilo, and we were frankly stunned at the variety and competition to provide delivered food and beverages.

For your comfort we have Fujitsu Split or Ductless Aircon and double-pane windows to guarantee you a good nights sleep.
We also have extensive common areas where guests can meet with appropriate distancing to exchange ideas or form business partnerships.
Hilo is in the grips of the Pickle Ball craze and our GM Glory can introduce you to our local players. Hilo has the distinction for kids of being one of the top Soccer towns in the nation for per capita players.

For this type of accommodation email me direct at arnottd@gmail,com or Glory at manager@arnottslodge.com. We have 9 two-bedroom suites with kitchenettes and a few single rooms in this category and expect them to go fast.
Hilo is low-key with low Covid rates, and the Big Island population hovers around 200,000 with a very low infection rate.
We look forward to serious inquiries..
Doug Arnott

A Blog by Doug Arnott, founder and owner of Arnotts

December 20, 2020 By Doug Arnott

Douglass Arnott standing in one of Arnotts guest areas.

While 2020 with Covid raging around the world has presented its challenges, we find ourselves approaching Christmas with a deep appreciation for Hilo and the Big Island of Hawaii where we are based.
Our small population…only 200,000 on a large island and our sense of Ohana (family) and of Kuleana (ones obligation to others) has seen us through; far better than many other places.

Going into 2021 we will probably see hesitancy by our usual clients of Paddling, Hula, Soccer, Rugby, Biking, Adventure Hiking and of course our Au Pair camper groups to travel in numbers, and so we find ourselves pondering who might we reach out to who could utilize our unique Hotel and the vans and buses which used to serve for Mauna Kea (mountain) adventures and the Cruise Industry. As the result of a group of college age students who were supposedly here to do serious study, we installed World Class WIFI with Gigabit service throughout most of our rooms and public spaces (this translates to VERY fast service at your laptop on WIFI….Gigabit is Spectrum to our Routers.)

Due to some PPP Stimulus money we did extensive refurbishment and art projects around the lodge.
We are located in a delightful coastal area where even Hilo residents from other areas come to walk, ride bikes and swim in the blue Pacific Ocean.
We are interested to attract both those visiting our Islands as Tourists and also some individuals or working groups interested in distance learning or distance working while living in delightful surroundings.
We have extensive public areas reserved for our guests as well as maintained garden grounds so that even future Covid spikes can be taken in a pleasant manner with outside space and sunshine.
Our public areas allow for conversations while distanced so a Community of Remote workers or Entrepreneurs could exchange ideas in a productive environment. As with many towns on the mainland, we have a vibrant food and grocery delivery business sector that has sprung up in response to quarantining and social distancing. You can get virtually anything delivered locally, and both USPS and Amazon and Fedex, etc. have swift delivery to Hilo.

With 9 two-bedroom apartments and one 3-bedroom apartment we can accommodate almost any configuration from full Suites with kitchenette to individual rooms within a Suite. Also, VERY Important to those who are not already used to living in the Tropics: we have superb ductless Fujitsu Air Conditioning. Very few apartment or budget rentals in Hilo have AC.

This Blog is addressed to the Individuals or the Movers and Shakers who have a handle on the evolving Distance Learning/Distance Working reality and might like to join us in utilizing our facility.
You can message back or contact me directly at arnottd@gmail.com. If you want to make a reservation, please go back to our website and access through that medium.
Aloha…have a safe and Wonderful Christmas and a much better New Year.
Doug Arnott

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