17Dec 2023 by Doug Arnott

Christmas 2023

affordable, Budget, Business, Camping, Hawaii, Hilo, Ocean, Outdoors, Travel, Traveling, Volcano
Here we are at Christmas time 2023. Today we had our staff Christmas party, which was marked by two things. Our fantastic staff and lodge friends: Mahana, Makana, Siobhan, Andras, Nanae, Lauren, Mike, Jenny, Donna, Mark, and Sarah One was the amazing cake and chocolate strawberries provided by Mauna Kea Guide Andras and his wife. The other was a very clever game facilitated by Lauren involving a tightly wound ball of Saran Wrap that was hundreds of layers deep and shed all kinds of goodies as it was unwound on the roll of a dice. As we approach the winter season for Mauna Kea we have yet to have a full sub-zero night, as the same conditions that have provided drought for much of the Island are keeping the Summit warm.…
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21Nov 2023 by Doug Arnott

Happy Thanksgiving from Arnott’s Lodge

Adventure, affordable, Budget, Business, Camping, Hawaii, Hilo, Nature, Ocean, Travel, Traveling, Volcano, Wifi
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…
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15Jan 2023 by Doug Arnott

2023 starts with a new Kilauea eruption

Adventure, affordable, Budget, Camping, Environment, Environmental, Geology, Hawaii, Hilo, Nature, Outdoors, safety, Travel, Traveling, Volcano, Volcanoes, Volcanology
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…
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05Dec 2022 by Doug Arnott
The New Eruption of Mauna Loa

The New Eruption of Mauna Loa

Adventure, affordable, Budget, Conservation, Environment, Environmental, Geology, Hawaii, Hilo, History, Nature, Outdoors, safety, Travel, Traveling, Uncategorized, Volcano, Volcanoes, Volcanology
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…
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21Mar 2021 by Doug Arnott

Doug’s Blog on Visiting the Big Island during COVID

Adventure, affordable, Budget, Business, Camping, Conservation, COVID, distance work, Environment, Environmental, Geology, Hawaii, Hilo, History, Nature, Ocean, Outdoors, safety, Travel, Traveling, Volcano, Volcanoes, Volcanology, Wifi
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 (4x4) or take a tourto the top, the other is Mauna Loa,…
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03Jul 2018 by Sarah Garcia

Volcanoes of Hawaii

Environment, Ocean, Uncategorized, Volcano, Volcanoes
In lieu of the most recent fissure eruption in the Puna District of the Island of Hawai‘i, we want to clear up some confusion about our volcanoes. Unlike the rest of the volcanoes that surround the Ring of Fire, the Hawaiian Islands were and still are created by a hotspot magma chamber in the asthenosphere. Over this hotspot, the Pacific Tectonic Plate slowly moves. Due to this type of uprising of magma, our Hawaiian Islands form as shield volcanoes. So what is the big confusion? As most of the world is not familiar with the idea that there are many different types of volcanoes and lava flow events, one of the biggest things has been that many people have thought that the eruptions have been signs that we will be…
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23Jun 2018 by Sarah Garcia

Marine Life in Hawaii

Conservation, Environment, Environmental, Nature, Ocean, Outdoors, Sunscreen, Travel, Traveling, Uncategorized, Volcano
When you hear “Hawai‘i”, what do you first think of? Sunshine, the beach, and the ocean, right? Many travelers coming to the islands often look forward to jumping into our warm waters, whether to surf and swim, or snorkel and dive! Just as the views from above the surface of the water are beautiful, the life and landscape under the water is just as breathtaking! To the untrained eye, everything under the water tends to look the same, with little to no diversity...however when you take an even closer look, you begin to realize life under the water is more than just a few rocks, fish, and turtles! There is an amazingly complex, and delicate ecosystem, just waiting to be fully understood. Here in Hawai‘i, we have amazing reef systems…
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29May 2018 by Sarah Garcia

Camping in Hawaii

Camping, Nature, Ocean, Outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized, Volcano
Who wants to go on a camping trip to Hawaii?  Are you interested in camping in paradise? It seems like a beautiful existence, doesn't it...pitching a tent on the beach, waking up in the morning to the sun shining and birds chirping? Well....it definitely can be! The key to having a good time camping in Hawaii is to come prepared. Do your research before you even leave your home. Which campgrounds are you going to stay at? What amenities, if any, do they offer? Do they require permits? What kind of gear do you need? It's one thing to show up at a hotel with nothing but the clothes on your back, but that's not really a fun time when you're roughing it! The island of Hawaii has a number…
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