Hawaii Accommodations and Adventure Tours
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!
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.
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!
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
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
