tours 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!!

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!

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

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.

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

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou from Arnott’s Lodge

January 3, 2020 By Doug Arnott

The Christmas Holidays have bought major occupancy back to Hilo hotels, along with the reopening of the Mauna Kea Summit road after a lengthy closure due to cultural differences over construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. As we have provided free transport to the summit of Mauna Kea to cultural practitioners for the past 27 years, we understand their passion over this issue, which is not finished but on hiatus for the winter.

Winter weather in Hawaii usually means night temperatures can drop to the mid 60s F or 17 C with daytime temps still ranging from the mid 70s to 80s F or 23-28 C. This relatively minor change in yearly temperature averages is one of the golden reasons why Hawaii remains such an excellent year-round destination. Our modernized air-conditioning system and peaceful surroundings will keep you comfortable at all times.

Arnott’s Lodge is steadily adding solar! We currently have panels to run our water heating system and some of our electric needs.

Image result for Hawaiian winter — Photo of a sandy snowman from Oahu via Houston Style Magazine

Arnott’s guests, with directions from our Front Desk, have lately been enjoying sea turtles swimming at both Carlsmith and Richardson’s Beach Parks nearby. Some guests have spotted the big old turtle with the GPS antenna and reconstructed fiberglass shell (after he was attacked by a shark some years ago.) Some lucky guests may be able to see whales passing by as well! Humpback whales usually visit Hawaiian waters between November and May, with peak viewing opportunities about to begin in January. Our near neighbor with his collection of ducks, geese, and a parrot, and migratory visitors such as ducks and Golden Plovers from Alaska provide endless enjoyment for kids especially.

We’d like to wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and Arnott’s best wishes for the new year to come.

Author: Doug Arnott

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