Arrived at Hilo
When we arrived at Hilo, we were surprised to find that it was precisely what we'd been taught to expect:
Open areas decorated in wood and orange paint with no walls, but occasional thatched barriers, and everyone is incredibly friendly and helpful.
A land of ceiling fans and smiling strangers.
It was like stepping backward into the Brady Bunch special where they visit Hawaii.
After passing a few very relaxed but professional Airport Security guards, who looked like extras from Hawaii 5-0, we located a taxi without much difficulty; Aaron was pleased to take us to Arnott's Lodge for our first night's stay.
While he took us to our destination, he gave us a brief Taxi-man's tour of what we would be seeing if it weren't as dark as it was.
"Yeah, Arnott's is pretty good: they've got nice rooms, and lounges where you can watch TV, there's a movie room too."
"Over there, if this were the morning, you'd see Mauna Loa. Man, I'm telling you it's a beautiful sight."
"On your left, you'll see Ken's Pancakes House. Be sure to stop in there, they're pretty good, man, and they're open 24 hours a day."
"Yeah, this other place is open all night, too, if you're lookin' for a good Sloppy Joe sandwich. I don't go there much, but there they are."
We asked him what was making the chorus of "boop-beeps", which sounded like the whole island remote-locking and unlocking their car doors at once.
"Those are those damn Croquette frogs. I know they sound nice to visitors, but this area used to be quiet. I think someone in customs must'a dozed off or somethin'. Now they're just migrating all over the place."
I've known about invasive species, living in an area with some of the best traveled lakes in the world, some (but not all) of which have Zebra Mussels, but those don't make a lot of noise. This was my first visceral experience with an area that had been forever changed within living memory.
After dropping us at Arnott's Lodge, Aaron gave us his card (or rather a friend's card with his information written on it), and encouraged us to call him if we needed a taxi during our vacation.
We approached the PX-style front desk where two girls (one of whom Kathy described as "just all boobs") were chatting idly and watching TV. They gave us a room key for "9A", and pointed us toward the alley.
We went down the corridor, climbed the stairs and found only "9". Our card worked, so we went in. Very like a Hostel, there was a main room (9) with a bathroom and kitchen, then there were two bedroom which required keycards (A and B). Once installed into our room, we decided that getting food was more important than anything else.
We walked the two miles back to Ken's, enjoying the smells and sounds of the night in Hilo. Once we arrived, we were fairly charmed by the interior, which might have been around since being featured in an Elvis film. The walls were covered in staff pictures and awards.
We ordered the "pick 4 sampler", and dined on scallops, coconut shrimp, crab cakes, and calamari rings.
Aaron had finished taking fares for the evening, so we called another cab back to Arnott's.
That cab also handed us a business card, which appears to be something of a common practice around Hilo, if not all of Hawaii.
Open areas decorated in wood and orange paint with no walls, but occasional thatched barriers, and everyone is incredibly friendly and helpful.
A land of ceiling fans and smiling strangers.
It was like stepping backward into the Brady Bunch special where they visit Hawaii.
After passing a few very relaxed but professional Airport Security guards, who looked like extras from Hawaii 5-0, we located a taxi without much difficulty; Aaron was pleased to take us to Arnott's Lodge for our first night's stay.
While he took us to our destination, he gave us a brief Taxi-man's tour of what we would be seeing if it weren't as dark as it was.
"Yeah, Arnott's is pretty good: they've got nice rooms, and lounges where you can watch TV, there's a movie room too."
"Over there, if this were the morning, you'd see Mauna Loa. Man, I'm telling you it's a beautiful sight."
"On your left, you'll see Ken's Pancakes House. Be sure to stop in there, they're pretty good, man, and they're open 24 hours a day."
"Yeah, this other place is open all night, too, if you're lookin' for a good Sloppy Joe sandwich. I don't go there much, but there they are."
We asked him what was making the chorus of "boop-beeps", which sounded like the whole island remote-locking and unlocking their car doors at once.
"Those are those damn Croquette frogs. I know they sound nice to visitors, but this area used to be quiet. I think someone in customs must'a dozed off or somethin'. Now they're just migrating all over the place."
I've known about invasive species, living in an area with some of the best traveled lakes in the world, some (but not all) of which have Zebra Mussels, but those don't make a lot of noise. This was my first visceral experience with an area that had been forever changed within living memory.
After dropping us at Arnott's Lodge, Aaron gave us his card (or rather a friend's card with his information written on it), and encouraged us to call him if we needed a taxi during our vacation.
We approached the PX-style front desk where two girls (one of whom Kathy described as "just all boobs") were chatting idly and watching TV. They gave us a room key for "9A", and pointed us toward the alley.
We went down the corridor, climbed the stairs and found only "9". Our card worked, so we went in. Very like a Hostel, there was a main room (9) with a bathroom and kitchen, then there were two bedroom which required keycards (A and B). Once installed into our room, we decided that getting food was more important than anything else.
We walked the two miles back to Ken's, enjoying the smells and sounds of the night in Hilo. Once we arrived, we were fairly charmed by the interior, which might have been around since being featured in an Elvis film. The walls were covered in staff pictures and awards.
We ordered the "pick 4 sampler", and dined on scallops, coconut shrimp, crab cakes, and calamari rings.
Aaron had finished taking fares for the evening, so we called another cab back to Arnott's.
That cab also handed us a business card, which appears to be something of a common practice around Hilo, if not all of Hawaii.