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The paved road gives way to dirt and rocks. There are no street lights. The shapes of houses reveal themselves in our headlights. We ride toward a building in the distance that is brighter and larger than the others. The assumption is that the building is our destination. A sign with an arrow tells us we assumed correctly. It is the sign for Open Gate Hostel, in Pahoa, Big Island, Hawaii. 

It’s our first hostel. Ever. We follow a path from the entrance to the kitchen. 

In the kitchen, we are greeted by Marissa. She is welcoming and friendly, with a noticeable, German, accent. Marissa is feeding a bird fruit.

“I’ll give you a tour. I just started feeding Sasha. Is it alright if Sasha rides on my shoulder for the tour?”

“Sure,” we reply. 

Marissa guides us through the hostel. We move along hallways, up stairs, through sitting rooms, walk across a bridge…at night it feels like a maze. All the while Sasha sits contently on Marissa’s shoulder. 

My fingers twitch. I want to take a picture, but maybe this kind of thing happens all of the time in hostels? I don’t want to look like a hostel noob. Marissa opens the door to our room, then walks Sasha back to the kitchen to resume dinner. 

“That was awesome! I wanted to take a picture, but I don’t know hostel etiquette,” I say. 

“Well,” starts Shannon. “If movies teach us anything, I think the main rule is, don’t be murdery.”

I laugh. 

We get slightly lost as we exit the hostel. It’s Wednesday, and one of the bonuses of staying at Open Gate Hostel on a Wednesday night, is Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar and Market. 

Our stomachs full of Thai food, and our ears full of live-band tunes, we take the short drive, back to Open Gate Hostel. 

Once through the main entrance, we’re lost. As we wander through one of the sitting areas, a helpful young man, escorts us to our room. It’s the second time this trip a physical key, and not a card, is used to open our room’s door. It’s a delightful novelty.

 It’s time. 

Open Gate Hostel, is located in the middle of a cooled lava field. There is little around the building, making it a perfect location for stargazing. It was the pictures of their stargazing tower that prompted this first hostel experience.

Living in an area bathed in light pollution, I long for a glimpse of a sky bursting with stars. 

Atop the star gazing tower, I am not disappointed. We linger until our eyelids grow heavy. Our hunger for a clear night sky is satiated.

Our accommodation is one of the hostel’s private rooms. We even have our own in-room bathroom. The room brings back memories of childhood, summer camp, cabins.

Open Gate Hostel is an off-grid, hostel, that uses sustainable practices, like solar power. There is no air-conditioning, but it’s not needed, as the cool night air keeps the room a comfortable temperature. The mattress on our bed is excellent quality and provides a restful slumber. 

Just as the sun begins to rise, I awake, and dress.  Opening the door is like opening a gift on Christmas morning. My soul takes a minute to comprehend the landscape.

Black and gray, cooled lava, stretches to the horizon.

Some sections are shiny, some are dull. Bright green vegetation, reaches for the sun, from cracks in the surface.  There are patches with waves, patterns, it’s a marvelous work of art. It’s hard to imagine that so much beauty can evolve from something so powerful and destructive. 

Man-made art is found around every corner at Open Gate Hostel.

It’s like touring a mini-Wynwood, Miami. 

The sky glows pink, yellow and orange, as the sun makes its debut. In daylight, Open Gate Hostel feels less like a maze.

I trek from one end to the other, then up on the stargazing tower, capturing pictures of the sunrise. 

The world is still. It’s one of the most peaceful, calming places, I’ve ever visited. 

Suddenly he is traipsing toward me. Could this morning get any better? A kitty, approaches me for attention.

The kitty follows me back to our room and immediately goes to Shannon. Shannon is a kitty whisperer. No matter where our travels take us, kitties love him.  

I insist on spending time in one of the hammock chairs before check-out.

Sasha, our bird friend, joins us. 

There’s a friendly reptile.

 Marissa soon appears and we have a chat. She enquires about our plans for the day. When we tell her we are in search of a black sand beach, she leads us to a map and gives us detailed instructions on how to get to Kehena Beach. 

Though we achieved our stargazing goal, I’m sad to leave Open Gate Hostel after only one night. I wish we booked two nights. I can easily see myself spending the day in the hammock chair, reading, petting an adorable kitty, chatting with fellow hostel guests, catching glimpses of the tranquil scenery. It’s the ideal place to escape the chaos of life. 

We run the gauntlet of accommodations while in Hawaii. There are fancy resorts, chain hotels, a bed and breakfast, an Airbnb, but sleeping on a lava field, at Open Gate Hostel, is the most unique and memorable stay of the trip.  

Related posts:

Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar and Market-Hawaii Staying At Villa Sunshine-Cape Town Staying at Casa Sucre Boutique Hotel Sunrise/Sunset on Caye Caulker