Arno Atoll

A great getaway island

FACT FILE

Number of islets: 133 Population RMI Census 2021: 1,141 (619 males, 522 females) Land area: 5 square miles Lagoon area: 130.77 square miles Airstrips at Ine and Tinak Yacht permit fee: $150 Mayor: Baji Danny Nitijela Members: Mike Halferty, Gerald Zackios

Arno is the closest atoll to Majuro at 15 miles from the closest points. Ronnie Reimers sometimes ferries people and freight on his sturdy fishing boat Kirtake. You can find him at the Shoreline or at Tide Table. 

Brett Taylor kindly gave me permission to use his Arno Atoll video. 

Arno Beachcomber Lodge

Francis Reimers’ Arno Beachcomber Lodge is “the Marshall Islands’ best kept secret,” according to Coral and Alan Jones, who spent a couple of days there a few years ago. “I just wish we’d known about it before now,” said Coral, an Australian volunteer who worked at Women United Together in the Marshall Islands and visited shortly before leaving the country.
“The accommodation is very comfortable with three rooms as well as a bathroom. It’s spacious and very clean,” said Coral. Since she made these comments, Francis has added two more accommodation two-story buildings on the beach.
A number of boats service Arno, but the main ‘ferry’ is Ronnie Reimers’ Kirtake. You can call him on his cell phone: (692) 456-4859. “The house has a queen bed, a double bed and a single bed,” said Coral, “but you could sleep another 10 people on mats, there’s so much room.” The newer buildings have sleeping for another six to 10 people.
On arrival in Arno Arno, a pickup took Coral’s group the two miles to the B&B for a fee of just a few dollars. “The house is right next to the lagoon in a secluded area with a school nearby and a simple medical clinic about a half mile down the road.”
Francis can provide a cooler of goodies for breakfast, but it’s a good idea to take your own food for the other meals. “I made a rice and vegetable casserole that we could eat cold when we got there. We also took lots of fruit and fresh vegetables, which we ended up leaving there as we were given so much local food.”
To book Arno Beachcomber Lodge, contact the handicraft store Happy Hands next to RRE Hotel or call the owners, Francis and Hiromi Reimers, on (692) 455-1964. The rates are between $36 and $50 per night per person.

To contact the owners by email, use this adress: iva1909@yahoo.com

The Office of Commerce, Investment and Tourism produced the following video. You can visit their site at www.rmiocit.org