'HEAR YOU KNOCKING, BUT YOU CAN'T COME IN'

All who stay at the hostel are informed of the hours that the main gate will be open.  It closes at 10pm.

Some travellers do not like to place a deposit for keys to gate and they are reminded that it can be a problem, if returning later than 10pm.

At half 4 in the morn, a guest returned to find gate locked.  He did not have a key as he did not want one. Being full of 'good cheer', the chap proceeded to rattle the gates with such a fury that it woke up the entire hostel.  The death rattle of the gates was accompanied by a loud shrill voice that hurled a steady stream of filthy language up the stairs.

His Holiness, Justin I, is always ready to assist guests with issues during the night.  Rather think that a smurf coloured individual, in his cups and casting aspersions on His Holiness' manhood qualifies as a real 'call for assistance'.  When no amount of calming chat could get the chap to be quiet, there was no choice but to ring up the local coppers.

In short order, the rude guest was removed.

The whole episode was so well heard by all in hostel, that it was the only thing mentioned when Tea was served.  To a person, guests felt that while a rude way to awake, the situation had been dealt with in a proper manner.

I mention this as a personage known to MOI asked if this old geezer only wrote of the cute side of hostel stays and not a 'bit of rough'.  To be true, after reflection, this old geezer came to see the positive side of the early morn commotion.  Hostel bookings are an adventure,there is an element of surprise, when it comes to who one will be staying with.  One never knows how some travellers will turn out.

News, or gossip travels fast in a small town, and Hilo is a small town.  Folks do love a bit of gossip and it has been interesting to hear several different versions of what happened with the colourful character.  I can tell true, that the bloke who was removed was not put upon, rather the other way round. 

The positive part of this tale is that one can feel certain that every effort is made to make the traveller feel safe and comfy.