In 1971, the Arthurs left So. California and came to Pohnpei - with the nutty idea of building a thatch hotel.
Everything in the beach house was given away, and the air tickets were bought. Although the original idea was Bob's, Patti and the kids couldn't resist an adventure and came along.
While the hotel was being designed and built, Bob and Patti, and their four children, lived in a big thatch house they built on the hilltop.
Bob had never built a thatch hotel before, so everything was brand new. But Patti had the hardest job - she had to keep the whole company running.
In 1991, OPIC, an agency of the US Government, gave the Village the first Eco-tourism award for building a hotel "in tune with nature, with a low impact on the environment and the culture".
Lease land?
Build a hotel?
Pay a loan?
Bob and Patti
Pohnpei, here we come !
First thatched house
Construction
It was easy for them to stay.
They only had a one-way ticket.
They all thought it was a crazy idea. Mabe they were right.
The landowners didn't know what a lease was all about. The government didn't think a thatch hotel could be built. The bank needed to know that a loan would be repaid.
