5 comments about The Hikers Guide to Oahu.

1. Simple: this is the best hiking book ever published regarding trails on Oahu. How do I know? Not only have I used it, I've hiked a couple of times with the author and watched him take notes. An experienced hiker with over 20 years in these mountains, Stuart Ball knows what he's talking about and describes the trails with detail, map, and comment. I've seen the other books on the market - this is by far the BEST reference for hiking on Oahu. Ask anyone you find on these trails - they might just produce a copy from their backpacks!



2. this is a great hiking guide but please keep in mind the published date; it's quite old by now and as such, the detailed hiking descriptions are sorely in need of an update. thus, please be careful when using the guide as a reference, as you could end up getting lost. getting an opinion from local hikers would be your best bet.



3. I won a copy of the first edition of this book in a contest in 1994, and since then it has helped me find dozens of beautiful and enjoyable trails.

   For example, one of the trails we found was a great hike in Wahiawa through the back country of an Army training base. As the author suggested, we wrote to the commander and we got permission to do this hike that rambles over hills and across streams, and all at the cool elevation of Wahiawa.

   Some of the highlights of the book include great descriptions of the flora along the trail, reproductions of topo maps for each hike that show you the pitch of the trail(although you should probably get the real topo if you plan to get lost), clear route descriptions that show that the author has been on these trails many times, and a wonderful layout.

   It is the best hiking book I have ever read (although I've probably only read about a dozen). It is without equal among O`ahu hiking books.

   I just bought the second edition, and if possible, it's even better than the first one.




4. This book has taken us thorugh tropical rain forests, dense valleys, and sun-parched craters. The variety of hikes is wonderful. There is something for everyone in here, well, everyone except the beginner hiker. It seems even beginning hikes in the book are a bit challenging. This is because Oahu has such a varity of terrain. However, if you are looking to take a relaxing stroll through the woods this book will be of no use to you. We have children so we only do the novice hikes and even those are challenging, but fun and dirty! This is probalby for more serious hikers and some of the hikes mentioned are 12 miles long! That takes a long time in Oahu's terrain! The author always write in interesting tidbits of info in his hike description which I like. Things such as the where the strawberry guava trees are, where the WWII tunnel is, etc...The one negative to this book is that many of the hikes the author writes about are closed to the public and you have to write for permission to hike them. To me, this is a pain and I am not organized enough to plan ahead and do this. If you are better organized than I, I am sure you would enjoy them. We are just a bit more spontaneous. Enjoy!



5. Working as an outdoor guide in Hawaii for a summer gave me a chance to discover the island of Oahu. It also helped me realize the that is the ONLY guide to hiking on Oahu that is worth buying. Not only do you get VERY accurate trail descriptions, you also get driving directions, directions from TheBus and information on flora and fauna in the area. I dare you to try and get lost!

1 comments about A Pocket Guide to Lana'i (Lanai).

1. Great little book about a great little island. Filled with all kinds of info, from secret beaches to hidden hiking trails. I loved there! so I should know. If you or anyone you know is going to the islands and planning to visit Lana'i, buy this book!

No comments about Insight Guide Hawaii (Insight Guides Hawaii).

5 comments about Driving & Discovering Hawaii: Maui & Molokai.

1. We truly enjoyed this beautiful guide.
   The photographs are as beautiful as those you see on calendars. We chomped off pages day by day and there was more than we could chew in a week. If sightseeing is on your agenda give this one a try.



2. Richard Sullivan has put together an extremely useful and beautiful guide. I put it to good use during a visit to Molokai, and I'm looking forward to using it during my trip this winter to Maui. Great photos and great details. This book is a must if you visit the islands.



3. Although Amazon cancelled my order b/c they couldn't locate the book, I bought it once we arrived in Hawaii. The pictures are beautiful and the author brings a lot of insight to the 'out of the way places.' We didn't have a lot of time to plan our 1 day excursion to Maui, but using the book we had a great time. I will add that the maps are OK but you will also need to reference a more detailed map to really get around.



4. We got this book for our first trip to Maui, what an excellent investment. It helped us plan and easily get to all the places we wanted to visit on the island, plus it helped knowing what to expect. This is a great book, expecially for a first time visitor.



5. I was a travel agent for 13 years and have a lot of experience with travelling to and exploring tropical venues. This book was our "Bible" while visiting Maui. We were able to visit relatively undiscovered places (unmarked treasures) by following the directions in the book - ie. after the road sign, go 300 ft and turn left down hidden trail to waterfall. I can't tell you how many waterfalls and special spots we found that were virtually invisible to anyone without this book! My only disappointment regarding this book is that the author has not published one for Kauai - boo hoo.

No comments about Reference Maps of the Islands of Hawaii: O'ahu (Reference Maps of the Islands of Hawai'i).

5 comments about Moon Big Island of Hawai'i: Including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Moon Handbooks).

1. This book was a gift to me. I would never have purchased such a stodgy looking guide if I saw it in the bookstore. I actually got the larger Hawaii Handbook covering all of the Hawaiian islands. This book is the Big Island section of that book and includes comprehensive general Hawaiian island information as well. If someone is planning a multiple island trip they should go for the bigger book. Even if you are not going to Hawaii but want to know about Hawaii get this one. I devoured this book during the long flight to Hawaii and must say it was by far the very best travel guide that I have ever read and used to any destination. (And I have read them all.) It is so comprehensive and the writing is so well done that reading all of the information was almost like reading a page turner novel for me. I could not get enough. Once we were in Hawaii we found this guide totally indispensible. We traveled with a few other nice guides but, with all of their color photograpy and fancy maps, eventually this one was the only one we felt was worthwhile. (You can get all the maps you will ever need once you get there.) After touring extensively I read it with even more interest on the long flight home. We plan to return to tour just the Big Island and this is the one we will bring. It is not glitzy it is the real thing. Enjoy.



2. I like a guidebook with lots of pictures and detailed maps and this one lacks both. Knowing exactly where I am when I'm driving is probably my number one necessity. For armchair traveling and tourists with time to read this 400 page book provides interesting background.



3. I have found on 3 previous trips to the Big Island, in recent years that, Robert Nilsen's "Moon Big Island of Hawai'i" is vastly superior and is
   "The Best of the Best" when comparing the many others that are on the
   market, including some well known ones. This being the 3rd updated edition that we have used, we find it to be very up to date and that is sometimes very hard to do, when business's seem to change overnight, at times on the Big Island. His writing skills allow for easy reading
   and enjoyment, while showing his knowledge and love for the Big Island. Mr Nilson takes pride in the work that he does and when there seems to be an issue, with one of his recommendations, he takes the time to acknowledge your etter and sees to it that, if the issue is true, his recommendation will change in the next updated edition.
   
   My recommendation: This is a needed book on any venture to the Big Island of Hawai'i, whether your 1st, your 10th or more, as it is "The Best of the Best!!!!" You will find it well worn, upon your return, and may have friends and family wanting to borrow it for their trip,as well!



4. Big Island of Hawai'i Including Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is the Moon Handbooks guide for tourists and travelers, and like all books in the Moon series, is packed cover to cover with absolutely everything one needs to know to make the most of a Hawai'i vacation or business trip. Focusing specifically on Hawai'i's Big Island rather than the rest of the chain, chapters cover Kona, South Kohala, North Kohala, The Saddle Road, Hamakua Coast, Hilo, Puna, and Ka'u and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. From tips for getting around to health and safety advice to extensive directions, maps, black-and-white photographs, recommended hotels, hours for ideal eateries and gift shops, sports and recreation facilities, and much more, Big Island of Hawai'i is a compact, information-laden guide that no traveler to Hawai'i's Big Island should be without.



5. Obviously, from the reviews here, people want/expect different things from their guidebooks but my wife and I have done a lot of traveling to a lot of places and found this one of the best we've ever used.
   
   This book covers everything a traveler could need -- where to stay, where to eat, where to shop; and whatever your taste in activities, from museums to water sports, from golf to horticulture, it's well covered here, with full details of the where, the when, the phone number, and any little quirky info like "avoid Tuesdays," or "be aware of the riptides." (Is there anybody out there who WOULDN'T want to know there are riptides?)
   
   It's also very comprehensive -- not too surprising, of course, when it only has to cover a relatively small island - some books this size cover a whole country!

1 comments about To Honolulu in Five Days: Cruising Aboard Matson's S.S. Lurline.

1. Fascinating and one of the only definative accounts of a wonderful and now bygone experience in ocean travel in the Pacific. A must for anyone with an interest in Matson Navigation or oceanic travel during that period.

No comments about Paradise Family Guides Kaua'i: The Most Complete Guide to Family Fun and Adventure! (Paradise Family Guides).

2 comments about Streetwise Hawaii Map - Laminated State Road Map of Hawaii - Folding pocket size travel map (Laminated Map) (Laminated Map).

1. This was a decent map. In general, it's handy to have small, hand held laminated maps when you're driving. That said, there were other, more detailed maps in Hawaii that I liked more. I get a map to see how to get myself off of small, obscure roads, so if those roads are not on the map, then the map isn't much help, which was the case with this map. But, if you're planning on staying ON the beaten path, this map will do.



2. This provides small scale road maps of the main Hawaiian islands (Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu), plus a detailed street map of downtown Honolulu and Waikiki.
   
   It's big advantage is that it is compact (8.5 x 4 in) and very easy to open out for quick navigation checks. I found it very helpful for street-level navigation around Honolulu and for the major roads on Oahu and Big Island.
   
   It doesn't aim to cover all the smaller roads. But what it does, it does well.

No comments about Trails Illustrated Waterproof Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Map (National Park).