Hawaii Books

The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed (Ultimate Kauai Guidebook)

Andrew Doughty

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 430 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Time-saving book made our short vacation packed with the best things to do! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I want to qualify my opinion to say this book worked best for us and our idea of what a vacation on Kauai is....outdoors-y, hiking, beaches, kayaking, biking, scuba/snorkeling, etc. AND NOT resort life, spa sessions and 5-star dining. The author shares his first hand experiences with each helicopter tour, scuba shop, trail, restaurant or not-to-miss sights so you don't waste your precious vacation time sorting through the endless brouchures and ads.

What made this better than the others is the first-hand descriptions of the locations, great maps, and advice on what to do and where. Then it is separated by localized areas...helpful when you want to stay local to avoid driving/Kauai Traffic or to plan where to stay.

Beaches: Some hard to find and not to miss so this guide was invaluable in suggesting parking and how to find the hidden access trail. Also traveling with kids...it laid out what was safe and what to expect. Not all beaches have "facilities" and can involve a neck-breaking tumble or two to get there. The back of the book has a pull-out photo listing of the best beaches in the North East of the island.

Trails: He lists his favorite trails, what to expect and what to bring/wear. Follow his advice and you will be rewarded!!

Food: We ate in most of the time but his suggestions on local hamburger joints and shave ice where right on the money. Advised where to shop and about the Farmer's Markets. Yes, Costco was the best deal on Hawaiian gift products. No, we didn't eat at a luau.

Sight-Seeing: We saved all the plantation and Botanical garden tours for next time but the suggestions and descriptions helped us decide what our group was most up to do for the one-week time span we had on the island.

Sporting Activities: Helped us plan which Kayak place to use and to skip the 'Tubing down canal' activity. Also gave excellent suggestions on what to see along-side most of the activities. BTW-Dude is Funny! His comments and writing style is fun to read in layman's descriptions. It felt like he was our personal tour guide.

Accomodations: Again, not for the resort-minded individual...geared towards condo rentals. We skipped this part of the book as we already had a place to stay.

Maps: One reviewer said that it was difficult to have area maps located in different parts of the book. I would agree but it's not bad as the front folds out to give an overview map of the island and the page locations to the area maps.

Like I mentioned before, the author is a hoot and makes this book entertaining to read...far from dry. The cover seams a little dull but you know what they say about judging books. I usually like Eyewitness and Fodor guides but this one was FAR superior to anything I've read before.

Editorial Review:

The finest guidebook ever written for Kauai and the only one written by a writer who anonymously reviews the island. He visits every beach, restaurant, activity and trail on the island. The result is this comprehensive, humorous and easy-to-read full color guide that will lead you to more adventures than any other book. A must for travelers.

Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook (Maui Revealed)

Andrew Doughty

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 333 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Outstanding Guidebook 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The most redeeming quality of this book is its brutal honesty in the information it provides and recommendations it makes. When something sucks, the book says it sucks and to avoid it. That's the kind of information I want when I know my time and money are at stake on a vacation.

Web reviews of hotels and condos are free on their website and they are short, candid and informative (if a place is bad, they say it's bad). They also provide an aerial photograph of the property that really lets you know what you're getting--which is worth the price of the book itself.

Road maps are outstanding and directions are good for the most part. Occasionally directions are a bit vague, but it's still better than any map you will find anywhere else. The real value comes from the stuff that you won't find in other guidebooks like backwoods hiking trails, little known spots off the main path and insights that come from the fact that the authors actually live in Hawaii. The chapters are well organized and information is easily found thanks to a detailed table of contents, color-coded chapters (tabs would have been better, but probably more expensive) and index. Related info is cross-referenced throughout the book, which is also helpful. Best of all, the book is small and easily carried wherever you decide to go.

Perhaps the only negative aspect of the book is that the authors do tend to get lost in their narrative at times--mixing collateral trivia with the guide information. It's a nice story, but at times I could have done without the extra stuff.

This book is truly and outstanding guidebook for all types of tourists, but is especially valuable for those kind of people that hate guided tours and prepackaged vacation experiences. It adds a sense of adventure to your trip and a satisfying feeling when you realize that your time and money were spent on your own terms.

Editorial Review:

USA Today calls it, "An authoritative and in-depth look at all that the island offers." The author is a resident who personally and anonymously reviews every facet of Maui. From restaurants to helicopter companies to scuba to beaches to trails, he sees it all and shows you the best Maui has to offer.

Hawaii The Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook (Hawaii the Big Island Revealed)

Andrew Doughty

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 245 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Just Get It 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

If you are planning a trip to The Big Island you need to buy this book. We got 5 books from the library before purchasing this book, and this is the one we kept ging back to. Just get it.

great guidebook 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I have nothing but good things to say about this series. The maps (so many of them!) are much easier to use than most others, because of the topographic shading. The trail maps are detailed, and mile markers on the road maps are a great help. The layout is very handy, with sights arranged in the order you would encounter them geographically. Lots of good photos, since so many places can't be adequately described with words.

excellent 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I just returned from the Big Island with a large group. We used this book extensively and there were no surprises - it was very accurate and enhanced our first trip to the Big Island, which is so beautiful. I wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone traveling to the Big Island!

Editorial Review:

The finest guidebook ever written for the Big Island and the only one written by writers who anonymously review the island. They visit every beach, restaurant, activity and trail on the island. The result is this comprehensive, humorous and easy-to-read full color guide that will lead you to more adventures than any other book. A must for travelers.

Oahu Revealed: The Ultimate Guide to Honolulu, Waikiki & Beyond (Oahu Revisited)

Andrew Doughty

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 122 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great insider's perspective 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Maui locals hate the fact that this book was published. It's got the best recommendations you can find if you're heading to Maui.

Yes, A Must-Have for Oahu 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Yes, this is a must-have for visiting Oahu. I compared a dozen books at the bookstore and this is one of two that I bought (the other being Frommer's "Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu").

The hotel photos at the back already justify the expsense of the book. They're heavily focused on Waikiki but that will satisfy a larger percentage of visitors.

The lists of activities and places to visit are varied and extensive. They'll help plan all kinds of vacation styles. The photos are pertinent and helpful.

Editorial Review:

The most comprehensive yet easy-to-use guidebook series to Hawaii brings you the second edition of Oahu Revealed. Written by the author of the best-selling guides, Maui Revealed, Hawaii The Big Island Revealed and The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook. He actually hikes all the trails, rides the boats, scuba dives the reefs, dines in the restaurants, reviews all the resorts, snorkels the coastline, explores the hidden waterfalls and shares all the secrets that he finds. Everything is reviewed anonymously. This book and a rental car are all you need to discover what makes Oahu so exciting.

No Worries Hawaii: A Vacation Planning Guide for Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island

Jerry Sprout, Janine Sprout

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Get To The Heart of Your Destination
Half of Hawaii's 8 million yearly tourists are first-timers, often unsure of which island to visit, where to stay, and what to choose to do.
NO WORRIES HAWAII, a companion book to the Sprout's adventure guides for each of the islands, comes to the rescue. The book is also useful for repeat visitors or locals looking for new adventures.
Readers first take an armchair voyage, in which they nail down their vacation style (a scouting expedition, a romantic getaway, a solo or group adventure, invigorating, relaxing, healing). These likings are matched with what Hawaii has to offer. A clever but simple self-test allows readers to sort through Hawaii's assets: beaches, nightlife, trails, gardens, attractions, cultural sites, surfing, snorkeling, 36 categories in all, to determine which are important and which island is best.
In the second part of NO WORRIES HAWAII, readers take their decisions from part one and receive all the practical and money-saving advice needed to book a vacation that makes the armchair voyage become a real one. Included also is a complete list of what to pack.
The third part of the book is full of tips on what to do and what not to do after arriving in the islands. Readers will deplane as kama'aina (locals), having the benefit of the Sprout's 20 years of exploration.
Sections include how to plan days to maximize fun and avoid hassle, finding free entertainment, car rental and accommodation money-savers. Readers are advised on how to, and whether to, book tours (snorkeling, sailing, helicopter, horseback, etc.). The book's safety tips are a literal lifesaver, and the everyday advice on driving, hiking, and beach-going are essential forgetting the most fun out of every day.
The meat of NO WORRIES HAWAII is its Best Of section, a listing of Hawaii's top attractions: museums, rainforest dayhikes, snorkeling coves, walk-around beach towns, surfing spots, places to watch surfers, mountain bike trails, people-watching beaches, botanical gardens, short strolls to views, cultural sites, luxury resorts, volcano hikes, bird-watching forests, waterfalls, churches, remote beaches, family beach parks, golf courses, and more.
Taken together, the 50 categories neatly sum up the best of Hawaii. Readers can use these listings as a reference when they get to their chosen island.
NO WORRIES HAWAII is beautifully designed, complimented by more than 100 color photographs, and also contains a "wikiwiki phonebook" with all the contact numbers needed to put a vacation together.

Kauai Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Bike, Paddle, Surf (

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 68 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The latest edition of the Sprout's top-selling guide is packed with new and updated activities, dozens of fresh photos, and a special Trailblazer Kids section for families headed to Hawaii's "adventure island." Popular among independent and active travelers, Trailblazer guides are known for their user-friendly format, readability, and sharp graphics. You'll find all the mountain ridges, tropical gardens, beaches, coves and lagoons, jungles, rivers, historic landmarks and cultural sites, coral reefs, ancient ruins, and coastal bluffs-all the places to get wet, muddy, and have fun on Kaua'i. Less energetic visitors will appreciate the book's driving tours, which hit the headliners along with the island's out-of-the-way charms. The authors have spent years exploring Kaua'i, and it shows. A Resource Links section gives visitor information and cultural contacts, recommended recreational outfitters, museums and attractions, Hawaiiana shops and hula shows, as well as a! hand-picked list of restaurants and places to stay. Safety precautions and traveling tips are not to be overlooked, and a Best Of section lets you select among activities to suit your mood.

119 hikes and strolls to mountain ridges, tropical gardens, beaches, jungles, coves, reefs, historic landmarks and ancient ruins, swamps, craters, forests, coastal bluffs and tide pools, towns, canyons, waterfalls and river valleys

- 68 beaches, including 22 reachable only by trail - 42 snorkeling pools, both the island favorites and hidden coves - 61 mountain bike rides along forest, coastal, and countryside trails - 27 kayaking waters: 13 rivers and streams, 14 bays and lagoons - 36 surfing spots - a special Trailblazer Kids section - 10 maps and 175 photographs - 4 driving tours, featuring heiaus, wildlife sanctuaries, cultural and historical sites,tourist attractions and natural wonders - Resource Links to recreational outfitters, stables, golf courses, camping, transportation, accommodations, local-style eats and shops - Appendices of Hawaiian words, place names, movie locations, hula performances, farmer's markets, weather, flora, history

Frommer's Maui 2009 (Frommer's Complete)

Jeanette Foster

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 1.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

America's #1 bestselling travel series

Written by more than 175 outspoken travelers around the globe, Frommer’s Complete Guides help travelers experience places the way locals do.

• More annually updated guides than any other series

• 16-page color section and foldout map in all annual guides

• Outspoken opinions, exact prices, and suggested itineraries

• Dozens of detailed maps in an easy-to-read, two-color design

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go—they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Maui features gorgeous full-color photos of the pristine beaches, colorful undersea life, and lush rain forest vistas that await you. Personally researched by a local expert, and written in an honest, personal voice, Frommer's Maui is the premier guide to this fascinating island.

It's all here, from thrilling whale watching to the spectacular sunrise at Haleakala National Park, from a mile-by-mile drive along the Road to Hana to mule rides on neighboring Molokai. No other guide comes close to matching our coverage of the island's beaches, golf courses, and adventure outings, with personal recommendations on the best outfitters, dive sites, and snorkeling spots.

Our candid and in-depth hotel reviews, all based on recent personal inspections, will help you find the perfect place to stay: a lavish high-rise resort, a family-friendly condo complex, or an intimate B&B on its own private cove. And our restaurant reviews, all personally written by one of Hawaii's leading dining critics, are simply second to none. Whether you're looking for romance or family fun in the sun, Frommer's Maui is the only guide you'll need. You'll even get a free color fold-out map that makes trip-planning a snap!

Map of Hawaii: The Big Island : Reference Maps of the Islands of Hawaii (Reference Maps of the Islands of Hawai'i)

James Allen Bier

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Big Island Map 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Purchased this map for our trip to the Big Island of Hawaii and found it to be most helpful!

Had to return, not what I was looking for 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This map was not what I was expecting, so I returned it. Thanks anyway.

Better than expected 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Thank you Amazon.
I received my order(map of big is) quicker from Stateside than I get some
mail here in Australia . I received my map 2 and a half weeks quicker than promised , and to think I don't need it till Nov .
Thank You.
Regards
Patrick
Patrick Richardson

Good Map, but better ones on the island. 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

We moved here and I like it, but there are better ones that I've seen around.

excellent map 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Our first trip to the big Island of Hawaii and this map came in handy when we were plotting where to go and what was nearby and reference points. It's a good buy.

Editorial Review:

This is a reference map of Hawaii.

Fodor's Hawaii 2009 (Full-Color Gold Guides)

Fodor's

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Fodor’s. For Choice Travel Experiences.

Fodor’s helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. Although you’re at the helm, Fodor’s offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It’s like having a friend on Hawaii!

• Your vacation never looked better. This Fodor’s full-color guide paints an unforgettable picture of Hawaii with vibrant maps, vividly illustrated features, and stunning color photos.

• Updated annually, Fodor’s Hawaii, 2009, provides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guidebook.

• Fodor’s Hawaii, 2009 features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime.

• If it’s not worth your time, it’s not in this book. Fodor’s discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor’s Choice designations, ensure that you’ll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places on Hawaii.

Experience Hawaii like a local! Fodor’s Hawaii, 2009 includes unique photo-features that impart the state’s culture, covering Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Napali Coast, The Road to Hana, Pearl Harbor, and much more!

Indispensable, customized trip planning tools include “Top Reasons to Go,” “Word of Mouth” advice from other travelers, and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls.

Visit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers.

Maui Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Paddle, Surf, Drive

Jerry Sprout, Janine Sprout

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Subjects -> Sports -> Water Sports -> Surfing

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 59 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

A guide for families and outdoor adventurers alike, Maui Trailblazer 2006 covers all of the island, and includes day trips to the neighboring islands of Molokai, Lanai, and Molokini.

Clear directions and concise descriptions lead to all of Maui's well-known attractions, as well as to hidden discoveries that Trailblazer readers have come to expect.

137 different hikes and strolls to tropical rain forests and remote valleys, coastal bluffs and lava caves, Haleakala crater and the Hana Highway, cascading waterfalls, beaches, ridgetops, towns, whale-watching perches, historic sites, and archeological ruins.

Among the 44 snorkeling spots are hike-to coves and the secret places that tour boats go.

Kayakers can pick from about 20 put-ins.

Surfers can select from 38 beaches and decide whether to boogie, board, or body surf. Onlookers will find the best places to watch the surfers, windsurfers and kite-boarders ride the big ones.

The text is complimented by 10 maps and 240 photographs. Driving tours-nine of them-take readers to all the attractions, natural wonders, and historic sites.

A Resource Links section provides numbers for free visitor information and recreational outfitters, as well as hand-picked accommodations and local restaurants to suit every budget and taste bud.

A Best Of section lets you pick the right activity to suit your mood and the day. Appendices include free hula shows, farmer's markets, what to pack, climate, history, fauna, and a Hawaiian glossary.

This new and completely revised second edition for 2006 includes a Trailblazer Kids section for adventuring families.