If you have even an ounce of adventurers blood in you, this book will guide you to some fabulous off the beatin' track adventures. I traveled to Hawaii with my 9 year old son with the hope of giving him some memorable adventures. With the help of this book, we found mile long lava tubes (caves), flowing lava, rainforest hikes, deserted beaches and beautiful snorkling, and virtually all of it was free. All we had to provide was the willingness to explore. The book is well written, with accurate information and delightful humor. They even have a web site for updates. In my opinion, the authors have set a benchmark that few others guides will achieve. We can't wait to return.

I've surfed just about every website on Hawaii & have gotten very little information. This book seems to cover all the bases. I wish I had the book when I first went to the Big Island 7 years ago. You can bet there are alot of places I won't miss this time around.

For those of you who like to dink around streams this is the book for you. It is written for the laymen and is very readable. The photography and text are outstanding. I finally know something about all the things I have been catching. Thanks to the two authors for a great job!

I love this book. For years I have been looking for a book on freshwater fish in Hawaii and now I got one. Great pictures and plenty of info on every freshwater animal in Hawaii! I highly recommend it for anyone who likes to fish in Hawaii's creeks or just wants to know what type of fish that was we used to throw rocks at.

This book is terrific! It is based and is by a native Hawaiian. Great step by step instructional.

I loved this book! I was having a luau birthday party and I wanted all the guests to have real lei's, but the price I found were crazy ($40-$80 a per lei!). So when a friend of mine bought this book for me I was VERY happy. After I got into it and discovered how easy it was, I couldn't imagine my luck! If you are into Hawaiian stuff or having a party, this is the book for you!

Kim Taylor Reece is truly a master of the photographic form. Not just in capturing hula in it's glory, but in photography itself. Beautiful work, perfectly framed, perfectly composed photos. Dance photography is extremely rough stuff - trying to capture a time-, movement-, and space-based art into a static, two-dimensional medium is almost folly, but Kim has an amazing ability to capture the movement and depth of the movement in a way that few photographers can - you'll truly feel that the subjects are, in fact, moving, and that's what dance is all about. I loved going to his gallery on Oahu when I lived there, to poke around at the rather expensive (but worth it) photographs, to speak with Rocky (the beautiful and extremely welcoming woman in so many of these photos), and Kim (who is also extremely nice and more than willing to talk about his artwork). For those who cannot afford a couple hundred dollars per photograph, this book is your best option. It's solidly put together, nice thick serious paper, excellent reproduction of the photos, and it is a wonderful collection of Kim's different styles. The book is beautiful, and the photographs are beautiful. Of course, to truly experience Kim's photos, you must visit his gallery, or at least find a way to see the images in full-size: 8"x10" and greater, but this book does justice to the photography.

As a hula dancer, I appreciated this book of hula kahiko imagery. The art of learning the hula is really underestimated by most people. KTR's photographs captures the graceful movements of the kahiko. Not only that, KTR captures the essence and electricity of the dancing, that one moment when one suddenly feels the hairs on one's neck start to rise. This marvelous work portrays the beauty of kahiko dancing and it is a great treasure. I highly recommend this book to those who appreciate and love the hula and to those who are interested in looking at some quality hula images.

In Good Company is a brilliant collection of short stories about the struggles and hardships of everyday life in Hawaii. Cedric masterfully creates each character in his stories and shows how they come to terms with both their demons and fears. Sacred rocks, haunted houses, high-school crushes and fear of failure plague the characters in this collection of short stories. Cedric opens up with The Lemon Tree Billiards, a great story that was later made into a film, receiving top honors in the state of Hawaii. My personal favorite, What the Ironwoods Whispered, details the life of a boy, struggling to find his place in the world. He is torn between two worlds, that of his immediate life with his school drop-out friend and auto mechanic job, and that of the life he has yet to experience, if he is willing to take that risk. This story demonstrates that in the end, no matter how hectic and confusing life becomes, we will always find solitary with our true friends. Cedric closes his book with The Sand Island Drive-In Anthem, an excellent story which balances out the book and leave us craving more from this talented author. I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Yamanaka on a couple occasions and his colorful personality really shines through in his writing.

Yamanaka has created a facinating world, likely not known many, the world of Hawaii for those who live there, for those who work there. I have always been fond of writers who can take what you think you know about a place and make you realize you didn't know very much at all. His stories are populated with dreamers and seekers (shut-in hitmen, wrestlers on the look-out for something more than headlocks, cursed poolplayers, men with questionable reputations who aren't quite who they seem)in a lush and complex paradise. They find trouble in this paradise and sometimes wonderful solutions in this paradise. The stories are often affecting tributes to the power of friendships as well as the salvation of family. They are told with great humor, a great eye to detail and with an empathy seldom seen in modern American fiction. This isn't the tedium of Michener or a postcard from the Travel Channel. This is the stuff real life wrought by a fine writer.

This is a well-researched historical novel with a mystery and a romance. A must read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted story.

In the 1850s the Hawaiian Islands were the focus of many people's dreams. Missionaries dreamed of bring God--and "civilization"--to the savage, heathen Hawaiians. Whalers, businessmen, and politicians dreamed of wealth and power--provided they could wrest control of the government completely away from King Kamehameha. And the islanders themselves dreamed of peace and independence. The Island Snatchers tells the story of Anne Cartwright, the widow of a missionary who has become a nurse to the islanders, and of Dr. Matthew Cabe, a man who comes to the islands to find answers about his father's downfall. They are brought together through a murder and a search for answers. Romantic Times said Janice Johnson "knows how to combine romance and suspense into good reading," and they are absolutely right. The Island Snatchers is a gripping novel that you will want to read again and again.

I was presented this book as a gift and what a wonderful gift it was. Written in the first-person, the book exemplifies the attitudes of both the Issei (first-generation Japanese immigrants) and the Nisei (second-generation, American-born Japanese). Each story, written by both well-known individuals and everyday soldiers, tells of a fascinating time in U.S. history. I guarantee that each reader will find at least one individual story that will be forever be ingrained in their minds.

I couldn't put this book down! I bought it as a gift to my daughter's best friend of Japanese Hawaiian descent. I read half before we could giftwrap it! Written in first person, autobiographical chapters, it is easy flowing and deeply personal to each author. The stories portray early 1900s Hawaii history through the nisei WWII experiences. Included, are stories of Hawaiian Japanese family life, pride and shame, commitment and loyalty. Dedicated to Hawaii's unique history, this book is greatly undercirculated in mainland America! Thank you to the Hawaii Nikkei History Editorial Board for sharing these people and their lives! I loved it!

Fay Stanley's very worthy true story, "The Last Princess," is the tale of the life of Princess Ka'ilulani of Hawaii (or "Hawai'i" as it's more correctly spelled throughout the book). The book is illustrated by Fay Stanley's daughter, Diane Stanley, and this mother-daughter team has come up with a captivating and sad true story about a portion of history little of us know anything about.

Princess Ka'iulani was the niece of the king of Hawaii when she was born towards the coming of the 20th century. Great rejoicing attended her birth, as the king himself had no children. By all accounts, Ka'iulani was cheerful, beautiful, polite, kind, intelligent, and more than worthy of taking over the throne when the time came. Unfortunately, Americans intervened and little by little usurped the king's power. By the time Ka'iulani returned to the island after her schooling in England, the Hawaiian islands were an entirely different place--and not for the better.

Ka'iulani appealed to President Grover Cleveland's better nature and although he did his best to help her, upon leaving the White House after his presidency, Ka'iulani now had no American political friends. It was far more in America's interests to annex Hawaii to America than it was to help this charming, serious princess regain her rightful access to the Hawaiian throne.

This is a terrifically absorbing tale. Ka'iulani is presented beautifully by the illustrations, which show different aspects of her personality while always emphasizing her dignity and popularity among the Hawaiian people. The two Stanley ladies have taken a little-known subject and presented it to us with power and handsome decoration, and the end result is highly compelling.

Gives children a real look at the history of Hawaii. A beautiful, sad and true story. Would like to buy a bunch more and give to children for gifts.

I've read them all - Polancy, Benham, Smith, Thomsen, and they all have something to offer the wannabe resident of Hawaii. The Smiths' book, though, has a different slant, obviously geared more to the retiree, but this book also deals with some sociological issues that the other books didn't touch on at all. Smith raises some very interesting questions, such as, "What will Hawaii be like if/when so many baby boomers relocate there? Will the local population be able/willing to assist and support these aging immigrants? Who will control the government? How will escalating real estate prices affect the local population?" Many of these issues are at the heart of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, and may well affect how newcomers are greeted and treated in the future. This looming question is certainly not the only focus of the Smiths' book - it is highly readable, and contains a wealth of information for the prospective newcomer. But I found the thought provoking issues a very valuable addition to suggestions of locations, advice on moving, and many suggestions for further reading and web sites to explore. All in all, a very excellent resource - one that should not be missed by anyone interested in moving to Hawaii.

for anyone considering living and/or retiring in Hawai. I only wish this book had been around three years ago to asist us with our "hellish" move to paradise.

The Smiths provide timely assistance to Hawaii newcomers as they plan their sojourn to paradise. They teach all you need to know to make an easy move and transition to a whole new world. Their book provides in depth information on everything from affordable housing, jobs and entrepreneur opportunities to dining, entertainment, local customs, language and romantic side trips.

Before my vacation to Oahu, I researched the various guides to the island. Lonely Planet won over the rest!

Now, after my wonderful trip, I can say that L.P. really knows its stuff! You really get the nitty-gritty on traveling the island, not the typical tourist spots. The guide gave me info on lots of great out of the way locations that made this trip a gem. More importantly, it was very honest about certain locales that should be skipped (they were tour bus mecca though).

With the pronounciation key, I didn't sound like too much of a mainlander. The restaurants recommended were superb and easy to find as well as the shops.

The maps inside the book were essential to driving around the island although to this day I cannot figure out how to get to the Punchbowl Crater (Diamond Head was fab though). I even invested in a large fold-out version of the L.P. map.

The first few chapters give lots of interesting history and pertinent info on Hawaiian life. Throughout the book you will find great little nuggets on various spots and background. This really brings everything to life.

The L.P. guide is not your grandma's idea of a trip to Hawaii! I loved it and so will you (but you can't have mine because I am going back).

I really enjoyed the style of writing the books author employs. It all sounds decidedly British, but without being too stale.

There really is a lot of information in this book. It is well worth the small price.