Boy, I wish I had had this guide at the beginning of our recent trip to Kaua'i. It's terrific! We've snorkeled in many of the places described - Ke'e, Tunnels, 'Anini, Po'ipu, Pu'u Poa, Hideaways - and the information jives with what we experienced. However, with this guide in hand we'd have known not just which places to go (other guidebooks steered us there), but more detailed information about the reef formation, currents, and safety aspects of each spot. For instance, I spent most of my time at Ke'e fighting the current on the left side of the bay, when all along the best conditions are to the right.

In addition to on-the-nose snorkel information, the authors do a very good job of advising novice snorkelers on equipment, techniques, and safety concerns. There are helpful sections on general fish types (not an exhaustive guide, but enough to help a beginner distinguish a wrasse from a parrotfish), plus plenty of pertinent information on the island, its weather, and interesting excursions out of the water. Although we've been to the island twice now, I learned some useful things for our next (anxiously awaited) trip.

This is the book I'd recommend first to anyone interested in snorkeling on Kaua'i. There are other fine general guidebooks out there, don't get me wrong, but this is exactly what it says it is: SNORKEL Kaua'i.

Mahalo, Judy and Mel!

Of all the Kauai guidebooks we've read, this has the best snorkeling details by far. We went to Hoai Bay in Poipu, and it didn't look that promising. But when we swam out to just where the book says, there were more turtles than we'd ever seen before in one spot.

All the beach info is helpful, too, and the maps are easy to follow. Well worth taking along.

June 18, 2001

Dear Sirs:

The first paragraph of the review I submitted on June 17, 2001 should end like this:

....it is an excellent source document for military historians with much important new information about the military action of this carrier during and immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Thank you for your time and interest.

Ralph Peterson

As this book contains recently declassiifed information regarding the US aircraft carrier USS Enterprise from the ship's logbooks, as well as diaries of the pilots who flew her planes, it is an excellent source document for military historians with much important new information on the role and military actions of this carrier during World War II.

And all readers should find interesting the little-known story of an unexpected gale which developed some 300 miles west of Hawaii on December 5, 1941 as the Enterprise was returning to port at Pearl Harbor from a training exercise and which probably saved this carrier.

This unexpected storm caused Admiral Halsey to cut the speed of this 13-ship task force in half, delaying their scheduled arrival back at Pearl Harbor for 24 hours until Sunday afternoon of December 7th (after the Japanese attack had occurred at dawn that morning).

Many WWII history buffs will appreciate the fact that if the Enterprise had been in port that Sunday morning as scheduled (and as the Japanese expected) , it would almost certainly have been sunk with all of the US battleships there. And the Japanese Admirals would have probably been emboldened enough to dare make a second strike against the fuel storage tanks and other important military targets on the island.

Since the US only had three carriers in the Pacific at that time (and the Japanese had eight) , the situation for the American fleet would have extremely serious and could have put the entire Southeast Pacific area (including Australia) at grave risk of occupation by Japanese forces.

The documented story of the miraculous gale which probably saved the Enterprise (and which has not been widely disseminated before) in itself makes this book well worth buying.

Have used this from a friend. Am so sad that it is not available anymore. It should be republished so many more people can enjoy it!

I just returned from the Islands yesterday and couldn't wait to open my cookbook I purchased a few years ago.. I have made many many recipes from this book and I am always amazed at how great the recipes turn out. I would love to see another edition come with some recipes from some of the newer resturants.Aloha and Mahalo

Great, funny book. My grandson 7 years old was traveling with us to Hawaii, this book was perfect. It was all about the misadventures of a little boy traveling with his Dad on his first trip to Hawaii. Not only was my grandson laughing and laughing but so was I. He couldn't wait to finish the book as we read it waiting in the airport and then on a interisland flight.
My Grandson made sure when he left Hawaii that he didn't have any
lava rock with him after reading the book. He wants more of the Zack file adventures.

This was the first zach files book I read to my then-6 year old. When we got to the part with the Goddess we were both laughing so hard that the rest of the family thought we went nuts. Since then we have read a bunch of other Zach books. They are all great. The most amazing thing is the Greenburg can introduce concepts (in this book ecofriendly tourism?), parallel universes and reincarnation so naturally that kids can really understand as if they've always known. I think Zach files jump started my son's love of reading.

White Savages in the South Seas is a candid look at the not so glamourous lives of real people living in the South Pacific. This book is filled with fasinating characters like Susy No Pants and interesting adventures. Their stories are well written with great passion and witty humor. I enjoyed every moment.

A thinking person's look at life in the South Pacific as seen through the eyes of an imaginative and involved participant in life. You'll laugh and you'll cry and you will get an insight into the lives of many unusual and colorful people. Definitely not a "travel book," but rather a carefully written volumne which will forever effect the way you see life in the South Pacific.

I got this book when it first came out. I knew the authors. Mr Ross was at Pearl Harbor. He was on the USS Nevada. The book is a great account of what those brave soles went through during that time!

If you like to hike, swim,snorkel, mountain bike, or pursue another active hobby while traveling, you will probably find this book a valuable guide for the Hawaiian islands. It is an overall guide, and I think you will probably also benefit by supplementing this book with a specific guidebook oriented towards the island(s) you are spending most of your time on. Avid snorkelers (I am one) will also benefit from the Malinowski series on snorkeling in specific islands in Hawaii. The best feature of the book is a list of the "top ten" adventures on each island. Useful for penetrating the immense amount of information to identify the most unusual or spectacular attractions on each island.

Absolutely the best book about treating marine injuries with up to date and professional information. This should be a must for anyone spending much time in the water--professionally or recreationally.

It's about time that someone finally did real research into Hawaiian clothing, including the aloha shirt. This book is historically accurate. Much of what has previously been published is erroneous. What most of the world knows about Hawaiian clothing comes from the use of aloha shirts after WW2. While our beautiful environment stimulated the production of bold and beautiful textiles, these were used in more than just shirts. Arthur covers womens' wear as well, and presents hundreds of beautiful pictures along with an interesting to read description of the history and culture of Hawaii. Aloha attire is more complicated than many would understand. This book covers the clothing that has been produced in, and worn by people in Hawaii in the 19th and 20th century. Truly a wonderful book!

Aloha Dolores continues the very funny adventures of a young girl and her cat, Duncan. Dolores is an extremely spirited girl whose exuberance often dismays Duncan as she includes him in her daily adventures. In this book Dolores sets out to win a trip to Hawaii by entering a contest sponsored by "Kitty Krunchies." Dolores' wise older sister, Faye, reminds her that thousands of people will enter the contest, but Dolores has no doubt that she and Duncan will win. The expressions on the cat's face are priceless and the vivid illustrations add to the storyline. My two daughters can't wait to add this book to their shelf right next to their very worn copy of Duncan and Dolores!