I bought this book for my parents to take with them on their first trip (50th anniversary) to Hawaii. I've been to Hawaii several times and have had several guide books. I love this one the best. It it easy to read, larger print than some of the guide books, written so that it is entertaining to read. What I love the best is that every page has side bar lists that rank the same things, i.e, most romantic restaurant, restaurants with ocean view, best breakfasts, etc. I came online to re-order myself one (since I keep borrowing my parent's gift back!), only to find that it is out of print. ...

An outstanding overall guide to Hawaii--The best feature is a "quiz" which helps you decide which island(s) you will find most enjoyable. It has general advice on visiting Hawaii, how to get the best deals, etc., followed by a chapter on each of the major islands. It does not cover islands a new visitor is less likely to visit, such as Lanai and Molokai. The specific chapters on each island give useful coverage of major attractions or activities, and very detailed commentary on a limited number of hotels/resorts/B&Bs. I highly recommend the book, but once you have decided to visit, I recommend that you buy specific books covering the island(s) you want to visit. If you want to spend more than a few days on a given island, you will probably want more detailed coverage than given in this book. Despite this, the book is VERY valuable for a first-time visitor who wants to figure out the who, what, where, why and how of a Hawaiian vacation.

Very detailed and extremely helpful. Gives Island by Island details of where to visit and wonderful places to eat. I highlighted so much, you would have thought it was printed on yellow and pink paper!! A very good value and a must before you take your trip to the Islands!

Jerry and Janine Sprout's MAUI TRAILBLAZER does what the title promises.
They show you the out-of-the-way treasures of Maui--fabulous trails and
beaches, lagoons that invite kayaking and snorkeling, sapphire pools and
tall cascades, surfers' coves, and the best ridges for watching whales.
They plan trips by car to cultural sites and natural wonders. Both
newcomers to Maui and veteran Islanders will find their advice clear and
practical and their warnings about hazards and precautions helpful. This
is a reader-friendly book that introduces people to magical parts of Maui
that visitors rarely see. If you are going to Maui, or know someone who is, buy this book. You will not be disappointed.

Our scuba diving instructor in Anaheim recommended that we purchase this guidebook and we're thrilled we did. For snorkeling and hiking and body surfing and driving around a new place, it rules. The written directions include mile markers making it easy to prepare for sudden stops. Like when the whales all of a sudden start spouting and breaching and you lose track of where you are. It made navigating a no-brainer and our vacation alot more relaxing. We actually toasted our glasses to this book as the sun went down on our very last day.

Unique, innovative, entertaining and packed with hikes that blew our socks off. This is a really amazing book, one that we used before we even touched ground. All kinds of addresses and phone numbers are in the back that help with everything you can think of. Never having been there we didn't have the sightest notion of where to stay. We wanted oceanfront, sun, and central location and the book zeroed us right in supplying convenient 800 numbers. Bonuses include fascinating historical lore and budget friendly restaurants. It's a necessity, just as important as your sunscreeen, if you're going there.

Every year I tell my friends that *this* is the year I'm going to Hawaii - and every year they give me another travel book on the 50th state. This year I received Rum & Reggae's Hawaii and I've finally booked my trip. Thanks to Mr. Runge's thorough (and thoroughly entertaining) descriptions, I know exactly where to go, where to stay, and what to avoid. I've been waiting for a travel book to really tell me what's what for years. I can see I'm not the only one who appreciates an opinionated travel book - there are far too many dull ones out there. This book pushed me over the edge to finally go to Hawaii - quite an accomplishment. Buy it for a friend of yours!

Just returned from the Islands of Hawaii (Oahu, Maui, Lanai, and big island) - can't wait to go back and explore the other parts of such a wonderful part of the world. I will say that without my copy of Rum&Reggae's Hawaii travel guide - I would have been lost and probably would have had a much lessor experience. I bought the book well ahead of my departure and used it as the foundation for my trip - setting up an appropriate itinerary, logistics, great places to stay, authentic restaurants, and unique places to see not covered in any other guide books I looked at - The tourist scale rating system was really helpful and accurate - without a doubt this guide book is right on the mark. Not only was the book my best reference while I was traveling, but it also was fun to read about the history and cultural stuff I did not know along the way. As with the Rum&Reggae's Carribean guide book (which I used and would also highly recommend if headed there), I found this book very readable, no-bull, and colorfully different from other stuffy, flat guide books I have tried to use many times in the past. Thank you Rum&Reggae for this book - I will go back with your book in hand! My next trip is to South America - when is your travel Guide on Brazil coming out?

This is not my first encounter with Mr. Runge's work nor, I hope, will it be my last. I started with Rum & Reggae 2000, the definitive "inside scoop" on the caribbean, and I've been hooked on Runge ever since.

This is not your ordinary travel guide. It reads more like a converstation with a friend over cocktails. And what better way to plan your next trip than to chat with a friend who has 'been there and done that'?

Be it solitude or 'sauce' that you seek; deserted beaches or a little cha-cha-cha, you'll find it here.

If Hawaii or the aloha shirt has ever gladdened your heart, you'll want to own THE ALOHA SHIRT. Dale Hope conveys the TRUE SPIRIT (colorful, soft, peaceful, flowing) of the Hawaiian Islands by presenting both the fascinating history of the aloha shirt and 500 or so beautiful illustrations. These illustrations are so varied and exquisite that you'll get high just by perusing them. They also help you see how the aloha shirt can be an art form in and of itself. Hopefully, this book will inspire people to wear their aloha shirts more often -- not just when they visit Hawaii -- and to buy the new ones that are being created by the best artist designers.

Dale Hope grew up in the Hawaiian garment industry, taking over his father's clothing business at the age of 26. As the art director of Kahala Sportswear, Hope oversees the creation and manufacturing of 150 new Aloha shirt designs annual. In The Aloha Shirt: Spirit Of The Islands, Hope collaborates with writer Gregory Tozian to offer a magnificent, coffee-table artbook dedicated to the history of the unique and famous Hawaiian shirt style. This impressive treatise covers the history of Hawaiian clothing, the evolution of the tailor shop into the modern clothing factories, the designers, textiles, printmakers, and retailers that made the Hawaiian "aloha shirt" famous around the world. There are chapters focusing on Duke Kahanamoku, celebrities, shirt makers of the 60s, labels and buttons, and aloha shirt collectors. Profusely and beautiful illustrated, the text is informative, at times fascinating, and highly recommended for students of American clothing history and fads in general, and Hawaii's contributions to the garment industry and American popular culture in particular.

The Aloha Shirt: Spirit of the Islands is unique, as a historical and artistic book documenting the Aloha shirt, from its historic beginnings as a cottage industry, to the multi-billion dollar industry it is today. This definitive text has been extensively researched, with textile artists, designers, garment manufacturers and their families and friends all contributing to the consistency of the history as researched by Dale Hope. An educational and artistic book bringing over 500 aloha shirts with their Hawaiian inspired origins paralleled with the history and times of Hawaii. For those who have memories of Hawaii, and for those who share their memories to others, this elegant coffee table book is a "must have" for all!

As someone who has loved dolphins her entire life (when I was little I wanted to be a dolphin trainer), this book intrigued me just because it was about dolphins and written by a dolphin trainer. I was pleasantly surprised on how much I was actually able to learn by reading it. Not only is it a great wealth of information about cetaceans (dolphins), it is also a very interesting read on training. It is full of anecdotes, making the book entertaining, and scientific data and fact, helping to lend a bit of seriousness. The unique training ideas that Karen Pryor discovered by trial and error can be, and are, used on every animal from a dolphin to a cat to a human. I highly recommend this book.

This book provided a great insider's look to what is means to be a dolphin/marine mammal trainer. I would recommend this book to anyone who is considering this for a career path. I know I am and that this book has helped me gained a great perspective and tips on dolphin training. The stories are really touching and before you know it, you're feel like standing right next to the author feeding and playing with the dolphins. This book is a definite must-have!

This book was great!!! Karen Pryor is a great writer and a wonderful scientist!!! I have never read a more inciting book! It was great, it gave me different perspectives on dolphin training and even some insight on careers!! Buy this book, you won't regret it!!

Finding a good site on O`ahu is no longer hit or miss. I've never seen a more complete book on shore diving on O`ahu...and I've got a few books on my shelf as I am a bonifide "water rat." This book has got a lot of info you need to know in order to make a good choice because it describes snorkeling and dive sites on all shores...not just the popular ones. The author also talkes about things you've got to know, like weather and surf conditions, somethings visitors should be familar with to be safe. This book would not only benefit visitors, but locals as well because there are many sites listed that are unknown. If you want a good guide chocked full off facts and excellent maps, this is the one.

I'm new to O`ahu and diving, and I'm confident that I will surely benefit from this guide book. This is a great guide that covers all the snorkeling and diving sites on O`ahu that are worth exploring. This book has more information packed into 160 plus pages than several other larger books combined. Good pictures, facts, and author's insights on 26 sites. I didn't know there was a suitable dive site near Honolulu (Ala Moana), even though I've driven by there many times, but sure enough there is and the author described it to a "T." If you want to get into shore diving, or expand on your snorkeling, get this book. Shore diving opens up a whole new world because there are hundreds of miles of coast line on O`ahu and this book gives you the confidence you need to explore on your own. That is what I liked most about this book.

This book exceeded my expectations! A very detailed guide on what you'd need and want to know to enjoy some great diving and snorkeling while in the islands. I'm waiting for the next, in what I hope to be a series from this author, of dive and snorkeling guides for the other popular islands in Hawaii. The author gives you the simple low down on where to dive and what to expect. Accurate down to the last word on each of the 26 sites. I especially found helpful the many detailed maps and site descriptions. This greatly assisted me in selecting a site equal to my diving skills. I'm stoaked to return to O`ahu to check out more of Francisco's sites. Definitely worth the price.

This memoir with recipes brings some wonderful flavors and aromas to life; the recipes are easy to follow and you can almost feel the tradewinds wafting through.....kalua pork,soy glazes, coconut pudding.....
Shirley Tong Parola and her daughter Lisa Parola Gaynier recall a simpler time and a beautiful harmony between peoples of different ethnic backgrounds, living out their dreams on the paradise that is Hawaii......their ability to bring a taste of the islands to the mainland resulted in opening successful restaurants in Indiana and then later in Michigan---tasting the foods of this heady ethnic mix, Mainlanders never had it so good and you, too, can recreate the special culinary magic that was theirs.....

This was more than a cookbook it was an experience. The recipes were just great, from fried rice to banana cream pie, my husband and I have savored the flavors. As a collector of cookbooks I have been more successful with these recipes than any cookbook I have tried in many years. However, the surprise bonus was that the delightful history of the food and the family caused me to actually read the entire cookbook before I tried the first recipe. What fun!

I'm a Hawaii native now living in Bloomington Indiana. I was not able to see Shirley in person when she was here earlier this month for a book signing / cooking demonstration. I did buy her book anyway and it is really great. Why? I'm not exactly the best cook by any means, but through Shirley and Lisa's honest, open, and interesting commentaries, one can actually learn about the history, culture, and uses of the many flavorful dishes of the islands. Plus, the book does a great job explaining what certain food terms mean such as "saimin", "poke", "mochiko" or "aburage" since they are not common words used here on the mainland. I have many cookbooks from Hawaii written for locals, but I honestly believe that Shirley and Lisa's book is a great way to share Hawaiian food dishes and recipes with our mainland friends. In fact, I have recommended this book to several of my new friends here in Southern Indiana. If any of you want to try out Hawaiian food without having fly to Hawaii to sample it, this book is the easiest and cheapest way to do so. On a final note, try the Mochi Chicken. This dish is typcial party food in Hawaii. You'll like it!

Most surf books are small waves breaking in shallow water, this guy sees beyond horizon.

One of the greats has finally written about his love of surfing and the history of the sport, including its professional beginnings. Thank you, Fred, for baring your soul and sharing your stories. Now we will have them for all time.

What a great book. A surfer's book! Fred kept it short, sweet and heartfelt...all a surfer requires. I don't agree 100% with his beliefs but he speaks honestly and with a spirit only a Hawaiian could fully grasp. His political platform gets my vote. His last page gave me goosebumps. I have done many things in life non-surfing related but more than anything else, to say "I am a surfer", says it all!

I loved this book. I have read all of her books and this is by far my favorite book. In fact it is the only book of hers that I would recommend reading.. I moved away from hawaii in 1996 and am still regretting it. Not only did this book bring back lots of fun memories of mine from living there, it captures aspects of hawaiian culture beautifully. I read this book a couple times a year (thats more than I go to church) each time I have reread this book, I am amazed at the beauty, warmth, humor and pain that yamanaka captures through her words. In their own way, I think we can all relate to the characters in her book.. for anyone who has a soft spot in their heart for hawaii... I highly recommend this book!!!

I was so amazed by this book when I first read it 3 years ago I have re-read and re-read it since. It vibrates with texture, reality, and wit, and has the power to bring tears to my eyes, as well as make me laugh out loud. I recommend this book to anyone who's sick of false and gooey accounts of culture, stiff characters, and weak language. Get ready for Lovey Nariyoshi, a girl who is definitely for real.

I just bought this book in Hawaii yesterday and read it all the way back to Baltimore with Israel Kamakawiwo'le (Bradda IZ) live-in-concert CD playing on my portable CD player. The combination brought Yanamaka's beautiful, poignant and powerful dialogue alive for me. This book resonated for me in so many ways -- as an African American tourist in an island where there was complex commingling and separation of the ethnic groups as well as a heirarchical order to the society based on ethnic origin and appearance. I also identified with the book as a daughter of Jamaican immigrants who carefully spoke in "correct" English to their children but spoke Jamaican patois (the equivalent of Lovey's pidgin, Creole Hawaiian) with each other and with family members. I picked up early on that how you sound and how you look affects your standing in society and now speak perfect English but mourn my inability to speak patois. So I empathize with Lovey's despair of every being able to speak perfect haole English.

But what probably got me the most was Yanamaka's hauntingly detailed description of Lovey's rapture with Shirley Temple's Heidi. It resonated strongly with my childhood love of Shirley's perfect ringlets, cherubic smile, and her love for Grandpa and her finding her father in that hospital ward in London.

If you had an awkward adolescence (particularly in the 1970s) and struggled to fit in while struggling to be yourself, this is the book for you.

I think this was one of the best thriller stories of its time. I personnally think it also is one the best water thrillers ever. I think any who is scared of the water should read this book.

If anyone out there either surfs or enjoy's Surfing as a way of life, this book is for you! Go out there and purchase this book! Jaws is more than a book, the colourful pages come alive in front of you, looking at Laird Hamilton coming down the faces of massive 50+foot surf, it's like your right there below him (holding the camera) Blue Max did an amazing job of illustrating these waves for us, I was lucky enough to have visited Maui, for others out there, what are you waiting for..? Killer Waves..Best Surfers in the world.. see it all..? or save your money and buy this book

aloha Jim Mellanis :-)

Jaw Maui has much more to offer than your average coffee-table book. It is an incredible blending of inspirational writing and insightful interviews with the watermen themselves. Charlie & Leslie Lyon have done a great job letting us in on the inner workings of these accomplished athletes. Everyone that visits us gets a chance to read Jaws, and has come away mightily impressed (and longing for a trip to Maui!).