The Access books are always well written, concise, and packed with interesting trivia. My only complaint is that Hawaii hasn't been updated in a while (about 3-4 years) so most of the restaurants we came across weren't listed, which was disappointing. The tourist spots generally don't change, though, and the maps and other factual information is terrific. Whether you are a first time visitor to the islands or a seasoned traveler, you will find these books to be well organized, helpful, and packed with useful information.

I have many in the series of Access guides. I love the color coded key. Blue for Hotels, Green for shopping, Red for food, etc. The numbered maps make it easy to find your hotel and everything nearby! The Hawaii book was outstanding, as expected.

For the last 40 years I have been visiting the Hawaiian Islands, for the last 15 I have been using "Access Hawaii" as my guide. It gives you the tools to have a great day of adventure, sharing the not so common places of interest that some of us find exceptionally interesting. They also tell of all the typical "tourist traps" but give you the inside story on it. From Hotels to dining, excursions, basic island info and the "Best Of" sections, this book is like gold. I have read them all and have yet to discover a better guide to help you have a perfect vacation. The reviews they provide in the book are as accurate as I have ever seen and I have never been dissapointed when arriving at or eating at the locations they suggest. This is definately a "two thumbs up" way to explore the Hawaiian Islands!

Very good book, it covers just three days in the whole thing, but you always want to finish it in one setting. I highly recomend this book.

This book is a real touching one. The suffering of all the characters was passed to the reader and worried him also. It was a great book because it taught great lessons of love and especially of life. It also taught about how surprising the morning of the Japanese attacks in Hawaii were and how clueless the people were of what was happening. I hope you also enjoy the book and learn as much as I did about the terrifying morning of December 7, 1941.

A 6th grade student

Twelve-year-old Janey, her parents, and her four-year-old brother Michael have left their home in Kansas to live on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. It's December 1941, and Janey's father, a welder, has been hired by the military to work at Hickman Airfield, near Pearl Harbor. Janey loves the beauty of her new home, but she is terrified by the threat of war between the United States and Japan, which could lead to an invasion of Hawaii. On the peaceful Sunday morning of December 7, without warning, Japanese planes attack. Janey and her mother and brother are separated from her father. They are forced to evacuate their home, but Janey is determined to return - because she knows in her heart that her father can't be dead, and that she will see him again. This was an excellent new book in the American Diaries series that captured the terror of the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, as faced by the many civilian families living on the island.

This book tells the story/history of Father Damien of Molokai, a most remarkable man whose indefatigable work in a notorious Hawaiian leper colony gave him the international status of the Mother Theresa of his time. It is well-written, lively, and most readable; but it is also terribly romanticized, Damien IS saintly. Perhaps he was. Readers should take minor note that the main text was published originally in 1937 (according to an older edition of this book that I own).

I have always considered Father Damien one of my heroes. This book details him as a flawed human being but a crusader for his fellow lepers. The Holy Father has bestowed on Father Damien the title of Blessed and will be made a Saint when miracles occur in his name. He was the miracle for his people and for us all. Candace Serviss

I have read this book five times and I fully expect to do so once again. It is the true story of a Priest from Belgium who, in the late 1800`s, cheerfully accepted, even demanded an assignment which would cause people of lesser intestinal fortitude to run away: Molokai, a leper colony in Hawaii. His description of the sorry state of the people is enough to make one ill. Yet, through his own unconditional love for his fellow man, took it upon himself, to feed them, cleanse their disgusting wounds, bury the dead with his own hands, cousel them, hear their confessions and prepare them to meet their maker after death. It is a moving tale of a man who totally abandoned himself in favour of his God and his bretheren. This healthy, athletic man knew that by associating with these human outcasts, he would likely fall victim to this dreaded disease and, in fact he did. It would be extremely difficult to imagine any person giving more of himself for the benefit of others. By anyone`s definition, Damien DeVeuster, `Damien The Leper` was a true saint. His story should be required reading for all because it would be sinful to allow the lessons to fade into obscurity. Bless his lily-white soul.

It is a peaceful and beautiful story about a journey of 5 brothers who "discover" Hawaii. My daughter brought it to school and the teacher enjoyed the story too.

This delightful tale of the possible exploration and discovery of the islands in the Pacific creates a sense of adventure to hold the attention of the young readers. I found the relationship of the brothers a good example of how every member of a family has a part and how often the youngest has difficulty "prooving" him or her self. All children dream of showing their best and getting the respect of siblings, parents, and peers--this story kindly embodies those inner feelings. The lively watercolors add to the excitement and mystery of the tale. An added treat was the tale's translation into the Hawaiian language enclosed in my copy of the book.

"In the days when the stars were a map of the earth below, there lived on a tiny island in the South Pacific five brothers who loved adventure," opens this enchanting historical fiction story about early Polynesian explorers discovering the Hawaiian Islands. The brothers, each with a special skill, navigate their way across the vast ocean by stars, waves, clouds, wind and birds. Over 1,500 years ago, the brothers set out to find an island beneath a far away star. The youngest, Manu, stows away in their canoe, which turns out to be a blessing. After a storm leaves them lost, Manu spots a bird that helps lead them to their island. This story celebrates the exploration of the Pacific by Oceanic peoples as an expression of their culture. It soars with the humanity of their endeavor. Even through the storm, the blue and brown water color illustrations add a soft, soothing touch.

Before our first visit to Hawaii I searched to find something that would serve as a useful guide for a trip that would permit only casual bird-watching. This book is really best for someone able to dedicate time to exploring the recommended hikes. Having said that, my main complaint about the book is that the illustrations are of little use to someone from the North American continent who is unfamiliar with Hawaii's birds, as the majority of readers probably are. After all, which would be more useful, good color photos of Northern Cardinals, or a photo of the 'Apapane? A photo of a Black-crowned Night Heron, or a photo of the 'I'iwi? The Birdwatchers Guide has very good photos of a male and a female cardinal and the heron, which are close to ubiquitous in the mainland USA, and none of the latter, which are totally unfamiliar to mainlanders. There are lots of black and white photos of things like people looking through binoculars, road signs, and trails, none of which are terribly useful to birdwatchers trying to ID unfamiliar species...

Rick Soehren knows Hawai'i and its birds, and this site guide is a great help to visitors. Soehren describes, island by island, where to find Hawai'i's birds, and in the process gives the reader some of Hawai'i's avian history. The book is illustrated with good black-and-white photographs. I have used the book on Hawai'i and Kaua'i and have found it clear, accurate, and very useful.

This is not a field guide with pictures to help you identify the birds. It is a wonderfully insightful reference to the diversity of birds that may be found within the state of Hawaii. It is far more than just a birdwatching guide. It gives one a feel for the plight of the native Hawaiian birds and the beauty of the state and its avifauna.

The book I just read lately was Captain Hawaii by Anthony Dana Arkin. I really enjoyed this book because it had a lot of adventure and lots of excitment as the author took you through Aaron's adventure in Hawaii. There were lots of intense passages such as "Suddenly I lost my grip and fell. Kate was gone. I slipped backward into a whirlwind of water, watching the Menehune race and laugh and wink their green cat eyes." page 234. After reading that passage I was in suspense and had to keep reading, and of course the next passage was just as intriguing as the first one. "I woke up with my head spinning and my stomach rolling. The sun beat on my eyelids, causing an awful pounding inside my brain. Someone splashed cold water on my face." page 234. After reading certain passages in this book, you just had to keep reading to find out what happened next, and that's what I loved about this story.
The theme of this book is that you never know how a family vacation can turn into such an adventure and have so many twists and turns. Not only comes adventure on a family vacation but there's also a teenage romance. I agree that this is an adventure story because everyone was trying to get the treasure map and a lot of the action was between the good and bad guys on the island. Along with adventure came romance between Aaron and Kate. This gave the story a little twist. My life can relate to the summer vacation romance at the beach because I always have fun meeting new people and hanging out with them for the week I'm there. My life has never been as adventurous as Aaron's with trying to find a treasure map, and being chased by Zodiacs and Menehunes.
I would recommend this book to anyone who first likes adventure and second likes to have a little romance in it too. This book is a fairly easy read. At some points in the book it's hard to put the book down because you can't wait to find out what happens next.

In this book Arron goes on a vacation to Hawaii and finds much more than he planned on. First he is chased by strange men and gets lost in a cave. He finds a backpack in the cave that belongs to the "missing" Vanblone. This backpack has journals that tell how to find a map. The map leads to the home of the Menehune. These are little men on the island. Arron finds the map and then is kidnapped by Mr. Mckraft (he also wants the map.) What will happen? Does Arron escape? Who gets the map? To find out what happens read Captain Hawaii. I never knew what was coming next; I couldn't predict what was going to happen, like you can in some books. The author kept me reading and hanging on till the very end. Captain Hawaii was full of thrills, mystery, and much more. I would recommend this book for my friends to read and you should too!

This is a wonderful book for people of all ages. You must read it

This book is a great resource on shore diving in Maui. It provides details on all of the dive sites around the entire island. Dive sites are included for all skill levels from beginner to expert. The book includes directions, maps, marine life, warnings, etc.. This is the best book I've found for diving in Maui. It's straight to the point, and it makes a great field guide. The directions are a bit dated. New roads have been built since this book was created. The dive descriptions are right on though. Check out my travel report and how I used this book at DiveAtlas.com. If this book was updated it would receive 5 stars.

Thiks replaces my outdated review.

This book is a great resource on shore diving in Maui. It provides details on all of the dive sites around the entire island. Dive sites are included for all skill levels from beginner to expert. The book includes directions, maps, marine life, warnings, etc.. This is the best book I've found for diving in Maui. It's straight to the point, and it makes a great field guide. The directions are a bit dated. New roads have been built since this book was created. The dive descriptions are right on though. Check out my travel report and how I used this book at Scubacharter.com. If this book was updated it would receive 5 stars.

This book has everything you need to know about shore diving in Maui. It details dive sites around the entire island from beginner to expert. Included are directions, maps, marine life, warnings, etc.. Absolutely the best book available on the subject. Well worth it if you want to dive in Maui.

A good portion of what Hawaii for Free covers is also covered in many of the better Hawaii guidebooks, like my favorite: the Unofficial Guide to Hawaii. The real question is whether the added tips, like the time and place for free Celtic Pipes and Drums practice is worth the book's price. I thought no.

You know, there are people who Want to know where they can find free Celtic Pipes & drums practice opportunities. . . .

This book is a must for all tourists going to Hawaii. It has everything from concerts, to factory tours, best beaches, parks, art gallerys, gardens, lessons, sports,historical sites ,annual events and more. All for no admission. Also phone numbers to call for more information.

This book is great for the Tiki fan. Great stories about Don and some great receipt's in it as well. Great design and layout. Makes you wish you could drive to a Don the Beachcomber and have a Mai Tai and a Pu Pu platter.

"Hawaii: Tropical Rum Drinks and Cuisine" is an evocation of another era: the 1950s "Tiki Americana" craze which swept the US after World War II. The book is crammed with memories and memoribilia of Don the Beachcomber, the guy who created the "Zombie" drink, and may have created the "Mai Tai" as well. He started his tropical-themed bar in Hollywood in the 1930s. Think: full-color photos of tiki drinks, vintage photos, food recipes, even a party guide.

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS INFORMATION FOR YEARS. I GREW UP DINNING AT THE BEACHCOMERS IN HOLLYWOOD. HAD MY 21ST BIRTHDAY THERE. AND MY BACHOLER PARTY THERE. IF YOU LOVE RUM DRINKS THEN THE ZOMBIE, RUM BARREL, NAVY GROG, MAI TAI ARE FOR YOU. I DONT THINK YOU WILL FIND BETTER GUIDE TO THE BEST OF THE BEST. EVERYTHING IN THIS APPEARS AS I REMEMBER IT.
ENJOY!

This is an enjoyable book that tells a story about intercultural relationships in a subtle, kid-friendly way. The language in it (playing off the Hawaiian names for two reef fish) is playful and fun, although at times it is a bit overwrought. The book jacket plays up its premise of intercultural relationships (as represented by the two different kinds of fish), but this message is very understated and may not be immediately apparent to a young audience. Nevertheless, even without an appreciation for this aspect, it is a fun oral story that at a minimum doesn't perpetuate a monoculturistic perspective.

Before my family and I were fortunate enough to spend some time in Hawaii, I'd heard about the humuhumunukunukuapua'a, a little triggerfish whose name is as long as its beautifully-colored body. It was a delight to memorize the name and teach it to my own children, who loved the delicious Hawaiian syllables as much as I did. When we got to Honolulu I learned about another fish, the lauwiliwilinukunukuoioi--and I couldn't help wondering what would happen if these two fish were married. What would they ever name their child? "Let's Call Him Lauwiliwili..." is the result.

I wrote this story to be fun for kids. But there's a deeper meaning too, one that the children of our increasingly multicultural world need to hear. The little fish in the book is eventually named "Hapa," a Hawaiian word (from Japanese) that means "half" or "little bit"--but which also refers to children whose parents are from different ethnic groups. My editor in Honolulu told me about a friend of hers who read the book to her five-year-old son, the product of just such an ethnically-mixed marriage. When they got to the last page, with its picture of a happy young Hapa, the little boy pointed to the fish and said proudly "That's me!" I can't describe the thrill this gave me; it's the kind of thing I live for as a writer.

But I don't mean to overstate all this, since however much you may delve into this book, I meant it to be enjoyed for its own sake, for the rhythmic fun I tried to create in it. I hope you enjoy it.

Forgive me, by the way, for giving my own book five stars--I had to put something in the blank!

Sincerely, Tim Myers

I disagree with the professional review.....my 2.5 yearold loves this book!......He loves the use of hawaiian names for the fish. This is a great book!