Don't be apprehensive because you can't see the cover! This book is full of delicious results that are ultimately simple. A few recipes include store bought packaged products such as cake or brownie mix, but the majority of recipes are based on "from scratch" recipes that have been passed along and shared between close family and friends through generations in Hawai'i. If you've lived in Hawaii or have visited Hawai'i and long for the desserts you so easily remember, this book is a must. Recipes like Pineapple Delight (ready in under half an hour) and Pumpkin Crunch (you HAVE to try this one!) are extremely delicious - having made both with excellent results and ease of preparation. The Hawaiian Jell-o Dessert also got rave reviews from family and friends and is very delicious with a macadamia shortbread crust and 'secret' cream cheese layer (it's mixed with black cherry jell-o and heavy cream) topped off with a layer of lime jell-o. While these desserts are very tempting and easy to make, I couldn't give a five star rating because the recipe listed "2 loaf pans" for the recipe and did not indicate that it was necessary to use 9 in. loaf pans or else you would end up with leftover cream cheese and jell-o. Other than that, this is the book I bake from most often. Some recipes might seem a bit exotic, such as Okinawan Sweet Potato pie with Haupia Topping, Coconut Custard Mochi, or Macadamia Cream Pie, but I'm fairly sure you should be able to find all ingredients at your local grocer. There are four pages of color photographs.

Being an island girl, some place references are inaccurate, that is why this book does not get 5 stars. But it does it job in scaring you. Warning: do not read at night. My favorite scary book of the Hawaiian islands is "Obake Files".

This is a fantastic book and a great gift for anyone who is interested in starting up the hobby of lei making. I bought it for a friend who has been making flower leis for a couple of years. It identifies all the best seeds in Hawaii to make leis out of and includes a section in the back of the book about dangerous seeds. The pictures of the leis are beautiful too! I could be wrong but I think this is the only seed lei book out there.

This is a good book because it gives good facts present and past.

This book is a must for any person interested in an academic book on traditional Hawaiian philosophy and cosmology. It is a very readable and unique book. However, the occasional extrapolation of ideas from other polynesian cultures was done, instead of saying "We don't know". Overall a keeper. I plan to read it again and I strongly recommend it to friends.

This book is very informative on general species a snorkeler or diver might encounter. The book gives pictures, names, and general information about the animals. This book covers coral, invertebrates, and fish. It also shows some rare species that are rarely encountered. This book is a definite buy if you're looking for good knowledge. ENJOY!

The information provided gives a great deal of insite into the ancient Hawaiian culture, and helps appreciate the historical value of the heiau still remaining on the Big Island. Tours of the various sites would not be nearly as meaningful without the depth of information provided by the on site surveys and historical data provided in the text. A definite good buy for those interested in understanding the historical value of the heiau of Hawaii.

This is the Hawaii that you were dreaming of! Lush , tropical paradise without the competition of crowds at the beach! Let this author guide you to a private waterfall or atop a lava rock mountain to appreciate all the beauty hawaii has to offer. Great trail directions. Easy to follow with bits of history thrown in for entertainment. Offers trails for all ability levels, day or overnight hikes.

Much has been written about the stories of the goddess Pele, the volcano and the Kona side of the Big Island in Hawai`i. Yet the Hilo side has it's own rich set of mythologies. Given the abundant rainfall on the Bid Island's east side, more of the mythology naturally revolves around fresh water. One of the best examples is the story of how Hilo got its name.

One time, while camped at the mouth of the Wailuku River, King Kamehameha decided to visit a powerful friend and chief who lived a short way up the river. Leaving his bodyguards behind, he instructed them to make sure that his canoe was not stolen or carried away by the tides. The king did not return. His men, fearing for his safety, wanted to search for him, but had no way to secure the King's canoe. One of them, being from Waipio, quickly taught the others to make rope out of twisted ti leaves to tie down the canoe so they could leave in search of the king. Upon seeing what his people had done, King Kamehameha named the place "Hilo," meaning "twisted."

Other stories cover most of Hilo's well-know spots - Rainbow Falls, Coconut Island, the Halai Hills, the Wailuku River and the Boiling Pots. They are all well-written, with beautiful pen and ink illustrations by Jan Moon.

If you're stuggling with the ideas of categorization, conceptualization, and subjectivity in regards to cross-cultural experience and knowledge, then this book might help you. Sahlins basically proves Obeyesekere wrong about the events in Hawaii in the 18th century and throws some philosophical ideas at our "culture-killing" culture. He expounds about the worst tragedy of our politically correct society; in order to justify the intelligence of native societies, we impose our western values upon them. This robs them of their voice and is more along the lines of colonial thinking than Captain Cook ever could have been.