Aloha Friday Hawaii: Must-have guides
Sure, it's generally best to pack lightly when traveling, but when you're headed to Hawaii, there are a couple of guidebooks you should definitely either bring with you or pick up when you arrive.
For detailed hiking recommendations with good maps, opinionated but honest restaurant reviews and an affectionately feisty attitude, choose a guide from the Wizard Publications' "Revealed" series. I've nearly worn out my "Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed," now in its sixth edition, and have also enjoyed "Oahu Revealed," "Maui Revealed" and "Hawaii the Big Island Revealed." Between editions, authors Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman, who live on the Garden Isle, update their information online. You can find sample reviews from their books (which retail for $15.95) and the updates at wizardpub.com.
A caveat: The guidebooks have created some controversy in Hawaii for directing tourists to places once considered "secret"; please be respectful of the land and its residents, and observe posted signs. Also, some visitors have apparently ignored the authors' repeated safety warnings to accurately judge one's abilities and ocean or trail conditions before visiting some of the more potentially hazardous sites. Don't become a statistic by ignoring common sense for an awesome photo op; remember that the time it took to reach an isolated area is also how long it will take help to reach you. And trust me, if these guidebooks tell you that a trail is steep or slippery, or that you'll get shredded by thorns if you don't wear long pants, believe them. I've had the bruises and cuts to back it up, and now stick to the "moderately" challenging adventures they recommend.
Whether you're driving around the islands, hiking through forests or jungles, or just lazing at a sandy beach, Mutual Publishing's "Pocket Guide" series will help you answer some pesky questions: What's that bird called? What kind of tree is that? What's the name of that flower? "A Pocket Guide to Hawai'i's Birds" ($8.95), with easy-to-read text by H. Douglas Pratt and sharp color photos by Jack Jeffrey and H. Douglas Pratt, has been a staple on my island trips, so much so that I've had to buy a new copy in the hotel gift shop when I've inadvertently left my latest at home. OK, perhaps it's my fault that I can't always remember the name of the white-tailed tropicbirds in Waimea Canyon, or which of Hawaii's two owls is indigenous (the native short-eared owl). But the additional guidebook copies I've passed on over the years have been welcome sources of information.
The "Pocket Guide to Hawai'i's Trees and Shrubs" ($9.95) and "A Pocket Guide to Hawai'i's Flowers" ($8.95) have also proved handy for interpreting the islands' lush tropical foliage. As with the state's fauna, much of its contemporary flora is nonnative — although in many cases no less beautiful. Learning from these guidebooks how many species of both plants and animals are threatened by habitat destruction and imported predators will also help visitors gain respect for conservation efforts. The guides are widely available in Hawaii's tourist centers, but you can also purchase them online (without a gift-shop markup) at mutualpublishing.com.
What you don't need to bring: an atlas if you're renting a car. The "Drive Guides" you'll find at all major rental car companies have good maps for coastal roads and inland tourist areas, and they include tips on local customs (driving with aloha often means yielding the right-of-way or driving a little more slowly than big-city types are used to), basic sightseeing advice and some discount coupons. Just don't leave the drive guide or your rental contract lying on your seat if you're parked at an unguarded lot — someone might be tempted to see what luggage or cameras you inadvisably left in your trunk.
For detailed hiking recommendations with good maps, opinionated but honest restaurant reviews and an affectionately feisty attitude, choose a guide from the Wizard Publications' "Revealed" series. I've nearly worn out my "Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed," now in its sixth edition, and have also enjoyed "Oahu Revealed," "Maui Revealed" and "Hawaii the Big Island Revealed." Between editions, authors Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman, who live on the Garden Isle, update their information online. You can find sample reviews from their books (which retail for $15.95) and the updates at wizardpub.com.
A caveat: The guidebooks have created some controversy in Hawaii for directing tourists to places once considered "secret"; please be respectful of the land and its residents, and observe posted signs. Also, some visitors have apparently ignored the authors' repeated safety warnings to accurately judge one's abilities and ocean or trail conditions before visiting some of the more potentially hazardous sites. Don't become a statistic by ignoring common sense for an awesome photo op; remember that the time it took to reach an isolated area is also how long it will take help to reach you. And trust me, if these guidebooks tell you that a trail is steep or slippery, or that you'll get shredded by thorns if you don't wear long pants, believe them. I've had the bruises and cuts to back it up, and now stick to the "moderately" challenging adventures they recommend.
Whether you're driving around the islands, hiking through forests or jungles, or just lazing at a sandy beach, Mutual Publishing's "Pocket Guide" series will help you answer some pesky questions: What's that bird called? What kind of tree is that? What's the name of that flower? "A Pocket Guide to Hawai'i's Birds" ($8.95), with easy-to-read text by H. Douglas Pratt and sharp color photos by Jack Jeffrey and H. Douglas Pratt, has been a staple on my island trips, so much so that I've had to buy a new copy in the hotel gift shop when I've inadvertently left my latest at home. OK, perhaps it's my fault that I can't always remember the name of the white-tailed tropicbirds in Waimea Canyon, or which of Hawaii's two owls is indigenous (the native short-eared owl). But the additional guidebook copies I've passed on over the years have been welcome sources of information.
The "Pocket Guide to Hawai'i's Trees and Shrubs" ($9.95) and "A Pocket Guide to Hawai'i's Flowers" ($8.95) have also proved handy for interpreting the islands' lush tropical foliage. As with the state's fauna, much of its contemporary flora is nonnative — although in many cases no less beautiful. Learning from these guidebooks how many species of both plants and animals are threatened by habitat destruction and imported predators will also help visitors gain respect for conservation efforts. The guides are widely available in Hawaii's tourist centers, but you can also purchase them online (without a gift-shop markup) at mutualpublishing.com.
What you don't need to bring: an atlas if you're renting a car. The "Drive Guides" you'll find at all major rental car companies have good maps for coastal roads and inland tourist areas, and they include tips on local customs (driving with aloha often means yielding the right-of-way or driving a little more slowly than big-city types are used to), basic sightseeing advice and some discount coupons. Just don't leave the drive guide or your rental contract lying on your seat if you're parked at an unguarded lot — someone might be tempted to see what luggage or cameras you inadvisably left in your trunk.
posted by ams at 1:49 PM
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