Customer Reviews

Fodor's Exploring Hawaii, 4th Edition (Exploring Guides)

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I found this book to be too generalized and too vague. I buy a guidebook to get educated and situated and I care about well defined directions. This book contained none of the above. I'm giving it a one for its restaurant listings.

I was surprised how often this book breezed by the important cultural aspects of island life. It read more like a promotional brochure rather than a personalized account of what you'll see. It needs more photograhs. The Oahu section was the one that I liked the best.

Although far from an in depth, comprehensive travel guide, Fodor's Hawaii is one of the most well-rounded and easy-to-use guidebooks on the Hawaiian islands available. Every page contains pictures, factoids, and methodically organized details for all seven Hawaiian Islands. Firstly, you're presented with an introduction to Hawaiian culture and history in the beginning chapter followed by additional chapters detailing each island's history and main attractions. The history of the whole of Hawaii covers everything from the origins of the Hawaiian peoples to the beginnings of Hawaii's statehood. In addition to every chapter highlighting a single island, Fodor's also displays original walks and drives for your destination containing maps and recommended attractions. Places to shop and exceptional eateries, ranging from a multitude of world cuisines available on the islands are also listed. The book is concluded with a hotel and restaurant listings for varying price ranges with contact information and websites. The only essential element of a travel guide missing from Fodor's Hawaii is navigational maps for each island. There are two "maps" on the inside of each cover but they're hardly taken seriously as being useful. Overall, the entire guide provides a great introduction to the islands for someone whose never visited Hawaii or someone planning to explore more of the beautiful state away from the luxurious hotels and elegant restaurants.

I recently returned from ten days in Hawaii. This is one of two travel books my wife and I brought along. By the end of the trip I found it best as a background guide. A 40-page section on culture and history ("Hawaii Is" and "Hawaii Was") is the highlight of the book. I read through that more than once as it provided info I didn't get from local tour guides, bus drivers or fellow explorers.

Attractions on the six major islands are rated on a system of one through three arrows. The USS Arizona Memorial on Oahu mysteriously received only two, perhaps because of the impossibly long lines that defeat entry unless you arrive before 11 AM. The restaurant listings are similarly thin, although California Pizza Kitchen, a chain you can find outside of Hawaii, somehow merited a listing under Honolulu.

Obviously there's a lot to see in Hawaii and you're not going to plan your trip based on just one 200-page book. I found the Fodor's book to be adequate in terms of helping me get around or figuring out what I wanted to see on the three islands I visited. The book is never going to replace talking to people and getting recommendations, but obviously that's not whath it's there for.

The best you can say is that people go to Hawaii for vastly different reasons and the Fodor's book tries to accomodate as many of those groups as possible.