Customer Reviews

Hawaii The Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook

5 star:		(105)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The strengths of this book lie in the authors' thorough local knowledge of the island. For example, if you're interested in finding hidden beaches, volcanic pools, self-drive advice into the Waipio Valley, and so forth, this is probably the best book for these kinds of tips. They are excellent at detailing the logistics of seeing island sights on your own (exactly when, how, etc.). They also warn about potential difficulties you might encounter, such as tourist scams or signs indicating a private road when the road is in fact public (Waipi'o Valley).
It has some serious weaknesses, however, when it comes to its sometimes heavy-handed opinions on local businesses. One example is the Red Sail Dive operation in Kohala. I signed up with them despite the authors' description: "Groups are held on a tight leash. Get in, get out, let's go, next site. We received no briefing whatsoever." Since they had a desk at the hotel where I was staying, I dove with them, and found this description to be completely inaccurate. I asked one of the instructors about that, and he said that it was like that 10 years ago (certainly not in the five years he worked there). This advice was been repeated in the newest edition, leading me to believe that once the authors form an opinion, they often stick with it rather than re-evaluating it for subsequent editions. It would be more accurate for them to say "When we last dove with them in 1996,..."
Another glaring example for me was their review of the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, which they don't recommend. I more often than not stay at 4* properties, and this is one of the nicest hotels at which I've stayed. It's rated #1 out of 70 hotels on the island of Hawaii on tripadvisor.com (based on 229 reviews), so my opinion doesn't seem to be off-base. What's even more striking is that they recommend the sister property, the Mauna Kea Hotel, which is over 30 years older, has smaller rooms, less attractive common areas, and a less attractive beach.
Their restaurant reviews also seemed based on the authors' limited experience. They didn't recommend the Tres Hombres in Kawaihae, yet I found this to be one of the only affordable places for a decent meal in the northern Kohala resort area (where it's otherwise nearly impossible to get a dinner for two without drinks for under $100). They did recommend the Grand Palace Chinese restaurant in southern Kohala which had some of the blandest Chinese food I've had.
As a final example, their helicopter section doesn't even mention Paradise Helicopters, which not only has the lowest-priced volcano/falls tour from Hilo, but also has all-window seat flights (unlike most companies) with 2-way headphones. We found them (and got a discount) through Tom Barefoot.
In summary, if you have a car and time to tour the island, you will probably want to buy this book for its precise and accurate geographical and logistical information. It also has good background information in an easy-to-read writing style. I would be very wary of their opinions on local businesses, however, since these opinions seem to be made on the basis of limited experience. Therefore, this book wouldn't be too useful for someone who plans to just spend a few days in his hotel and not rent a car.

Best guide to the big island by far. None even come close. Not only details available nowhere else, but updates on line. This feature was very valuable as our trip included three days at the volcano and the eastern areas of Hawaii including Puna and the northern coast. Suggestions about restaurants and stops were consistently accurate and informative. Very helpful in planning a trip as well. Organization of t he book is supberb! If I were to plan a trip to Mars, Venus or the moon, I would search for a guidebook by these authors

We think that these guidebooks are the best for all the islands. However, be skeptical of restaurant recommendations. Also comments and recommendations are frequently out of date. Small example: 2007 edition for the Big Island recommends the Mauna Kea hotel and golf course which have been closed for over one year.

I should say I'm not a fan of guidebooks in general, and indeed did not buy a copy of this one until several locals in Hilo recommended it to me. They were right-- it really is a key that can unlock much of the Big Island for the adventurous traveler. While it may not be worth the effort if you're just planning on hanging around the resorts on Kona side, this was the perfect guide for my wife and I as we spent a week based in a rainforest cabin several miles east of Mountain View south of Hilo. We traveled most of the paved roads (and a good portion of the unpaved/lava roads) on the island and saw far more than we would have without such a great guide. Beaches are listed counter-clockwise around the entire island. Trails are well described, and the "hidden gems," while not always all that hidden, are almost always worth the drive/walk. Places like the steam caves in Puna, the Champagne Pond, and the more remote reaches of South Point we likely would not have discovered with our usual method of using a map alone. The info provided for such tourist-drawing activities as driving up Mona Kea to the observatories was very solid (even a bit on the conservative side) and our experiences with the restaurant reviews found them spot on (disclaimer: we ate in only four restaurants over an eight-day period, preferring to purchase food at farmer's markets and fish on the bayfront).

On the balance an excellent guide book, aided in our case only by advice from a few locals and some friends who grew up in Hilo. My only reservation has also been expressed by others, i.e. that some of these places are really pretty special and should not be overrun by tourists OR locals-- they'd be better off remaining secrets for the few who live in the area and will take care of them. We tended to avoid places that fit that bill, and in most cases even the lava roads to the more remote sites were dotted with other rental Jeeps, most of whose drivers were also clutching a copy of this guidebook!

My family has a house on the Kailua Coast, and I have been vacationing there 2 or 3 times per year for the past 30 years. I thought we'd seen it all until my boyfriend bought this book. We've found fantastic hikes and other recommendations that we hadn't found in years of visits. If you are looking for a guide book for the Big Island, or even if you plan on staying at a hotel and don't think you need a guide book, this is the one to buy, hands down.

I cannot say enough good things about this book and these authors. I purchased a book for 4 of the islands written by these guys. Our vacation wouldn't have been the same without the information in these books. Don't go to Hawaii without this book! I got spoiled by the information in their books, and will want a book (written by them) for every vacation I take from now on.

I grew up in the Islands and this book gives the visitor a locals', inside view of the Big Island from the best food to the best beach to special hikes and off-track sights.

Just returned from a great visit to the Big Island, made even greater by this book. Went from lava fields to rain forests in less than 2 hours and took some incredible back road tours that would have been impossible without this book. Found directions very clear, restaurant reviews impeccable and site reviews invaluable. On top of all that, authors have a very enjoyable way of writing, which my entire family enjoyed. Do get this book. I had also taken the Fodor and Frommer books, which I rarely opened.

I love this book! It's so thoroughly researched and detailed and covers everything you need to know about the Big Island, including what to do and how to get there. Find yourself in a tiny, tiny town on the Big Island and wondering where is the best place to eat? Ask the book. Want to know the history of and the kind of food served at a luau? Ask the book. Need to know the closest way to get from point A to B? Ask the book. Wondering why there are wild goats on the side of the road? Ask the book. Not only is the author thorough, detailed and incredibly knowledgeable about Hawaii, he's witty. I appreciated the humor and personal tidbits the author threw in. When he advises you to buy mosquitoes or risk the "bloodletting of your life", he's not kidding - he knows from experience! We took this book everywhere with us on this trip and it never disappointed. By the end of the trip I felt like the author was a good friend - just one that I've never actually met in person. I will definitely be buying the other Hawaiian island books for our next trips!

With the purchase of Hawaii The Big Island Revealed I now have the entire set of "Revealed" books about Hawaii. I just LOVE all of them. To my thinking these books offer you an honest opinion of what to expect. The writer's opinion is fresh, honest, well written, and not biased by the hotels and/or travel companies. If you are going to visit Hawaii, and you want information that will absolutely make a difference in what you do - this book is a must!