Customer Reviews

Hawaii: The Big Island Revealed

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Witty, thorough, useful, honest, and best of all, accurate to a fault. I took my family to Hawai'i armed with this book and we were not disappointed once. This guide was written by residents of Kailua and their local knowledge shows. In the book's introduction they claim to have spent two years putting this guide together. Every minute of that effort shows in the result.

The best feature of the book is that is is organized as a set of driving tours from the Kailua-Kona and Hilo areas. Almost everyone visiting the Big Island travels by rented car and stays in either of these areas. The struc- ture is perfect for a tourist, right down to listing the mile-marker numbers where unmarked sideroads lead to beaches, volcano view spots, and other points of interest not on the rental car maps. It is loaded with color photographs, maps in many level of details -- including hiking trails -- and easy-to-spot icons of the things to see and do. We visited friends who have lived in Kailua for years who were surprised at how many new things they learned.

I have to stop now before I embarass myself. If you visit the Big Island and don't take this book with you your trip will be that much less fun.

If you're considering a visit to the Big Island, get a copy of this book. They have a web site with updates to the book, and loads of great links to sites with info about the islands. We found this book invaluable as we planned our daily activities. One of the many reasons we hated to head home was that we wouldn't get to continue to use this fabulous tome. It's got to be the *best* guide I've ever seen. The maps are very detailed, accurate, and easy to follow; the inside tips and reviews are all superb. All written in an engaging prose. Highly recommended.

This guide provides excellent suggestions of out of the way places to explore, especially if you like exploring natural spots on your own. There are also honest recommendations of places to eat (great discoveries of good food in places that don't look inviting!) and commerical entertainment or trips. Real gems are highlighted - and accurately rated. If you just want to stay in a big hotel and lounge in the pool etc, don't bother, but if you want to see the great variety of the big island, get this!

Doughty and Friedman provide the reader with loads of helpful and in-depth information. We spent a week on the island following their advice on snorkeling, kayaking, shopping, great food finds, historical sites, and how to treat jellyfish stings! I can't recommend this book enough. (And judging from how often we saw it in the local shops, Hawaiians must appreciate it, too.) And had we bought it at Amazon.com, we would have saved some money.

We've have visited the Big Island every year for the past five years and this is by far, the best travelogue on Hawaii that we have seen. It is current and it's critiques are " right on" and it's layout has eye appeal and the information needed, is easy to find. This is definitely " two thumbs up" and a hearty Bravo to authors Doughty and Friedman

We used this book as our primary resource during 2 weeks touring (and relaxing) on the Big Island. It was amazingly accurate, informative and easy to use: Great reviews of all beaches, great directions and maps, very accurate reviews of tours/special events. It really enhanced our trip!

The best book about Kona hands down. We never would have seen the lava flow if it wasn't for this book. Everything we read was accurate to a "T". We will not travel to any of the Hawaiian islands without these fine authors' books on the respective islands. The restaurant reviews were not "bland" as one reviewer put it, but well chosen and all had very good food. The authors tell you the best places to eat so you don't have to search all the good restaurants out--they're all in the book! Living in the Washington, DC area (the unofficial restaurant capital of the world) we should know!

I now live on the Big Island of Hawaii. This book unlocks all the places that are not available to the everyday tourist (or local). If you really want to "DO" the big island, you need this book!!! Aloha, Glen

By far and away the best guide book on the Big Island at the present time. However, a note of caution on thier resturanut reviews. My wife and I (30 year old west los angeles livin' cafe late drinkin' suhi eatn' trendoids) found thier food recomendations tended toward the bland. Good food can be found on the Big Island.. we just had to hunt for it (try Nori's for take out japaneese noodles in Hilo and Wimeia). All and all an excelent guide