Customer Reviews

Hawaii (On-The-Road Histories)

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This book is beautifully produced in color, with striking colored photos and useful black and white historical photos. It takes the reader from the earliest days of cruel control by chiefs with oppression and human sacrifice, to the development of famous Waikiki Beach. Discovery by Captain Cook in 1778, tsunamis destroying towns, the sexual hula, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (USS Missouri is moored there now), Asian immigrants working the cane fields, the 1893 American settler and US consul aided coup that destroyed Hawaiian independence, to modern tourists "seeking a surfeit of sights, sun, sand, surf, and sensuality" as the author writes. There are handy Must-See Sights listed for each island, such as the massive Haleakala Volcano on Maui to the exciting capital city of Honolulu on Oahu. Many sidebars discuss Hawaiian food and music, to revival of deep-sea double-canoe sailing in the 1970s, and the killer surfing wave called Jaws. Special Events, Cultural Highlights, Further Reading and much more are also included.

A Traveller's History of New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands by John H Chambers is also good (Traveller's Histories Series)

This book was a great overview of the Hawaiian history. This book was excellent to carry on trip and gives one a quick overview about Hawaii and it lists nicely the "must see"s for each island.