Customer Reviews

Maui Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Paddle, Surf, Drive

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Everything about this book was totally wonderful. We preplanned all our hikes weeks ahead of getting to Maui which ended up saving us so much time. On our previous visit we were snagged by activity salespeople who made us believe the only way to see Maui was by guided package tours $$$. This time we made a pact to see archeological ruins and areas of the island that were off the organized tour circuit.

These authors have got it right when it comes to writing a guidebook for the unsedentary visitor. The Molokai ferry ride and drive around that they describe on pages 180 to 190 was worth the trip over alone. We spent an entire afternoon exploring the moody west side of Haleakala that hardly anyone goes to...Polipoli Springs State Park.

Don't leave home without it.

I was in Maui for twelve days and Maui Trailblazer was the best thing I could have ever purchased for my vacation. It was my first choice just thumbing through it at the bookstore and I have no regrets. It's best feature: it prioritizes what to see and chops the island into manageable pieces that I was able to bite off in a day (except for the Haleakala section that took two). After my overview drive around, I went back to hike the choice trails that the authors put their Best Of stamp on. Even though I went solo I never felt alone. The swamp, in particular, was for me the most interesting hike (views + vegetation) I've ever been on. One you won't stumble upon unless you're guided there. For snorkeling it contains a long list too. I just didn't have enough time for everything.

This book has been a wonderful eye-opener for me. I suppose like many people, I was inclined to think that "outdoors" on Maui meant "on the beach." Then I found Maui Trailblazer. The subtitle is "where to hike, snorkel, paddle, surf, drive," and even that's an understatement.

Before I got two paragraphs into the introduction, I found myself feeling better about Maui and more eager to get out and see it...all of it. The writing is gently conversational and downright seductive. My advice, no matter how you want to see Maui, no matter how well you already know the island, read Maui Trailblazer. It's actually a love story with a fine beginning, plenty of middle and no end in sight.

Even though I have owned a second home on Maui for many years, the Sprout's Maui Trailblazer helped me discover delightful places I didn't know existed, even in my own neighborhood. The authors' writing style is relaxed and humorous, in keeping with the Island experience. Even hard to find locations are described well and I particularly like the sensitivity shown by the authors to the land and to local residents. The hikes and activities included in the book are geared to a variety of audiences, taking into account all levels of physical fitness and interests. In fact, I keep a supply of Maui Trailbalzer on hand at our house for guests so they can explore Maui beyond what is offered in the typical tourist guide book. If you are looking for a thorough Maui guide book with many interesting options, and even inspiration to get out and about, whether for your first or your fifteenth visit, Maui Trailblazer is your best choice among a host of books available.

My wife and I jsut got back from a trip to Maui. This book is an essential guide for active people on their way to Maui. It covers the island comprehensively. I liked that this book doesn't try to be everything. It doesn't disuss where to stay or where to eat. This is an outdoor activities guide and is very descriptive and helpful. It definitely enhanced our trip and was well worth the price.

Incidentally, I also highly recommend taking a look at Maui Revealed by Andrew Doughty for frank recommendations on restaurants and many other activities. It isn't as devoted to outdoor activities, but we found the recommendations to be very honest and helpful.

Our local library featured this book in its monthly newsletter. I borrowed it, planned our entire seven day visit and bought a fresh copy for the journey. I thought it was primarily for hikers but was pleasantly surprised to find that it introduced us to so many other things to do that are uniquely MAUI. We learned to surf and spent endless hours boogie boarding at hidden away little beaches that they recommended. This is an all around book for all levels of expertise. The clean graphics and maps were a joy to use. Everything you'll ever need or want to know is in this book. Grab a copy for your trip. It can't get any better.

Remarkable! This is a really good guide book that fills in all the blanks all the others leave out . This was my fifth trip to Maui and I stayed three weeks this time.

I liked this book because it doesn't glorify or exaggerate Maui, it just tells you honestly how it is and what to expect .
It loaded me up with a steady stream of choices. Whatever I hankered for, it was easy to find, whether in the water or in the outback. All the trails were rated according to their highlights. I knew what I was getting into. There's also a really nice balance of photos and text. I could go on and on with compliments. It captures this island in a nutshell.

this is the book that I'd recommend you plan out your travel days with. I found it a cut above all the rest that are out there because the writers really know what they're talking about. They don't assign someone else to do the work for them and give you a real good rundown of the things you'll want to see. What really sold me was that they get right down to what you really need when you get there - - - the proper driving directions. A nice little feature was the list of what they deem "Bests", 4 pages listing what they consider worth doing. We used their list of "Where the Tour Boats Go" to snorkel and swam right alongside those who paid a charter to get out to the same point. Their "Short Walks to Exquisite Places" list also was a lifesaver. We've used their book for Kauai Island and it's was also very cool. When we were deciding which to buy we noticed many of the guides don't have maps. This one has 10. It's a feature worth having because the island is shaped strangely and getting oriented NSEW was important. As we traveled around on Maui and cute little Lanai, Maui Trailblazer was our constant companion and made our vacation an experience we'll never forget.

This book is good as a collection of hikes and as a collection of phone numbers. However, it is not stand alone for a visit to Maui. I do not believe that the authors have extensively researched from a visitor's perspective.

I would have liked to have found the following: there is one hardware store on the way to Haleakala. Where can I shop for groceries? There is an excellent grocery in Paia. Where can I find camping equipment? There are no camping stores on Maui.

Other information that was omitted includes: snorkeling and kayaking are morning activities, and are best done on the west coast. For example, [...] points to snorkeling at Hookipa beach but does not state that a snorkeler will find mostly seaweed and limited visibility. I would have liked to have known that I can arrange to rent a kayak and snorkel gear right on the beach at Wailea, that I should request an anchor to maximize options, and a suggested route would be to head south first, then north, before the winds pick up.

In addition to lack of information, they also suggest unsound activities. They show people visiting lava caves going off trail in Haleakala, a practice strongly discouraged by the national park service. [...] The sliding sands- halemau'u trailhead hike would probably be the best vigorous day hike, but is only mentioned as an afterthought (not in the beginning). They omit great options for adventurous trekking/camping... from sea level to the summit, or reverse, or from the summit to halemau'u.

[...]

Our short Hawaiian vacation consisted of 3 days of business meetings on Oahu and three playing on Maui. The two islands contrasted greatly. Thankfully, this book offered us an entire new perspective of island life and guided us to some wild stretches of beach that were definitely off the beaten path. Loaded with photos so we knew what to expect and great maps that quickly got us to snorkeling areas where the water was clean and clear. We recommend this book, it deserves five stars.