Oahu Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Surf from Honolulu to the North Shore (Paperback)

by Jerry Sprout (Author), Janine Sprout (Author) "Most of the five million people who each year jet into Honolulu seek the dream of swaying palms and beachside reverie, of moonlit- and rum-enhanced..." (more)
Key Phrases: windward pali, keiki pool, turn mauka, Diamond Head, More Stuff, Ala Moana (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher
From gohawaii, about.com, July 2006:

Oahu Trailblazer is the long awaited companion book to the authors' excellent books covering the Big Island of Hawaii, Kauai and Maui. Jerry and Janine Sprout are the definitive experts in hiking in Hawaii. Their books are essential "books to pack" when planning a trip to Hawaii.

So much of the beauty of Hawaii must be seen on foot by exploring the numerous ancient sites, beaches, botanical gardens, rainforests, ridgetops, valleys, and waterfalls of each island. As a bonus, the authors give their suggestions for walking tours of some of the more urban areas of the island.

As the authors indicate many folks who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki and explore the island of Oahu often get frustrated not knowing where to go or what to do. This book provides help in planning those adventures away from the comfortable confines of your hotel or condominium rental.

This 256 page book is an amazingly easy read. The reader is able to use the tips provided by the authors to select the hikes, snorkel or surf locations that are right for them considering their age, health and willingness to be truly adventurous.

So, on your next trip to Oahu, pack your backpack, hiking stick, camera and above all else your copy of Oahu Trailblazer and you're all set to discover the Hawaii that many visitors never get so see.

From the San Francisco Chronicle, February 26, 2006:

This self-described "all-in-one adventure guide" is more than that, much as the authors' earlier Kauai, Big Island and Maui guides have been. Though organized as a series of trailheads emphasizing hiking, snorkeling and surfing, the book has Hawaiian culture, history and attractions to spare.

The famous Aloha Towers, the significance of Iolani Palace or the novelty of swimming with dolphins at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel figure as large as the grueling 7-mile hike along the ridges of the wild Mokuleia Coast or surfing with the tough guys on the West Side's Makaha Beach.

The book is marvelously flexible. If you aren't sure what you're looking for, the Best of Oahu list outlines top attractions, hikes, snorkeling and surfing, organized "to suit your mood and the day" and keyed to trailhead and page numbers. For the more focused, a directory lists each trailhead with available activities and page number. The full trail descriptions, repository of a wealth of information, are organized into four geographical regions, each beginning with an overview of the area's offerings. The What's Best note opening each trail description lets you quickly gauge which routes suit you.

Readers are escorted not only to all of the island's glittery attractions, but also to the jungle waterfalls, panoramic ridges, and ancient sites that are off most tourists' radar.

Veteran authors Jerry and Janine Sprout have again delivered their personal touch, with concise directions and a gallery of photographs that are the trademark of their Trailblazer series. Adventurers won't get bogged down in tourist traps or hopelessly lost trying to find the hidden spots.

From the Author
The authors have explored the American West together for more than 20 years. This book joins five others in their adventure guide series: Kauai Trailblazer, Maui Trailblazer, Hawaii the Big Island Trailblazer, Golden Gate Trailblazer, and Alpine Sierra Trailblazer.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Diamond Valley Company; 1 edition (December 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967007283
• ISBN-13: 978-0967007281
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,563 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Outdoor Recreation > Scuba > Excursion Guides
  #3 in	Books > Travel > United States > States > Hawaii > Oahu
  #3 in	Books > Travel > United States > States > Hawaii > Honolulu

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It was pure paradise. This guide worth buying., January 8, 2006

By	JoAnn Roche (Forest Reefs) - See all my reviews

We highly recommend this book. This was our first visit to Hawaii and we bought it because we aren't keen on organized tours.

We started out slowly by following their trail through Honolulu downtown and beaching ourselves all afternoon near Waikiki. After getting over jetlag, we felt fresh enough on day two to hike to Manoa Falls and wander the arboretum nextdoor. That's when we knew we scored by buying this book - this list of trails seems endless and they all sound worth trying. Our big escape to Oahu was enormous fun and we eventually hope to see all the islands one year at a time.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Six days on Oahu, March 23, 2006

By	Erik Heuser "doc" - See all my reviews

It's surprising how many well established trails dot this island. Finding the brown and yellow trailhead signs would have been next to impossible without exact directions. The Trailblazer took care of that for us on Oahu. All the photos served as a fantastic preview of what we were in store for.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Family Vacation report, February 8, 2006

By	Cookie Murphy (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews

We needed things to keep our kids busy and Oahu Trailblazer was the answer. The perfect book for water sports, picnics and dayhiking. We rented our own boogieboards and found plenty of beaches to use them, a new experience for us. You'll find that this book is activity rich and multitiered for all levels. Our boys are 12 and 14 and took charge of planning our days using the trailblazer guide. They too give it High Five.