Customer Reviews

Paddling Hawai'i (Revised) (Latitude 20 Books)

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

 

 

There are so many How To books available on every topic imaginable, but rare is the How To that is deeply inspirational. This is such a book. Within two weeks of reading it I did three of the trips she described. Her sections on safety and gear are without unnecessary adornment and shimmer with authority and personal experience. The writing is clear, sometimes humorous and made me want to drop everything and paddle off into the horizon. Reading her book gave me the extra push I needed to brave the unknown and enough knowledge to feel confident that I would return. An excellent guidebook to paddling in Hawaii and a great general reference for this marvelous sport.

This is an update of her popular First Edition. As part of a group of long time kayakers in Hawaii, we always read what Audrey Sutherland has to say about a route before undertaking extended kayak trips along the coasts and between the islands of Hawaii. Her hints on preparation are always a good review on what to take and prepare for on a trip. This book is a good companion to her Paddling My Own Canoe which never ceases to inspire one to take a chance to experience the beauty and wildness of Hawaii's shores.

Audrey is a talented writer and gives plenty of information, often with wit and experience, to the reader. Unlike another reviewer that found the first half of the book uninformative as it spoke generally about paddling kayaks, I disagree: the first half of the book is it's strength, and very exactingly details the differences in paddling Hawaii--sun, food, fishing, sharks, coconut opening, camping--you name it, and Audrey S. does a fine job in relating very clearly her years of paddling these islands. This information is very important to kayakers and is specific only to these islands.

The weakness of the book, however, is what should be, by definition, it's strength... places to paddle in the 50th state. Unfortunately, the maps are very sketchy, and the descriptions are brief and often unorganized. I compare Paddling Hawaii, for instance, against Mike Svob's classic guide Paddling Illinois, and the differences are stark; Svob's maps, details of put-ins and take outs, things seen along the route, points of interest, and other similar information is thorough, comprehensive and organized. Ms. Sutherland, on the contrary, provides a cursory review, haphazardly organized, of several paddles on each island, but is in no fashion comprehensive on any island (I know of a couple popular paddles not in this book). The information, although helpful, is not as detailed as would be expected. I'd say this is a middling book on Hawaii paddling, but to the best of my knowledge, is the only one in existance on this subject.

The maps are not especially detailed. The itineraries are vague. The equipment lists are not up to date.

But this is a well-written paean to kayaking the seas around the Hawaiian islands. If you read this book and are not excited about kayaking the islands, then there is no sense of adventure left in you. Take this book and some good maps, and talk to some folks in Hawaii about the areas you want to kayak. Then you'll be ready to hit the water.

The approach is a simple kayak (inflatables are more highly regarded here than most places), a tarp for shelter, mask, snorkel, and fins, and a good preparation for self-rescue. Audrey Sutherland has gone most everywhere in a kayak, and her experiences form the backbone of the book. This is the Hawaii paddling book.

Once this book got to ACTUAL paddling locations, it was quite good. However, almost half of the book was spent on kayaking basics which, I would venture to guess, most of those purchasing this book already are familiar with.