A Pocket Guide to Hawaii's Underwater Paradise [Paperback]

John Hoover (Author), John P. Hoover (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998

A broadly inclusive, one volume collection of folklore by a leading authority. The great prehistoric tales of Maui, Hina, Pele, and others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Mutual Publishing (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566471516
• ISBN-13: 978-1566471510
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,304,981 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Americas > United States > State & Local > Hawaii
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science > Nature & Ecology > Oceans & Seas > Marine Life

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Great intro to the underwater treasures in Hawaii, large and small!, August 7, 2009

By 

R Schmidt (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: A Pocket Guide to Hawaii's Underwater Paradise (Paperback)

You really can't go wrong when you get a book about Hawaiian creatures authored by John Hoover. Both his photography and his wealth of knowledge make his publications valuable resources. And this volume also has the added feature of photography by David Schrichte, who adds spectacular underwater "community" shots.

This particular volume is really an introductory guide. You want more information on fish, or invertebrates, or on Hanauma Bay? You'll need to get copies of Hoover's books on these topics. However, if you want a relatively inexpensive volume to give you a sense of wonder about those small and large creatures, then this book will work for you.

A few notes:

"Chubs love handouts." They sure do, and it was their aggressive and pushy behavior, in part, that got fish-feeding banned at Hanauma Bay. Of course, it is a Marine Life Conservation District, after all.

Coral crunchers: no discussion of the role of pufferfish?

The magnificent sea star. I saw one on the sand during a night dive at Makaha reef... it was as impressive as Hoover claims!

Again, this book doesn't replace the Hawaiian fish (The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes: Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Whales, and Seals) and invertebrate (Hawaii's Sea Creatures, a Guide to Hawaii's Marine Invertebrates) books. Consider it a warm up for the main event.