Rating: 
Summary: Saved our trip!!
Review: This book is excellent! You can't possibly get lost with this book in the car, the directions are perfect. We didn't want to spend all our time at the usual tourist locations, and this book lead us right to some of the smaller, less-travelled things that we really hoped to see. The directions were easy to follow and very acurate! Without it, we would have never found the bonsai garden that we wanted to see. We wouldn't have seen a lot of things that we did, if we hadn't had this book. I even left Montana, and left this book behind. I cried on the plane when I realized what I had done. Luckily, I was able to find one for sale in Kona. (at Walmart!) What a relief!! Don't go to Hawaii without this book!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding--If only all travel guides were like this
Review: This guide is very detailed, specific, and frank. It gives very specific advice and travel directions, down to the level of "turn left at the blue two-story house" to many destinations, lots of which you won't find in the typical Frommer's or Fodor's guidebook. It is very blunt and negative in a few cases, which is refreshing. I didn't get full advantage of this book on the first part of my Big Island trip, because I read it ahead of time, and left it in the hotel room, taking only my U. of Hawaii map with me when out and about. This is my usual procedure with guidebooks, because they usually aren't specific enough to be useful when out on the road seeking anything but the biggest and grandest activities or sites. Later in the trip, I realized my mistake, and kept it on the seat beside me while driving. One of the best features of the book is a list of "adventures" near the end of the book which are just that. Adventures, some of which are even mildly risky. I only did one of them (snorkeling with manta rays) but it was well worth doing. If you want to visit the Big Island, and get out of your Kona Coast resort, I highly recommend you purchase this book, read it ahead of time, and take it with you on the road! The only criticism I have of the book is not the authors' fault, and is inevitable in a book this specific--Some of the information invariably becomes outdated over time. For instance, the manta rays I referred to are no longer appearing regularly at the location listed in this book. This sort of thing is inevitable, and is the price of being so specific and helpful. But the book is probably due for a third edition before too long...
Rating:
Summary: downright incredible!
Review: My husband and I used this guide book constantly on our week-long trip to the Big Island, from which we returned just 3 days ago. This books tells about all the little-known and out-of-the-way places that the tour busses don't or won't take you to.If you're the adventurous type, definitely rent a 4WD as the book suggests. There's a lot of wonderful places on the island that just can't be accessed without one. We found the book's accuracy to be nearly 100%, even though it's been out nearly 2 years now. It was so exciting to see and experiece all the things in real life that I first learned about through this book. Don't miss the snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay. It's beyond the imagination! The excellent restaurant reviews were also very helpful to us. 11/24/00
Rating:
Summary: The PERFECT Guide to Hawaii
Review: This book helped us to find so many special places and scenes that we never would have known about otherwise. We wanted to explore the entire island, and this book gave us such a terrific amount of insider information about what was worth seeing. A lot of the stuff was never mentioned in the other books I purchased. They lay out terrific driving tours with great directions and places to stop. HONEST reviews. We loved all of the recommendations we followed (Except the Lyman Museum, which they consider a gem. We thought is was pretty poor). The writers are very humorous and it's great fun just reading their books. This book helped us to have a very special and well-orchistrated vacation in Hawaii. I STRONGLY recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: realistic and very savvy!
Review: I have been visiting the Big Island for 10 years and this book is the best guidebook I have used. They tell you HOW to get to the good spots, where to go, where not to go, and how to have the best time on your trip! I hope they are revising it if it's indeed out of print! Be sure to go to Kua Bay for a sugar-white beach and to Kealakakua Bay (monument side) for great coral and fish!
Rating:
Summary: The BEST guidebook for the Big Island
Review: As with their other book on Kaua'i, this book is a fountain of useful information, from common tourist sites, to those places that are truly *far* off the beaten path. They can accurately lead you on all kind of adventures on this amazingly diverse island. (Anyone who hikes MUST do the Pu'u O'o vent hike. It's amazing! And don't be afraid of the Mauna Kea drive- it's worth it!) The book is exciting just to read, is funny and honest and makes you want more time to explore all the many places the authors recommend. It's a wonderful guidebook- one of the best!
Rating:
Summary: Our "Harriet" Bible to Hawaii
Review: We bought this book in anticipation of our two week trip to the Big Island, and even before we left all of us had read it cover to cover. We were tempted to visit everywhere, and I can not thank the authors enough for cutting to the chase on what to see and literally, step by step how to get there. (DETAILED instructions! ) We did not set foot out of the door without our "Harriet" and constantly compared her evaluations with ours. I am so glad we had a chance to review it BEFORE we left, for there is just so much to do there, and it helped to have some kind of familiarity of the locations by the assistance of her descriptions. The trip was a huge success, and by no means did we sit by a pool sipping drinks. We marched out to the out of the way beaches she recommended and we were NEVER disappointed! We were thankful for her very detailed instructions, and found most of them right on the mark. Thanks to Harriet, we discovered all sorts of wildlife, out of the way fantasy beaches and locations, snorkled the best areas, swam with thousands of fish and turtles, visited caves, waterfalls, enjoyed the best places to go when helicoptering, experienced the vast weather changes from the high country, to Hilo and drier Kona. I can not wait to go again....but I hope not too many people follow her directions and spoil the exclusivity of the experience!
Rating:
Summary: Everything you need to know and nothing you don't.
Review: I bought this book when my then-fiance and I were headed for a week to the Big Island. The book was extraordinarily helpful in planning our activities and places to stay. The restaurant reviews were right on target as well. The best thing about this book is the way that it is laid out - in a logical fashion with all activities, categories, etc. together. The pictures also were outstanding. I recommend this book for anyone planning a trip to the Big Island.
Rating:
Summary: Best guidebook I've seen
Review: I went to the Big Island in July 98 and drove around the island a couple of times. I really didn't see much other than the road in front of me and was as bit dissappointed even though I had Fieldings book on Hawaii. I picked up this book yesterday because I will be going again this September. After reading the book I was amazed at how much I had missed and look forward to seeking out the places that were written about in this book. It is a beautiful book with a lot of pictures and it is nicely laid out. They have a website to check out new things and even ask questions. Great book. I recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: Very thorough
Review: I travelled with three freinds and we all read our own copy before the trip. We marked the pages for easy reference when we planned outings. The SCUBA info was right on and we had a great interaction with Captain Jack's Diving Locker. Heed the advice about the renatl car. The road to south point and Green Sand Beach was difficult to drive even w/ a 4x4! The kayak outing to Captain Cook's point took most of the day but was worth the effort. (the book estimates it can be done in a morning). Also, definitely get your film developed on the island as the book suggests. We got great photos at a good price at Wallmart's one hour lab.
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