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The Hikers Guide to the Hawaiian Islands (Latitude 20 Books
Written in the same accessible style and format as the highly successful The Hikers Guide to Oahu, this volume is a detailed and fully illustrated guide to the best day hikes on the Big Island, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu. Each island is represented by an equal number of hikes, 44 in all. Together they offer both resident and visitor alike the chance to explore some of Hawaii's most spectacular scenery. For each trip, the author provides detailed directions to the trailhead, a feature-by-feature description of the route, a topographic map keyed to the route description, and comments on common plants and animals, geological formations, historical sites, and other points of interest. Each hike is categorized by difficulty. Hiking tips, safety considerations, and a list of trail and camping information sources are included.View the latest updates
- GenresTravel
298 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 25, 2018
Not So Much Wide As Deep
There are lots of hikes books that are intended to provide a wide survey of all of the hikes and walks in an area, and they are great for providing a little bit of everything, especially to tourists and visitors or to walkers of widely varying skill and interest levels. This book struck me as being a bit different. It seemed more to be focused on a few exceptional hikes, with more detail, background and description than usual.
As noted in the introduction, we get 13 hikes for each of the four major islands. These hikes include a few pleasant walks, but mostly include more rigorous hikes, and even the occasional overnight backpack. As a consequence this felt like it was intended more for residents and longer term visitors than casual tourists. But I guess than underestimates the stamina or interests of some tourists.
In any event, and regardless of your trip plans, the actual hikes and trail descriptions are handy and interesting. Each hike has all of the required basics - how to get there, trailhead description, length, elevation gain, and the like. There are small scale topo maps to help you get oriented. But in addition, there are congenial narratives with more than the usual descriptions. This makes the book especially browseable, and so it seems like it would be especially helpful to someone beginning to narrow down which hikes to look into further.
Nowadays, of course, there is all sorts of useful hike information on the internet, with some hike sites being really detailed. This book, though, felt like it offered a nice balance that would help a hiker begin the process of exploring his or her options. In that regard alone it scored as a nice find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
There are lots of hikes books that are intended to provide a wide survey of all of the hikes and walks in an area, and they are great for providing a little bit of everything, especially to tourists and visitors or to walkers of widely varying skill and interest levels. This book struck me as being a bit different. It seemed more to be focused on a few exceptional hikes, with more detail, background and description than usual.
As noted in the introduction, we get 13 hikes for each of the four major islands. These hikes include a few pleasant walks, but mostly include more rigorous hikes, and even the occasional overnight backpack. As a consequence this felt like it was intended more for residents and longer term visitors than casual tourists. But I guess than underestimates the stamina or interests of some tourists.
In any event, and regardless of your trip plans, the actual hikes and trail descriptions are handy and interesting. Each hike has all of the required basics - how to get there, trailhead description, length, elevation gain, and the like. There are small scale topo maps to help you get oriented. But in addition, there are congenial narratives with more than the usual descriptions. This makes the book especially browseable, and so it seems like it would be especially helpful to someone beginning to narrow down which hikes to look into further.
Nowadays, of course, there is all sorts of useful hike information on the internet, with some hike sites being really detailed. This book, though, felt like it offered a nice balance that would help a hiker begin the process of exploring his or her options. In that regard alone it scored as a nice find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
December 8, 2018
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Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Nowadays with the Internet on hand I don’t have much use for these travel books, but I found this one to be an interesting one to browse through. It has a certain familiarity to it that I found to enjoyable to read, and all the necessary bits of information are there- from the dangers of the hikes, to reminders, to how long they are to what awesome things you can see while hiking those paths and trails. The only thing I wished were there were pictures of the edible berries and fruits they kept mentioning in the book, I’d have liked a physical picture rather than going off on just my interpretation of a description! All in all, a great guide.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Nowadays with the Internet on hand I don’t have much use for these travel books, but I found this one to be an interesting one to browse through. It has a certain familiarity to it that I found to enjoyable to read, and all the necessary bits of information are there- from the dangers of the hikes, to reminders, to how long they are to what awesome things you can see while hiking those paths and trails. The only thing I wished were there were pictures of the edible berries and fruits they kept mentioning in the book, I’d have liked a physical picture rather than going off on just my interpretation of a description! All in all, a great guide.
June 2, 2019
Great hiking guide for beginners and advanced hikers alike. Very useful for us in prepping for our recent trip to Kauai. Planning on more hiking in Maui soon and will definitely bring this book along
December 15, 2018
I may never get to Hawaii, but at least now I can have some idea what the trails there are like. Hiking remains a passion for me, and so do volcanoes, and I have had a few opportunities to combine the two. Oh, to visit Kilauea! To see the things and places I have read about so often...well, I may never get there, but at least I have experienced it through the pages of this book.
With sections for each of the major islands, and sizable section on the national parks on the big island and Maui (which would, to be fair, my main targets) plenty of maps and in depth descriptions on each trail, this time is a must, not just for the hiker planning a trip, but also for those of us who just long to go. Ball puts you on the trail through eyes that clearly appreciate the lush flora and fauna, described like a native and thankfully providing translations for all those otherwise unpronouncable Hawaiian names. I mean, I learned that Konahuanui means "large fat testicles". Seriously. That one fact alone was worth a star in this review.
Get it. Read it. Love it. And maybe, just maybe, someday we can all see firsthand what Stuart Ball has so lovingly described for us.
With sections for each of the major islands, and sizable section on the national parks on the big island and Maui (which would, to be fair, my main targets) plenty of maps and in depth descriptions on each trail, this time is a must, not just for the hiker planning a trip, but also for those of us who just long to go. Ball puts you on the trail through eyes that clearly appreciate the lush flora and fauna, described like a native and thankfully providing translations for all those otherwise unpronouncable Hawaiian names. I mean, I learned that Konahuanui means "large fat testicles". Seriously. That one fact alone was worth a star in this review.
Get it. Read it. Love it. And maybe, just maybe, someday we can all see firsthand what Stuart Ball has so lovingly described for us.
July 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It was full of information, including what to bring with you on your hikes. Now that I have a few hikes I'd like to try I just need to save up for a plane ticket to Hawaii!
May 16, 2019
The Hiker’s Guide to the Hawaiian Islands
by Stuart M. Ball
This book is the perfect guide for hiking on the different islands of Hawaii. If your a beginner or has experience under your belt this guide will give all the information you need to conquer a trail.
The book is sectioned off first by Islands. Within each island you will find a list of trials for hiking and sightseeing. Follow the directions to the trail, and you won’t get lost. At the trial, you’ll find in the book, the name of it. Included is the length of the hike, the elevation and the danger rate. As you hike that trail the book will tell you a bit about the trail it’s self. Using this guide, it makes reference to landmarks, points of interest, possible vegetation and wildlife you may come across.
If you plan on doing some hiking, please keep in mind that guides are a great help for those who are not familiar with the area. And this one is perfect to use for exploring the different islands of Hawaii.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#Netgalley
by Stuart M. Ball
This book is the perfect guide for hiking on the different islands of Hawaii. If your a beginner or has experience under your belt this guide will give all the information you need to conquer a trail.
The book is sectioned off first by Islands. Within each island you will find a list of trials for hiking and sightseeing. Follow the directions to the trail, and you won’t get lost. At the trial, you’ll find in the book, the name of it. Included is the length of the hike, the elevation and the danger rate. As you hike that trail the book will tell you a bit about the trail it’s self. Using this guide, it makes reference to landmarks, points of interest, possible vegetation and wildlife you may come across.
If you plan on doing some hiking, please keep in mind that guides are a great help for those who are not familiar with the area. And this one is perfect to use for exploring the different islands of Hawaii.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#Netgalley
May 18, 2019
The best travel guide for adventurous tourists. This guide includes thirteen hikes for each island without compromising the safety, the local vibes and culture. Sublime!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews