Lonely Planet Hawaii: The Big Island (Regional Travel Guide)
by Conner Gorry, Luci Yamamoto
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Book Reviews of Lonely Planet Hawaii: The Big Island (Regional Travel Guide)
Book Review: Interesting format
Summary: 3 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I have been to the Hawaiian Islands many, many times as my husband grew up on Oahu and still has family there. I have had the good fortune of visiting all the islands (except Molokai), and I have great love for all of them, but the Big Island really is a special place. I therefore received this book with great anticipation as I have been looking for another guide to supplement the wonderful "Big Island Revealed" by Doughty.
Although this guide is exhaustive in its own way, I found the format a bit frustrating. The book is organized into "35 Themed Itineraries," so if this is not how you like to travel, you may find it frustrating as well. In addition, the maps are rather small, and the authors don't seem to want to tell you if something (whether a restaurant or an attraction) is really worth going to -- let's face it, for most people Hawaii is a vacation spot and they don't have much time to figure out what's good and what isn't. Eating in Hawaii can get quite expensive, so it would be very helpful to know in advance if a restaurant gets consistently good ratings.
The tone of the commentary has kind of a "hippie vibe" to it, so if you are interested in hostels and backpacking, this might be a good choice for you. I don't say that in a negative way; in fact, students might really like this aspect of the book, it just wasn't something I would look for in a travel guide. It seemed almost as if the authors were trying too hard to be cool.
There are some really beautiful photos, but there are also quite a few typos, so overall this book has kind of an amateurish feeling to it. It's not terrible, but it's not great either. Also, if you have never been to the Big Island before, be aware that it really is a large island. If you plan on seeing the volcano but you are staying in Kohala, for example, you will be doing a LOT of driving. Because the Big Island is enormous and there is so much to see, you need really good guides to figure out how you want to spend your time there; go with Doughty or Fodor's instead. And spend the money to rent a good car, too; you won't regret it. Aloha and enjoy your trip!
Book Review: Get ready to buy some plane tickets!
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
First, a note on my travel preferences. I travel with my husband. We like to be physically active, see unique local features, and travel inexpensively. Going hiking, buying local specialties for a picnic, and staying at a modest little inn are all ideal. I have no interest in swanky hotels, typical urban museums, or expensive restaurants. I can get all that at home.
Lonely Planet's "Hawai'i, The Big Island" seems like it was made for me. Nowadays, with as many internet resources as are available, a travel guide has to be pretty fantastic to justify its expense. This one does.
The guide starts out with a few "best of the island" highlights, explains the basic categories of activity you can expect on Hawai'i, and gives some notes about the environment. Then the bulk of the book is eight different sets of itineraries, based geographic areas. Each itinerary set offers many options depending on length of stay and budget, with enough information to extract out details and make your own specific plans, if that's what you want.
The book is entirely full-color, with many photos and maps. Though only 300 thin pages, it's surprisingly heavy. The binding seems durable. I've been flipping back and forth through this thing like someone trapped in the icy wastes of the midwest in winter (ahem) and it isn't showing any wear. Along with the travel information, there are numerous interviews with locals, and notes on culture, religion, and history, making for a fun read even without the trip planning part.
The only negatives I can think of are there's *so* much information here, it would take a year to get through all the fabulous things to do. That's not really the fault of the guidebook, though, more an issue with the destination! And even at that, this guide only covers the Big Island. The other Hawaiian islands are barely mentioned.
If you're planning a trip to Hawai'i, and you like the Lonely Planet approach to travel, this is a great example of their guides. I can't comment on the accuracy of the information, yet, though I will when I get back. :)
Book Review: Pretty good but rather generic guidebook
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
It seems to me that Lonely Planet guidebooks are becoming more like other guidebooks, filled with photos and boxed tidbits of various sorts. The Big Island guide includes 35 themed itineraries and a number of "top ten" lists (there is a series of "Top Ten" guides that do that better).
I welcome the profusion of maps (though anyone going to the Big Island can pick up half a dozen booklets with coupons and maps at airports or hotels). A lot of information is packed into the 5.6-ounce book. The binding seems fairly sturdy and the information generally accurate. (I have been to the Big Island half a dozen times, so have some basis for comparing text with my own experiences.) One particularly startling howler is misidentifying a photo of a tortoise for the endangered green sea turtle, which is, as the caption on page 43 claims, a symbol of the Hawaiian archipelago. The green sea turtle is an endangers species, though I have seen many more of them than of the land tortoise that is pictured.
The introduction to Hawaiian culture and mores (near the end of the volume) is quite good. The Lonely Planet island of Hawai'i guide is particularly good in discussing Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and sorting out snorkeling sites (with appropriate cautions about riptides).
Many restaurants are listed, though not the ones to which I return enthusiastically. Little attempt is made to judge the quality of the food served, which suggests to me that the authors have never eaten at most of the restaurants included.
At least by daylight I can read the text and the maps without switching to reading glasses. I have to acknowledge that there are many beautiful photos, even though I don't carry a guide book for its photos.
Book Review: Travel guide with a unique perspective
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Wouldn't it be great to have a travel guide that provided unique suggestions and opinions instead of just the standard fare?
This Lonely Planet guide is a great tool for planning any trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. The book is broken into sections to cover nine different geographical areas with a unique perspective.
Each section starts with a variety of diverse itineraries tailored to the time you have available: two days, four days and beyond. Each itinerary is also geared towards your preferences. There are places to visit for history buffs, hikers and those who love the water.
The sections are also packed with suggestions for eating, drinking, sights, activities, accommodations, and entertainment. Within each of these categories, the authors flag their favorites. Insets provide additional detail about history, language and links to other sites for even more information.
The two features though that really make the guide stand out are the interviews with local Hawaiians from specific area and the suggested detours. The interviews provide a more in depth flavor for the regions. Each person speaks about the changes that have taken place in the area and why it is such a special place. The detours are provided to give travelers an opportunity to stray from the standard tourist itinerary and try something with more local flavor.
The guide also has great reference information for overall travel and for specific activities. For example, the outdoor activity section has a table with all the information you could ever need for getting diving and snorkeling equipment during your trip.
Overall, this guide is a fantastic source of information, unique perspectives and ideas.
Book Review: The Sublime Beauty of Hawaii
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
If you're planning on going to Hawaii, don't leave without this very useful Lonely Planet guide, which now has a new colorful and lively layout, that makes the beauty of Hawaii even more enticing, as it pleases the eye as it informs. This great guide has 35 themed itineraries, loads of maps, and full color photos. Even if you weren't planning on going to Hawaii, after looking through this book, you may change your mind! The varied landscape of this magical island is extraordinary, from the arid Chain of Craters Road that looks like it might be on another planet, to the heavenly realm of the Hamakua Coast, there's nothing quite to compare with Hawaii.
The inside of the front cover gives you lots of handy info you'll need at your fingertips (conversions, exchange rates, business hours, etc.) and then the book is divided into many sections: Best Big Island Experiences/Island Itineraries/Outdoor Activities and Adventures/Green Big Island (environmental issues)/Kailua-Kona/Kona Coast/Kohala and Waimea/Mauna Kea and Saddle Road/Hamakua Coast/Hawaii Volcanoes National Park/Big Island Myths and Legends. Each location section has suggestions for "Eating," "Drinking and Entertainment," and "Sleeping," and the book finishes with the stuff you have to know, like an overview of the history and culture, food and drink, an events calendar, transportation, and much more. And if you go to the Lonely Planet website, you can download a handy Hawaiian Language and Glossary for free. Mahalo Lonely Planet!