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Lonely Planet Hawai'i: The Big Island (Lonely Planet Hawaii the Big Island) (Paperback) (Paperback)
by Luci Yamamoto, Alan Tarbell
| Category:
Travel, Hawaii the Big Island |
| Market price: ¥ 178.00
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¥ 168.00
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| MSL Pointer Review:
The offbeat guide to the Big Island |
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Author: Luci Yamamoto, Alan Tarbell
Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications
Pub. in: August, 2005
ISBN: 1740596919
Pages: 264
Measurements: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
Origin of product: USA
Order code: BA00923
Other information: 2nd edition
ISBN-13: 978-1740596916
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- MSL Picks -
whatever you do, don't substitute the Hawaii Revealed guide for this book. Lonely Planet Hawaii has everything in it. It contains no fluffy puff stuff or downer opinions. Our copy is worn from four weeks on the road and although pretty beat up, we deem it gospel. Traditionally the Lonely Planets are written by real travelers who are objective and write really well. They have no bones to pick. This is no exception.
Target readers:
General readers
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- Better with -
Better with
Lonely Planet New Zealand
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No wonder they call it the Big Island. Volcanoes? Mauna Loa is the biggest on earth. Stargazing? The clearest night skies in the world. Water sports? Why go anywhere else? Big? Absolutely. Adrenaline addicts, beach goers and culture buffs alike, let this guide take you deep into the Hawai'i that only Big Islanders know about.
• CONNECT with the Big Island through chapters written by Hawai'i-born specialists
• FIT FOR A KING - all the best places to catch a traditional luau and enjoy a kalua feast
• FIND YOUR WAY - with more than 50 detailed maps
• ESCAPE to all the hiking hotspots in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
• BE INSPIRED - discover the adrenaline junkie in you with the best outdoor activities
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A sage kupuna (elder) observed today that the Big Island is so beautiful it hurts your eyes; she's right. In this tropical wonder world, azure waves lap at the green-sand beaches and volcanoes flush lava to the sea in a primordial display of fire, boiling water and steam. On this idyll, dolphins and morays, turtles and rays sluice through coves and there's snow for the ski bums, rain forest for the hardy, idyllic beaches for the idle and the world's clearest stargazing.
Like a lover so cherished you conjure pet names in a vain attempt to capture their every essence, so too the Big Island goes by several names: at turns it's Hawaii, the Orchid Isle, and the Volcano Island. It's also the home to Madame Pele, goddess of volcanoes, and Ku, god of war. But above all, it's the superlative island, the singular jewel in the string of Hawaiian beauties making up the archipelago.
What so distinguishes this islands is its geography. The Big Island is so big, you could fit all the major Hawaiian Islands within its borders twice. The entire land mass is five volcanoes fused together, created by eons of magma pulsing from deep within the earth. Stacked layers of lava grew so high that the newly created land eventually emerged from the depths of the sea. The magma is still pumping, new volcanoes are still rising and the Big Island is still growing. Indeed, the newest volcano in the chain is expected to break the surface and unite with the others in as little as 10,000 years - tomorrow in geological terms.
All these tidbits should be sufficient to excite chronic stoics, but you might also consider that the Big Island is the youngest piece of earth on earth, it's the most isolated piece of rock in the world (2500 miles from the closest landmass) and contains so many microclimates you can realistically go from desert to jungle to permafrost in a day. The diverse flora and fauna here will delight the casual visitor and is a bonanza for birders, orchid lovers and entomologists.
As islanders the world over know, thriving on a piece of land amidst a great sea promotes a certain psychology, philosophy and innate, sometimes subconscious, self-reliance that sets these communities apart. On the Big Island, this unique perspective is intensified by wide open spaces, resulting in the least touristed and most mysterious of all the Hawaiian Islands. Here you'll find mavericks and misfits, astronomers and mystics all dipping into the pools of Big Island mana (spiritual power). Much of this power is generated by the gods and goddesses of the land, sea and volcanoes - forces forever worshipped and harnessed by Hawaiians - and you won't have to look long or hard to find ample evidence of this in your travels. Waipi'o Valley, Halema'uma'u Crater, South Point, Mauna Kea and the Place of Refuge - the list of historically, archaeologically and mythologically significant sites is long and varied and even if that leaves you yawning, each is also a place everyone should set their eyes and heart upon at least once.
Still, there's trouble in Paradise, as struggles amongst man, nature, progress and history threaten to upset Hawaii's state of grace. In a certain sense, Hawaii is stuck between a rock and a hard place, with Mother Nature on the one hand and rapacious developers on the other, forever trying to tame her handiwork into hedonistic oases. Drought on the Kona side and lava and tsunamis on the Hilo side are a constant worry. An economy overly dependent on tourism means even higher unemployment in an already anemic job climate, and a heavier reliance on those aforementioned developers.
Nevertheless, nothing defines Hawaii more than the spirit of aloha. Here, this isn't just a cheesy marketing slogan; it translates into genuine friendliness, courtesy and suspension of judgment. Welcome to the Big Island, where you can hike, bike, ski, camp, dive, swim, snorkel, sunbathe, surf and dine finely; this is the place to live your dreams.
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| View all 5 comments |
A reader (MSL quote), Oregon, WI USA
<2007-01-18 00:00>
A sturdy, rugged, and highly portable travel guide, Hawai'i: The Big Island is co-authored by Hawaiian travel experts Luci Yamamoto & Alan Tarbell to provide visitors with everything they need to know about Hawaii, the single biggest island of the Hawaiian chain. More than fifty detailed black-and-white maps and a handful of full- color illustrations reveal the best places to catch a traditional luau and kalua feasts, hiking hotspots, outdoor activity recommendations, flora and fauna information, the best places to stay, and much more. Hawaiian-born specialists guide the reader through the Hawaii that Big Islanders themselves know best, in this conveniently sized and information-packed "must-have" travel guide.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-18 00:00>
On the spur of the moment I took off for Hawaii for ten days of vacation with two guidebooks in hand. Lonely Planet ended up as the guide with the most clout. I drove the entire circuit from KailuaKona to the Volcano National Park to Hilo and it was never dull. It turned me into a petroglyph junkie. There was always something interesting to stop off and see or find. I felt as though I had been away for a month. This one doesn't waste space business bashing and fills its pages with toothy recommendations and selections worth sharing.
I wish I had consulted the book before I booked my room as their Kona listings turned out to be in much better locations than the one I ended up staying at.
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Colin (MSL quote), Pismo Beach
<2007-01-18 00:00>
I used this book and especially liked the writing style. It was witty and intriguing and led me to corners I would have never explored. The authors are opinionated but know how to keep their descriptions in check. Many helpful tips and facts kept it interesting. There are very few good guidebooks for this area. This one outclasses all the rest.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-18 00:00>
What a supremely great vacation. Lonely Planet reigns for this island. Their off the wall advice took us to places where we unbelievably found ourselves alone. The places they recommended to stay were just perfect and so cheap compared to the big hotels. Every morning at breakfast we had a chance to meet other travelers and exchange information. You will only need one guidebook for this island and this is it. The only thing they could improve on is the size of the book. A little bigger would be nice.
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