Hidden Big Island of Hawaii: Including the Kona Coast, Hilo, Kailua, and Volcanoes National Park

Ray Riegert the author of 8 travel books and Joan Conrow the update author have written the perfect companion for your dream vacation to The Big Island of Hawaii. Though other reviews here state that this book is lite on information I find that hard to believe. I am not a seasoned traveler but found this book to be complete in every imaginable scenario for a traveler's questions. I would definitely purchase this book, it is well organized and easy to use. I think this book would be perfect for any experienced traveler, first time vacationer or even the armchair dreamer.

A truly hidden Hawaii does not exist anymore, thanks to a multitude of guidebooks and millions of tourists. So if you are hoping to find something not touched by tourism on your Hawaiian vacation, you are going to be disappointed regardless of which guidebook you read. Hidden Big Island of Hawaii: Including the Kona Coast, Hilo, Kailua, and Volcanoes National Park is a thorough guide for visiting the popular and the less popular sites. Included in the book are local favorites such as Ken's House of Pancakes; Punaluu Bake Shop; and Green Sand Beaches - and less popular sites such as Waikoloa Petroglyph Field and the original Kamehameha Statue. The book is logically organized so you can follow the listings as you travel down the road. The first third of the book is devoted to Hawaiian history and culture. Too often "ugly Americans" visit Hawaii expecting to experience the Tiny Bubbles Hawaii without understanding and appreciating that Hawaii is a state where people live everyday lives, not one large resort for their pleasure only. Visiting Hawaii offers mainlanders the opportunity to experience a truly unique and diverse culture without leaving the United States. Hopefully, readers will read this section so they can truly appreciate the land and the people they are visiting. The book could benefit greatly from color and quick reference aids. The section on history and culture should be set apart by colored pages, enticing tourists to read them. The guide pages would be easier to thumb through if the listings were differentiated by a color-code system. Colored pages or tabs would distinguish each section. Since Hawaii is unlike any other state, there can be a lot of information to remember, so pictures and lists of items such as flowers and foods would be helpful. Also, the author suggests taking five days to explore the island. A suggested day-by-day itinerary would help readers process the information and focus their visit. The book fails to address one important safety issue. The kamaaina are overwhelming the most loving people you will meet. However, Hawaii, like the rest of America, suffers from an undercurrent of racism. Tourists need to remember that they are the minority either as haoles or mainlanders; a new experience for most. As with visiting any state, they will not be welcomed in certain areas. Violence against mainlanders occurs. Be safe, and ask locals and rangers about the safety of certain areas, especially if you are camping. Grab a copy of Hidden Big Island of Hawaii, and open your mind and heart. As with any vacation, you will need to be flexible because it rains in Hawaii and the lava flow is not always visible. With this guidebook you will be able to find something to do.