Hit the beach and snorkel amid the coral reefs of a sunken volcanic crater, take a road trip past lava deserts and steaming craters, belly up to a 180-foot
seafood buffet in Waikiki, or hit the links on the slopes of Mt. Olomana —Fodor's Hawaii 2005 covers all these experiences and more!

Wanna surf Oahu's famous North Shore? Trek across the Big Island's active lava flows? Or just lazily sun yourself on Maui's golden beaches? Whenever Hawaii calls, this definitive guide puts detailed coverage of all the islands at your fingertips, plus mo' bettah advice to help you plan the perfect getaway.

This history of the Hawaiian kingdom, its people, and its government was written by educators in the schools of Hawai‘i. The original book by Norris W. Potter and Lawrence M. Kasdon, Hawaii: Our Island State, was revised and updated by Ann Rayson, Associate Professor at the University of Hawai‘i, to fulfill the need for a textbook specifically covering the historical period from the Western discovery of Hawai'i by Captain James Cook in 1778 to the annexation of Hawai‘i by the United States in 1898. This revision, titled The Hawaiian Monarchy, has been in print since 1983.

This popular volume introduces the many historical threads that make up the tapestry of the Hawaiian Island chain. Along with detailed, full-color maps, this illustrated text brings to life the diverse landscapes and cultures of Hawaii in one concise source.

With photographs, paintings by Tom Freeman, and soldier and civilian testimonies, Pearl Harbor: The Day of Infamy An Illustrated History memorializes a day of bitterness, sorrow and resolve for many Americans. Author Dan van der Vat (The Good Nazi) finds that "America's worst military disaster" became "her greatest triumph." Sen. John McCain's introduction expresses no ill will toward the Japanese, and van der Vat tells part of the story from the points of view of various Japanese soldiers: e.g., the ensign who bombed the U.S.S. Oklahoma, a bomber pilot who "had never felt so scared" and afterward "felt so sad and lonely to see all the empty beds."

Funny thing about Judy and Mel Malinowski. They live in Northern California, and are certified scuba divers who have traveled to more than 50 countries around the planet. Yet they prefer the freedom of snorkeling, and they keep coming back to Hawaii. The result of their love affair with Hawaii is a series of exceptional guidebooks to the best snorkeling sites in Hawaii. With simple prose that is eloquent with aloha, their books are extended love letters to Hawaii's best reefs. The authors preach respect for moana and aina, and gush over the more extravagant snorkeling sites while warning of problems. Detailed and accurate maps and charts can put even a hopeless twit in the right spot for a delightful diving adventure, and the text leaves readers with a sense of history, Hawaiian culture, geography, oceanography and aloha. They have achieved a rare balance in presenting essential elementary information to help beginners, and insightful revelations to keep experts interested. Their series includes books about the Big Island and Maui/Lanai, but the Malinowskis are happily plunging into field research to cover the rest of the islands - Greg Ambrose Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Kauai Trailblazer is an outstanding guide for families and outdoor enthusiasts with an interest in hiking and exploring Kauai, one of the Hawaiian islands. Featured are "user friendly" descriptions of 199 hikes and strolls to mountain ridges, tropical gardens, beaches, jungles, coves, reefs, historic landmarks, ancient ruins, swamps, craters, forests, coastal bluffs, tide pools, towns, canyons, waterfalls, and river valleys. Details are provided for 68 beach (22 of which are only accessible by trail), 42 snorkeling polls (island favorites and hidden coves), 61 mountain bike rides, 27 kayaking waters (13 rivers and steams, 14 bays and lagoons), and 36 surfing spots. The informative text is enhanced with 10 maps and 130 photographs, resource links, and appendices of Hawaiian words, place names, movie locations, hula performances, farmer's markets, wether, flora, history and philosophy. If you are Kauai bound, begin with a thorough perusal of Kauai Trailblazer!

The amazing story of the thirteen-year-old surfer girl who lost her arm in a shark attack but never lost her faith -- and of her triumphant return to competitive surfing. Soul Surfer is a moving account of Bethany's life as a young surfer, her recovery in the wake of the shark attack, the adjustments she's made to her unique surfing style, her unprecedented bid for a top showing in the World Surfing Championships, and, most fundamentally, her belief in God. It is a story of girl power and spiritual grit that shows that the body is no more essential to surfing -- perhaps even less so -- than the soul.

Hawai'i's Ambassador of Aloha, Duke Kahanamoku, is remembered for his Olympic medals and as the Father of International Modern Surfing. But those who place leis on his statue in Waikiki equally honor him for his strength of character and the Hawaiian ideals he represented. In this moving tribute, filled with photos of Duke, his story and Hawai'i's are intertwined.

For more than twenty-five years, FalconGuide® has set the standard for outdoor recreation guidebooks. Written by top outdoors experts and enthusiasts, each guide invites you to experience the endless adventure and rugged beauty of the great outdoors. Surfing Hawaii is your comprehensive guide to the Hawaiian Islands' best breaks-from classic surf spots to lesser-known waves. Let international surfing legend Rod Sumpter show you where to ride the waves from Honolua Bay on Maui and Banzai Pipeline on Oahu to Magic Sands on the Big Island and Nawiliwili Lihue on Kauai. Look inside for: Complete write-ups of 68 featured surf spots, plus key info on 241 more Best tide height, swell direction, and wave size for each featured site Surf spots for all skill levels, from beginner to expert The lowdown on hazards and localism At-a-glance information on break types and best boards Advice on avoiding the crowds and finding the breaks

Jaws Maui is much more than banzai surfers defying gravity on moving walls of blue. It is the photography of Blue Max, whose colorful, full-paged shots juxtapose landscape and seascape, faunal quietude vs. rolling thunder. And it is the words of the wave riders themselves, waxing their boards poetic about the beauty of the island, surfculture, and the spirit that relentlessly calls them to the water. This stirring salute to a place called Jaws on the island of Maui is a must for anyone ever wowed by the waves.--D.G. McDonald

Eileen Root's book on Hawaii'an and English names is an excellent reference for writers and for those who are looking for names for their children. The first half is a list of Hawaii'an names and their definitions. The second half is a list of Anglo names and their Hawaii'an equivalent. This is a must have for those interested in finding authentic Hawaii'an names for your research.

"There is simply no one alive who could do what Herb Kane has done for the understanding of precontact Hawaii. We should all be grateful that such an accomplished artist also possesses considerable research skills and the ability to display them. One gets all three in this splendid paean to Kane's ancestors. ANCIENT HAWAII is a beautiful and understandable look at Hawaii before the arrival of Captain Cook. One would have to travel the world to see this collection of Herb Kane's paintings and drawings, and spend hundreds of hours in the library to get this sort of understanding and feeling for the precontact Hawaiian world.
Herb Kane is the real thing. The book is for everyone."

If you want the best of Hawaii, go no further. Keali'i Reichel is professional, masterful, insightful, committed and innovative. Many of his songs are in the Hawaiian language, beautiful and lyrical. He also has English-language songs that are a significant cut above a lot of the other English-lyric stuff coming out of the islands. You can hear the kindness of his soul, his love of the land and his committment to the music coming through in every song.

Hawaiian slack-key guitar began evolving in the 1830s, when Spanish and Mexican cowboys brought guitars to the cattle ranches of the Big Island. It became a recognizable style around the turn of the century. The term refers to the practice of slacking some strings from standard tunings to create open tunings; the thumb provides the bass line while the other fingers play melody and improvise. It might thus remind some listeners of the fingerpicking of a country master like Doc Watson, but the style has a wind-blown, wide-open quality all its own. Traditionally an accompanying instrument in a group setting, slack key has recently moved out front, and this all-instrumentals CD shows why. From the light touch of Moses Kahumoku or Leonard Kwan to the bluesiness of George Keo or Ray Kane to the pop feel of Keola Beamer, it offers the best possible introduction to the music. --John Morthland

I recently saw Makana play at the Kilahuea theater in Kauai and was blown away by his guitar playing and his energetic style. I had purchased this CD a day earlier and wanted to see with my own eyes that the guy could really play this traditional but crisp collection of Hawaiian songs live. I was not dissapointed. He is part of a new breed of Hawaiian young players that is injecting new energy into slack key playing. This is my second favorite Hawaiian CD of all time, next to Iz's Facing Future. An amazing performer, and a nice singer to boot. - D. Garcia

"The Best of The Brothers Cazimero III" includes songs that have been performed in classic Cazimero style. Each of these songs will bring back a memory, because the music of The Brothers Cazimero has been imprinted on every celebration, every occasion, every relationship to Hawaii for the past 25 years.

With this collection of Hawaiian language and hapa haole songs, Raiatea Mokihana Maile Helm of Moloka'i takes her vocals "one whole step higher." For those of you who are musical, the highest note she sings is the A above high C. If you listen to "Far Away Heaven" and then this one, you'll definitely hear a difference in her voice. On this CD, it's much deeper, louder, and more mature. Highlights include "'Alika," the Aunty Genoa Keawe hit, "Kalama Ula" with her father Zachary Helm, "Hu'i E" with Aunty Genoa herself, "Haole Hula" with Keali'i Reichel, and a cover version of the jazz standard "At Last." A recommended CD for fans of Raiatea and other Hawaiian musicians, especially female falsetto singers!

Lyle Ritz and Herb Ohta prove that in the right hands, the ukulele can swing! Certainly jazz is not the first kind of music people think of when regarding the ukulele, but the two ukulele virtuosi exceed all expectations and challenge the status quo with this rare performance. "A Night of Ukulele Jazz Live at McCabe's" is a must have for Jazz and ukulele lovers alike!

Whether it's ukulele music, the island exotica of Martin Denny, the lounge crooning of Don Ho, or the slack key acoustic guitar tradition, many styles of music have emerged from the jeweled necklace in the Pacific known as Hawaii. Over the course of five albums, popular singer Keali'i Reichel (pronounced kay-ah-LEE-ee rye-SHELL) touches on both commercial adult contemporary songcraft and traditional ukulele and hula dance accompaniment--he was a noted hula dance instructor and cultural historian before becoming a professional musician. The Grammy-nominated Ke' Alaokamaile is the singer's tribute to his family, singing about his ancestors and his own life so far. While there a gloss on many of these contemporary songs (even when sung Hawaiian) that no doubt gives them a broad pop appeal--Reichel also does a sentimental but somewhat empty version of Sting's "Fields Of Gold"--the traditional songs are strong enough to prove Reichel's versatility. Purists will likely have problems with some of Ke'alaokamaile, but Reichel's legions of fans will swallow it whole. –-Tad Hendrickson