Pauline Frommer's Hawaii

By Jeanette Foster, Pauline Frommer, David Thompson

Book Overview

Spend Less and See More in Hawaii Are You Ready to Travel Smart? If you'd like to get the most out of your dollar and your trip, this is the guide for you. I put a fresh spin on budget travel, showing you how to see the best for less and how to see it in a more authentic way-the way the locals do. Instead of spending $300 a night for a chain hotel, why not stay at the Wabi-Sabi House on Maui where you can sleep in an enclosed, tranquil treehouse for just $70 a night, or bed down in an oceanfront condo on Kauai for $105 a night? On Oahu, eat a Hawaiian plate lunch at the Rainbow Drive-In for under $4, so you can splurge on dinner. Try Iron Chef champion Seiya Masahara's specialty-Japanese comfort food known as oden, a hotpot of dashi (broth) with long-simmered vegetables-at Hakkei. Let me show you the "other" Hawaii-the one only insiders know about. Listen to slack-key guitar jam sessions on Oahu or volunteer to work with the Hawaii Wildlife Fund on Maui to help endangered sea turtles get a healthy start on life. These are only a few of the great ways to get closer to the culture of Hawaii. Read on for more Happy Travels, Pauline Frommer www.frommers.com/pauline Winner of Best Guidebook for 2006 from the North American Travel Journalists Association ( Pauline Frommer's New York City )

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 047176714X
• ISBN13: 9780471767145
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Frommer's
• Length: 470 Pages
• Weight: 0.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Pauline's Hawaii - excellent for the brain and budget

I've always liked the Frommer guidebooks; they are straightforward, budget-conscious and always have interesting sidebar tidbits that are worth investigating. Highlights from the Hawaii guidebook: * "Best beaches if you're a kid" are listed, but none are on Oahu (where most tourists tend to go.) Pauline does recommend Waikiki Beach for people-watching and the North Shore for water sports. (If you're a beachy person, you might enjoy the scenery and friendly philosophizing on Beach Walks With Rox, a video series filmed on a Hawaii beach - http://beachwalks.tv/) * Kauai beaches are her pick for the best, but she also notes that they have more drownings than other islands. "Never turn your back on the water." She also lists some fun one-of-kind boutiques on Kauai - which is not known for its shopping - and also covers opportunities for volunteer work on the island, in gardens and for whale-counting. * On Oahu, I like her thorough discussion of World War II sites like the Arizona Memorial, Bowfin submarine and battleship Missouri. There are good "local info" sidebars on things like yummy food from island "shrimp trucks," and a frank discussion of the "cheesy and heinous" Polynesian Cultural Center. I appreciate forthright opinions in guidebooks, even when I don't agree with the assertions. * The guidebook has a comprehensive list of annual events - like the Merrie Monarch hula festival - a discussion of why Hawaii prices are sometimes so high for basics (no, it's not just to rip off tourists,) an overview of coral reef "etiquette" for snorkelers/divers and a Hawaiian language glossary. * The Maui section features detailed dining options to fit most budgets. * Great tip from Molokai: you can mail a coconut with a message on it from the Hoolehua Post Office: Post-a-nut. I mean, what kid wouldn't want to do that?! This is excerpted from my review of this guide on my BootsnAll Family Travel Logue, [...] Thanks!

Handbook for Hawaii

Living in Hawaii one often has to reckon with visiting family/friends and this is the book I give them before I send them on their island travels. The information is accurate and practical-the kind of material that helps you meet your travel needs. There are some contemporary cultural events (on Oahu especially) that are covered in the book that will contribute to the Hawaii experience for the first time visitor as well as the returning one.