Hawaii Books

This book got us through Hawaii. We brought two books with us and definitely found this one the most useful and helpful. We were on the four biggest islands and each island was outlined and easy to use. I recommend this book!

Our First trip to Hawaii and this book was the best ever! As a family, we reviewed the topics and what we loved to do while on vacation; we then selected our preferred island; and then selected our accomodations based on Idiot's Guide recommendations. This book hit the mark! We learned a lot before we went and valued its recommendations while there.

I bought this book for my parents to take with them on their first trip (50th anniversary) to Hawaii. I've been to Hawaii several times and have had several guide books. I love this one the best. It it easy to read, larger print than some of the guide books, written so that it is entertaining to read. What I love the best is that every page has side bar lists that rank the same things, i.e, most romantic restaurant, restaurants with ocean view, best breakfasts, etc. I came online to re-order myself one (since I keep borrowing my parent's gift back!), only to find that it is out of print. ...

Great book - and useful information. My wife and I have been to Hawaii now quite a few times and this book still seems to be essential for us. We bring it on every trip. We have been to Maui, Honolulu and the Big Island too with this book.

The book is presented in a predictable yet interesting format. The information about attractions, accommodations and food is accurate and well presented. The maps are useful. Every few pages there are a few key boxes that describe or highlight an interesting point - for example alerts, tourist traps, local culture, advisories etc. Of all the Hawaii books I've seen (and own) this still stands out as one of the most useful and best! I strongly suggest purchasing this book.

An outstanding overall guide to Hawaii--The best feature is a "quiz" which helps you decide which island(s) you will find most enjoyable. It has general advice on visiting Hawaii, how to get the best deals, etc., followed by a chapter on each of the major islands. It does not cover islands a new visitor is less likely to visit, such as Lanai and Molokai. The specific chapters on each island give useful coverage of major attractions or activities, and very detailed commentary on a limited number of hotels/resorts/B&Bs. I highly recommend the book, but once you have decided to visit, I recommend that you buy specific books covering the island(s) you want to visit. If you want to spend more than a few days on a given island, you will probably want more detailed coverage than given in this book. Despite this, the book is VERY valuable for a first-time visitor who wants to figure out the who, what, where, why and how of a Hawaiian vacation.

Riddle has created an important book for aviation history, and Hawaii. The story of John Rodgers is as interesting and compelling as that of Lindbergh, if not more so. Riddle tells an incredible tale of aeronautical heroism, and provides amazingly personal insight to the days of flying boats and derigibles. Bravo!

Bill Riddle's writing style in "Dead Downwind" is unique, in that it is clean and easy to read without being "dumbed down." He throws in a smattering of informative tidbits that betray his strong affections for sailing, aeronautics, and (particularly) his home state of Hawaii. He writes with authority and confidence, which is pretty surprising - I believe that DDW is his debut as an author - and it is an entertaining and engrossing read. Once you hit the second half of the book, it becomes quite hard to put down. All in all, very enjoyable!

The screenplay, "Hawaii Calls" is a dramatically written script about this same story. It was created two years ago by Rick Helin, a California screenwriter. Since then, the script has received multiple honors among screenwriting competitions and is presently in pre-production for a full-length feature film.

The author did an excellent job of making the reading feel you are part of the history unfolding in this story. For anyone interested in historical novels - this is a MUST read.

An amazing story capturing a breathtaking ten days when America was at a crossroads in aviation history. Mr. Riddle masterly inserts wonderful historical photographs that add to the visual history of this exciting time in naval history and 1920 Hawaii. A love story, a history, a thriller,...all the above.

Well-written and rich with up-to-date local information. We will travel with it later this year. Some minor editing glitches.

I love the Big Island, and every time we go I like to get a new guide book to find the new cool things we haven't done yet, and THIS BOOK has lots of COOL ideas of places to go and things to do as well as lots of information about the traditions and also about local flora and fauna. And, better yet, it's funny! As a busy mom of 3 kids, I don't get a lot of time to read so even planning a vacation, I want to be entertained. And I was while I was reading this book. Great stuff like comparing a maze at a botanical garden to the one in Harry Potter. You can tell the authors had fun with this one. I also really loved all of the quotes by famous people that they included. It also provided helpful information about Hawaiian culture and history, which I shared with my kids to help them enjoy and learn about the island. We love b&bs and this offered a lot of choices. It really helped us appreciate our recent trip so much more. I wish I'd had it years ago!!!!

There are lots of guidebooks out there, and if you're planning a trip to Hawaii, this should definitely be one of them! Fryklund and Reeder pull the best the Big Island has to offer into this information-packed volume in the Hunter Adventure Guide series. Literary and Hawaiian quotes abound, making it an enjoyable read as well. Full color illustrations and photos - this is on my list of recommended books for anyone visiting the Big Island!

This is one of the best guidebooks I've ever read. It has 500 pages and then there's also bonus material on a website. I could never do everything in this book even if I had a year of vacation instead of two weeks. But it'll be fun to try. Definitely like the chapter on Hawaii Volcanoes National Park . It talks so much about hikes and drives and how to see lava, but also about the native songbirds and the goddess Pele and her "curse." Good stuff.

I had hoped to find a new guidebook for the Island of Hawaii. Sadly, this was not it. The book may be OK as an overview for a first trip to the island (week or less) but it is too superficial to be of enduring use.

The Aloha Shirt: Spirit of the Islands is unique, as a historical and artistic book documenting the Aloha shirt, from its historic beginnings as a cottage industry, to the multi-billion dollar industry it is today. This definitive text has been extensively researched, with textile artists, designers, garment manufacturers and their families and friends all contributing to the consistency of the history as researched by Dale Hope. An educational and artistic book bringing over 500 aloha shirts with their Hawaiian inspired origins paralleled with the history and times of Hawaii. For those who have memories of Hawaii, and for those who share their memories to others, this elegant coffee table book is a "must have" for all!

If Hawaii or the aloha shirt has ever gladdened your heart, you'll want to own THE ALOHA SHIRT. Dale Hope conveys the TRUE SPIRIT (colorful, soft, peaceful, flowing) of the Hawaiian Islands by presenting both the fascinating history of the aloha shirt and 500 or so beautiful illustrations. These illustrations are so varied and exquisite that you'll get high just by perusing them. They also help you see how the aloha shirt can be an art form in and of itself. Hopefully, this book will inspire people to wear their aloha shirts more often -- not just when they visit Hawaii -- and to buy the new ones that are being created by the best artist designers.

Dale Hope grew up in the Hawaiian garment industry, taking over his father's clothing business at the age of 26. As the art director of Kahala Sportswear, Hope oversees the creation and manufacturing of 150 new Aloha shirt designs annual. In The Aloha Shirt: Spirit Of The Islands, Hope collaborates with writer Gregory Tozian to offer a magnificent, coffee-table artbook dedicated to the history of the unique and famous Hawaiian shirt style. This impressive treatise covers the history of Hawaiian clothing, the evolution of the tailor shop into the modern clothing factories, the designers, textiles, printmakers, and retailers that made the Hawaiian "aloha shirt" famous around the world. There are chapters focusing on Duke Kahanamoku, celebrities, shirt makers of the 60s, labels and buttons, and aloha shirt collectors. Profusely and beautiful illustrated, the text is informative, at times fascinating, and highly recommended for students of American clothing history and fads in general, and Hawaii's contributions to the garment industry and American popular culture in particular.

I loved this book, it is helpful to my collecting and my selling. It has wonderful pictures, and I love the section on '60's makers and just the way it is arranged in general is helpful and makes for fascinating reading. The only thing I would like to see with this book is a name index; this would make it so much more helpful as a reference. I do highly recommend it though, as a reference or just as a coffee table book.

Wow, what a book!! Having been previously lightly infected by the `Aloha Shirt' bug, after having read this beautiful book, I became incurably and terminally struck down. Profusely illustrated from the collections of many well-known and extremely lucky collectors, this book has become my bedside bible. The research is also first-class, following the development of the Aloha shirt from a fun thing, to a full-blown industry. I now live and breath THE shirt. Buy this book and like me, change your life.

Everything you've ever wanted to know about snorkel swimming is in this great book, from "The Basics" to "Underwater Photography." Anyone in average health, who can swim, can don a mask and peer beneath the waters. Its low-impact aerobics and a great way to keep fit. Snorkeling has become a family affair with fish-watching and photography the main focus.

You will find tips on a variety of snorkeling trips and activities in this informative book. Choices vary from sail-snorkel trips on shallow-draft catamarans or trimarans, glass-bottom-boat tours, snorkel-with-the-dolphins tours; the list goes on and on. Each snorkeling site is graded for interesting marine life, visibility, and water clarity with one to five "starfish."

Helpful hints concerning snorkels, how to choose the proper fins, anti-fog solutions, and how to avoid sunburn are all discussed. Dos and Don'ts advise that you always swim with a dependable buddy and warnings as to what not to touch.

The best reef-front resorts, starfish-rated beaches and boat-entry sites are included as well as Manatee tours. Where to find shallow shipwrecks, the best coral gardens, underwater photo trips and snorkeling cruises are all included in this wonderful book. Also included are twelve pages of fantastic underwater photography.

If you are a snorkeling enthusiast, this book is a must have. It is a valuable guide to snorkeling sites and islands. Information includes detailed maps, photos, tours offered, and important information you need to make a wise vacation choice.

I found the reviews very helpful in deciding where I wanted to plan my nest trip... I went to the Galapagos with Aquatic Encounters, and it was so fantastic, it is beyond description

This is must-have book for both the beginner and experienced travelling snorkeler. It is a thoughtful guide to the best places to visit and great tips on what to look for in the way of unique marinelife once you get there. It should be a companion in every dive bag.

The book has very brief descriptions of snorkeling sites at a large number of different places. Most, but not all are Caribbean islands. There are also descriptions of other "traditional" snorkeling places, such as the Yucatan Penninsula and Hawaii. And there are two large sections on snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Islands. Several snorkeling sites are listed at each separate location, and useful advice and information is given for most. All sites are rated on a 1 to 5 "starfish" point system. About the only criticism I have of the book is that much of the hotel information seems to be pulled directly from the hotel's advertising about themselves. A little more independent commentary would be nice. The information is still useful as a starting point. Finally, for each location, there is useful information on weather, how to get there, and when to go. If you have the first edition of this book, I see little reason to purchase this new edition, however. I do wish a few other sites or activities had been included, in particular snorkeling with whale sharks off Northwest Australia. That's something that interests me, but there seems very little information on it out there. If you travel to snorkel, and don't have the First Edition, GET THIS ONE!

This is the best book for snorkeling I've ever found. The other books are so vague, they don't tell me much of anything. This one describes all the neat places to walk in from the beach and go snorkeling, how rough or calm the area is, how to get to various snorkeling beaches once I get there, whether the kids can safely swim in each area. It also has all the resorts that have snorkeling off their beaches, which is really nice for people traveling with small children and the airlines and travel stuff we need.

I found an electronic copy of Formosa Betrayed on the internet ... and read it through the wee hours of night, after putting my kids to bed, for four days until I finished the book. It is captivating and masterfully written; the truth told with authority by a former American vice consular to Taiwan who was there to witness the atrocities of the Chiang Kai Shek regime right after WWII. I felt a sense of relief after reading this book for some reason. Telling and documenting the truth about the "Taiwan experience" post-WWII is dangerous, but had to be done by someone who was raised up for just that task. Thanks Mr. Kerr for being there and for writing this piece of Taiwan's history confirming Taiwan's status as separate from China. From now on I'll sleep soundly as a Taiwanese American knowing that the truth has been revealed and any one can read it, if they dare.

I saw the content on the WEB. Is it true that KMT owned the copy right of this book after it was published and it is never printed since the first edition? My parents would not get me in trouble by talking about the "228" incident.

KMT has a lot of ways to suppress people's political functions. I remember that I need to submit a Letter of Assurance from the third party prior to get into the university admittance. The letter stated he or she guarantee my loyal to the "Country" and I do not participate the Chinese Communist. Otherwise he or she will be punished the same degree as me. Can you believe it? It was in 1968.

I remember my classmates disappeared before a city mayor election. The anti-KMT candidate was elected. These pro-anti-KMT candidate classmates never come back. Ten years later this anti-KMT candidate joined KMT and be nominated as the mayor of Kaohsiung. At that time KMT change the rule so that they can appointed the mayor without election.

I hope Mr. Kerr's book can be printed again one day.

This book tells the truth and what really happened in Taiwan when KMT occupied Taiwan. It helps not only all Taiwanese but also people around the world to realize how Taiwanese have been suffering from KMT's dictatorship. Unfortunately, KMT still exists in this country. I very much hope that this book will be printed again so that it can be available to everyone who wants to understand the true history of Taiwan.

Am not too crazy with the paternalistic tone of the writing--an intimation of "whiteman's burden" almost. But aside from this seemingly carping criticism, Lt. Kerr is an excellent chronicler of the lamentable saga which we Taiwanese have come to know as the "228 Incident."

As a 1978 born young Taiwanese.....I never know the bloody incident of 228. As I recall my childhood memory I always heard my grandpop discuss this events quitely with his close friend. However..every time when I try to enter his room to listen their discussion, my grandpop always told me"such discussion is too dangerous for you". I never understand why my grandpop forbided me to listen their discussion...After I finished this book I understand my grandpop's pain and anguish.

Great book, all instructions are very well written and patterns are well done, can't wait to get started on this project!

Love it

Perfect book for the beginning quilter who wants to make a first attempt at a Hawaiian quilt. This small blocks are perfect to get a taste of the techniques involved and to improve your skills.

I found this book to be absolutely great!! There is a great variety of easy, medium, and more challenging blocks to complete in this book. Also, there is a good variety of designs amongst the blocks. Each block is represented in color on the front and back covers. The rest of the book is in black and white. Root also gives you an idea of how each block could be quilted. Although I only have 1 thing that I would change, and it's probably just my own personal curiousity but nonetheless, I wish the blocks had a little tid bit of their own history saying why that design came to be immortalized in a quilt. The book still deserves 5 stars!

Very well constructed book, with excellent drawings of patterns and thorough instructions included. There are additional graphics depicting suggested quilting ideas, which, for the novice hawaiian quilter, such as myself, is an excellent tool to create an outstanding finished result. Her patterns are full sized so you do not need to re-size the patterns to use them. You can trace or copy them for use. Overall, an excellent hawaiian quilting instruction book.

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend. It beautifully portrays two of his most favorite things, surfing and Maui. You will not believe how amazing the photos are in this book. And each page is covered edge to edge in full color pictures giving you the feeling that you were actually there watching from the overlook.

I'm naming one of my children Laird; what a stud, eah? A friend had this large surfer pictorial coffee table book back in 97, and 10 years later it's still the best book I've ever seen on the subject. It has some of the finest photographs ever taken of large wave surfing (the cover is not just a one-off) and some of the preeminent accompanying text that ever existed about surfing (heartfelt philo; but intelligent, not loadie). Other than Surfer magazine, I believe this book was the first to show the new era of tow-in surfing, and the story of the heroes who created it. It's complete - and the first edition is no doubt a collectors piece for surfers. To my mind the movie Riding Giants should have clearly stated "inspired by the book Jaws Maui", because it's essentially the same thing in a different medium (and also highly recommended).

There is this marvelous line in the book - one of the hardcore crew basically answering the question about why Laird is so much better than anyone else. His answer was stellar; something along the lines of ~yeah - he's insane - "he's doing this for entirely different reasons". Absolutely classic. Absolutely frickin' classic. I'm just now getting the book (or I'd give you the exact quote) but what a glorious and magnificent line. I was devastated when it didn't make it into the movie Riding Giants.

I think this was one of the best thriller stories of its time. I personnally think it also is one the best water thrillers ever. I think any who is scared of the water should read this book.

Jaw Maui has much more to offer than your average coffee-table book. It is an incredible blending of inspirational writing and insightful interviews with the watermen themselves. Charlie & Leslie Lyon have done a great job letting us in on the inner workings of these accomplished athletes. Everyone that visits us gets a chance to read Jaws, and has come away mightily impressed (and longing for a trip to Maui!).

If anyone out there either surfs or enjoy's Surfing as a way of life, this book is for you! Go out there and purchase this book! Jaws is more than a book, the colourful pages come alive in front of you, looking at Laird Hamilton coming down the faces of massive 50+foot surf, it's like your right there below him (holding the camera) Blue Max did an amazing job of illustrating these waves for us, I was lucky enough to have visited Maui, for others out there, what are you waiting for..? Killer Waves..Best Surfers in the world.. see it all..? or save your money and buy this book

aloha Jim Mellanis :-)

Johnny Paycheck and Dolly Parton probably had the wrong manager.
The employees in the songs, "Take this Job and Shove It," and "Working 9-to-5" never had bosses who managed with aloha.
Rosa Say, former vice-president of operations for Hualalai Development Corp., proposes that Hawaii is optimally suited to lead the world in the pursuit of values-centered business, because we live with something good and right by its very nature: Aloha and all it embraces.
"When I became a manager I quickly figured out I couldn't keep aloha in the background," Say writes. "I had to pay better attention to it and welcome it into my management performance with open arms."
According to Say aloha worked wonders.
"I realized that aloha was a statement of personal truths for me, my own source to look inward to," Say wrote. "When I released it, aloha made my job easier and it made me more effective in delivering the results that were expected of me."
"Managing with Aloha" explores 19 different Hawaiian values, and in the tradition of Hawaiian culture expert Dr. George Kanahele, the book demonstrates how managers can bring these universal values into every kind of business practice today.
Say, founder of Say Leadership Coaching, draws on many examples of how she put these values into profitable practice in her own successful career as a manager, and she shares her common-sense approaches to blending the social and economic goals of business enterprise in ways that define a Hawaiian sensibility for the way we work.
"Rosa Say has authored a classic work in her application of a powerful set of Hawaiian values designed to produce material excellence in the workplace," said Peter Apo, director of the Hawaiian Hospitality Institute.
"After reading this book it will dawn on you that if you are not managing with aloha, you are underperforming."
"Managing With Aloha" explores such things as:
- How can you define the truly authentic culture-based values of your business?
- What is "sense of place" and why is it so important?
- Is aloha spirit something you train everyone in, or is it something you specifically hire for?
- What would the "mea hookipa" (service provider) of old Hawaii specifically teach us about the elements of good customer service?
- How can values bring a language of intention to your work environment?
- What can you do right now, today (keia manawa), and how can you be a great manager?
- What more must you learn to hoomau (continue to persevere) and imua (go forward)?
"'Managing with Aloha' is a must read by anyone dealing with the contemporary challenges of corporate management," said Doug Chang, general manager of the Hotel Hana Maui. "It's a well-organized and easily navigated book on Hawaiian values and their practical application to the workplace."

I found it challenging to write about Rosa Say's book Managing With Aloha. The book-actually, the very idea of the book-touches me in so many places that I didn't know how to begin or where to end. There was no way for me to write about this book without writing about myself as well. So, if you are looking for objectivity, you won't find it here.

Questions about values have been near the heart of my own work for nearly thirty years, but I have never seen such a beautiful and comprehensive treatment of one person's lessons and joys within the dance that values and work must do if the work is to be done with integrity. I am also envious because my own traditional values were dimmed by the emigration of my ancestors to the US, by their desire to assimilate, and by my own indifference. This is not to say that I have no values, or that I do not know what they are, but that there is something deep and profound in Rosa's knowledge that I suspect I can never experience. While paging through this book I was visited by the same sense that often overtakes me while strolling the less populated streets of ancient European cities: Brugge or Bath perhaps, or Pisa. It is a sense of deep rootedness and profound import: a sense that the place (this book) is significant in ways that I cannot appreciate or even fully understand.

The book also resonates with recent work of my own. Not too long ago I interviewed twenty accomplished, recognized leaders to discover how leaders win the commitment of others at different levels: intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. I found that the ability to integrate values with the work of leadership is crucial to winning the highest levels of commitment. I call this ability Enacting Beliefs. A Jewish elder, a Catholic sports mogul, the Buddhist mayor of a town in Arizona, and others, all either spoke of enacting their beliefs or performed the dance of values and work so naturally that they thought it barely deserved comment. Rosa shines light on this ability with detail and clarity that I very much admire.

Then too, Rosa quite rightly insists on the nobility of management as a calling, which is an affirmation of my own insistence that all work can be thought of and done artfully if it is approached by the whole person as an endeavor of the spirit and not merely a job.

I recommended Managing With Aloha to a friend whose business is helping young Jewish leaders bring traditional Jewish values to their leadership roles. I told my friend, "You don't have to be Hawaiian to appreciate the lessons in this book about how to bring your values to your work." If you aspire to that kind of integrity, I recommend it to you also.

An excellent managment book that takes traditional Hawai'ian cultural values, and places them into a management framework so that organizational mission and respect and development of individuals can occur simultaneously. Although the book is written from a Hospitality industry standpoint, the concepts can be applied to any industry anywhere. This book has been most helpful in bridging the cultural barrier of my traditional US Mainland experiences with the pan-Asian business culture environment. The book is a relatively short, easy read with many real life examples of how to apply the core concepts. I highly recommend this book.

Managing with Aloha is written to help managers become more successful. This in itself doesn't make the book unusual or outstanding; there are hundreds of books about managerial effectiveness.

What makes it stand out is that the reader is taught these lessons from the perspective of the Hawaiian culture - specifically 18 values. The author weaves her vast management experience into each chapter - one for each of the 18 values. As a reader you learn from Rosa's experiences, you learn about the values of the Hawaiian Islands and you begin to see how these values are more than Hawaiian - they are universal in their application.

The use of Hawaiian terms in the book may seem at first to be a bit challenging as a reader, but these native words and phrases quickly become a part of the reading experience.

Rosa Say is a proud Hawaiian, an experienced manager and a talented writer. Reading this book will allow you appreciate these three things - the things that separate this book from the vast number of books for managers.

I highly recommend this book, and Rosa's blog, Talking Story as well. (http://www.sayleadershipcoaching.com/talkingstory/)

So I finally completed reading Managing With Aloha by Rosa Say of Say Leadership Coaching, and so it is time to reflect on what I have learned. I have a few key points to share, and an overall feeling from the book.

Nānā i ke kumu - Look to your source, and find your truth. This is the chapter I just finished, and the one that will stick in my head the longest. Looking to my source to find my truth, I find myself surrounded by those I care for deeply, and realize that I have many to be thankful for.

The other truth I have is lifelong learning, and the reflection time that comes with reading a new book or magazine and learning something I knew little or nothing about. It's why I have Rosa's book in my hands and have been reading for the past 2 months to get it completely.

Aloha - If you were like me, before I started reading Rosa's Talking Story blog and her book, I thought Aloha was simply a greeting. Aloha as in hello, and aloha as in goodbye. Now I realize Aloha is a value of unconditional love, and the outpouring and receiving of the spirit. Wow, now that's a word that says so much more than "Hey!" Again, getting back to my truth, I realize that I must do a better job of sharing my Aloha with my family, friends, direct reports, peers, and supervisors, and really everyone in my world. I need to slow down and let people know how much I appreciate them, and how much Aloha I have for them.

The last thing I learned is that one must strive for Pono, or rightness and balance. This is something that I am often guilty of not having as much as I would like to have. I am happily content in many things in my life, and that helps my balance, but I know there is more that needs to be in balance for me.

My overall feeling of Managing With Aloha is one of awe, for there are so many values in the book that one can learn from, and put into practice, as managers and leaders. Rosa's idea of the Daily Five Minutes is my favorite, and can be quite simply summed up as taking 5 minutes each day to spend in a comfortable place with a direct report and let them tell you what's going on in her/his life. The key is you have to really listen to hear what's being said, and make the effort to not be judgmental, rather just listen and pay attention.

I also learned that managing and leading are 2 very different things, and one does not need to be a good leader to be a good manager, or be a good manager to be a good leader. Never before was it so clearly laid out as in this wonderful book. I like to think I am an effective manager now, and with practice and continued review of the key concepts in this book, I can only get better.

Make It a Great Day...If you're a manager or leader, buy Managing With Aloha, for you or someone else who wants to become more effective as a manager or a leader. Now in it's second printing, this book is timeless and worth the investment many times over.

As a Honolulu author myself, I look to Glen Grant with great respect and aloha. He started out as a folklore student at the University of Hawaii Manoa, collecting all these great true stories from the generation that built pre-statehood Hawaii; elders who were passing away in the mid to late 80's. Once he gained their trust they began to share Obake (Japanese for ghosts or spirits - THE word used locally) stories with him, stories that had happened to themselves and their families. In Hawaii the spiritual world is very, very near. These stories from Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Scottish Hawaii residents are rich on SO many levels! Historical, sociological, travel, Hawaii, ghosts, and of course: SCARY! Glen was, and through his books remains, a TRUE STORYTELLER. This book is a pleasure- Buy it! Then check out my own Hawaii novel : "Aloha Where You Like Go?" The story of a girl from Philadelphia driving a night taxi in Honolulu and learning about Hawaii, life, herself and (ghosts too) through drugs, sex, motorcycles, and Hawaii culture.
Aloha! Cloudia Charters, WaikikiALOHA Where You Like Go?: From Survival to Satisfaction by Honolulu Taxi

I grew up in Hawaii and while I personally did not encounter these experiences, I have heard many stories, including those of Pele, the Green Lady (who for some reason I was always told to be seen in the bathrooms at elementary schools) and nightmarchers. Those stories spooked me as a kid and still gives me "chicken skin" to this day.

Many people think of Hawaii as an idyllic paradise but don't realize that the mix of cultures also bring various stories, superstitions and legends. I don't think there is one person from Hawaii who has not heard at least some of these stories and we've heard it so many times that it has become ingrained in us. You may doubt, but I think most of us really do believe.

Glenn Grant's Obake Files will forever be in my book collection. I was always a fan of ghost/spooky stories since childhood and the collection of the stories presented in this book captures every spooky feeling I've felt. He is a master storyteller. This is truly a book only Hawaii residents will enjoy and thoroughly relate to.

The creepiest stories in this collection involve those relating to the faceless ghost and the calling spirits. Stories involving Hawaiian legends and specters feel like legends and I think every child raised in Hawaii should know them. The photos are creepy and believably. If anyone liked the movie "The Grudge," they will like the collection of stories in this book.

* Aloha "The Obake Files" Is The Most Intriging Book Of All Time, I Even Mention This Book On My Xanga Site (www.xanga.com/da_kronics_69). I Went As Far As Encourageing Book Readers To Go Out and Purchese It!!. "Glen.Grant" Is My Most Favoroble Author Of All Time His Work Is Excellent For Readers Young and Old His Work Unlocks Many Doors In The Human Mind Of Imagineition If His Work Doesn't Move You In The Belifs Of Supernatural Phenomenom I Don't Know What Book Will. " Glen.Grants" Passion For Bone-Thrilling Tales Have Made Him, Excellirate In Many Area's That Other Authors Olny Could Dream Of ( Well That Is My Opinion On The Author!!). The Story Which He Had Written That Made Me Most Scared Was That Of " The Face-Less Woman" Every-Time I Read That Entriy I Get "Chicken Skin" I Mean isn't That The Purpose Of His Work, To Make The Reader Feel Some Type Of Emotion?!?.While I Just Had To Jott Down My Thoughts Toward This Book Which I Have Done His Death Was A Shock To Me!!, But His Stories and Tales Will Live On Forever!!

This is a well-researched, eminently readable book. I deeply regret that I didn't know about Glen Grant's Haunted Hawaii tours when I went to the Islands several years ago. I found out about them later, and dreamed of going back to go on one -- but now that Glen has passed over, I don't know if anyone else will pick up on this.