Hawaii Books

Here we are at the end of the From Sea to Shining Sea, Second Series, and if there is one thing I have learned about the 50th state in the past year it is that the correct spelling is Hawai'i and not Hawaii (but apparently it is still Hawaiians and not Hawai'ians). Not that P.J. Neri explicitly points that out in Introducing the Aloha State, Chapter One of this informative and colorful book. She simply uses the correct spelling about a dozen times on those first two pages. Even if the correct spelling of Hawai'i is not familiar to young readers most of what Neri says come to mind when people think of the state will be: the bombing of Pearl Harbor, lava flows and fountains of fire, pineapples, hula dancing, and ukuleles. Neri builds on that common knowledge to teach young students about the geography, history, government, people and places of the 50th state.

Chapter Two, The Land of Hawai'i, begins with the basic geological fact that the archipelago is not really a group of islands but really the tops of volcanic mountains. The other volumes in this series cover the different geographical regions of each state, but with Hawai'i that is not the case. Instead, Neri explains how each island has a nickname, an island color, and an official island flower or shell (e.g., O'ahu, "The Gathering Place," Yellow, "ilima"). She also covers how the tops of these volcanoes became lush green island paradises over time. However, it turns out there are several different climate regions in the islands (who would have expected a photograph of a snowboarder flying down the snow-covered slopes of Mauna Kea).

Chapter Three, Hawai'i Through History, begins with Polynesian pioneers sailing their canoes 2,000 miles to these islands and becoming the first Hawaiian settlers. Neri explains the Hawaiian culture that developed before getting around to the arrival of the Europeans and the destruction of the islands' sandalwood forests, harvested to be sold to the Chinese, in just 25 years. A section is devoted to the reign of Kamehameha the Great, the chieftain who united all of the islands under his rule, and another to the end of the kapu system. Hawai'i was recognized as an independent kingdom in 1826 by the United States, and what proved to be the undoing of the kingdom was the Great Mahele (land division) of 1848 and the rise of the sugarcane plantations, which eventually lead to the annexationists (if Hawai'i was annexed, then planters would not have to pay taxes to sell its sugar in the U.S.). Hawai'i n the 20th century is the story of pineapple plantations, tourism, the attack on Pearl Harbor, and finally statehood in 1959. However, the final section looks at the economic problems the state has suffered in recent years because economic problems in Asia and September 11th have both significantly reduced tourism to the islands.

Chapter Four, Governing Hawai'i begins with quick looks at the three branches of state government, and then Neri takes us on a tour of Honolulu, the state capital. A map of downtown Honolulu shows the location of key things to see, from the 'Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in the U.S., to the King Kamehaemha the Great Statue and the Aloha Tower. The final chapter is about The People and Places of Hawai'i, with sections devoted to what they do for sports and work, and including a delicious recipe for Hawaiian Tropical Delight, which involves pineapples, coconut, mangos, mandarin oranges, and miniature marshmallows. Neri also covers Native Hawaiians today before taking her young readers on a tour of Hawai'i island by island to point out what you can see and do on each (how many people who visit Hawai'i actually visit all eight of the big islands?). The accompanying full color photographs remind you how spectacular the sights are in Hawai'I and the next time I go there I am going to spend more than a half-hour there and leave the airport.

There is additional information throughout the book provide in a series of sidebar categories. Who's Who is Hawai'i highlights key figures from Father Damien and Lydia Paki Kamekaha Lili'uokalani to Daniel K. Inoye and Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. Find Out More sidebars suggest topics for further research (e.g., what is being done to save the Hawaiian monk seal from extinction), while the Extra! Extra! sidebars explain the hula dance and the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Other sidebars are devoted to Famous Firsts (e.g, first revolving restaurant), What's in a Name? (e.g., Mauna Loa means "long mountain"), and a few key words of Hawaiian under the heading Special Language (e.g., "hale" means house). These little tidbits can help punch up a school report on Hawai'i.

The back of the book offers a Hawai'i Almanac consisting of two-pages of fast facts about the state seal and flag, key statistics, and a list of various products and state symbols. A Timeline contrasts Hawai'i state history on the top with U.S. history on the bottom, while the Gallery of Famous Hawaiians includes not only Do Ho and Bette Midler, but Jason Scott Lee and Ellison Onizuka. After the Glossary of key turns from "ahupua'a" to "tsunami," Neri provides a page of web sties, books and addresses that young students can turn to For More Information if for some reason they consider that necessary. But the From Sea to Shining Sea series does a nice job of fleshing out the basic elements of a geography and history book so that young students should find plenty to work with for a school report on any of the fifty states (or Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.). The first series was pretty good, but the second series is definitely better and there are bonus points for the way the color of the border of the cover always compliments the cover photograph.

This book was a great overview of the Hawaiian history. This book was excellent to carry on trip and gives one a quick overview about Hawaii and it lists nicely the "must see"s for each island.

Hawai'i 2000 details the statewide planning of 1973. Using an approach pioneered by futurist's (academics concerned with the long-term development of society), more than 700 people were able to create visions of the future for the year 2000. Not only does this work suggest theoretical and methodological approaches, but it also provides a plan for encouraging community wide participation.

It's the manual that every community planner should have.

This is a great work of not only art but of language. It ripped my head off like the time I drove my car off a bridge somewhere between Berryville and West Virginia. Makes me wish I was an artist>

Too often technical papers of this nature make for pretty dry reading, and are somewhat out of reach for the layman due to the nature of the technical jargon. But, in this case Dr. Sholdt has outdone himself in presenting the material in a fashion that is accessible to the whole range of readers, and he captures the readers attention from the first paragraph all the way through the footnotes. The reader comes away from this work fulfilled and inspired, and hoping that Dr. Sholdt will follow on to more and greater efforts in the future.

This is an outstanding anthology !! It includes articles from a very broad spectrum of Hawaiian writers, both contemporary and historical. I've never seen a compilation of authors like this one. If you want to get a good feel for the variety of experience and styles that Hawaiian authors have to offer, this is THE book to start with. Some of the authors included are: John Dominis Holt, Katherine Luomala, Rubellite Kawena Johnson, Samuel Elbert, Mary Pukui, Gavin Daws, A. Grove Day, Yoshiko Matsuda, Cathy Song, etc.

In "The Hawai'i Beer Book: Bars, Breweries & Beer Cuisine", award-winning journalist Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi provides interested readers with a succinct history of brewing in Hawaii, an informative explanation of home brewing, an illustrated tour of Hawaii's local craft breweries, listings and reviews of local bars and restaurants with a special focus on the beers they serve, suggestions for food-and-beer pairings, beer-related recipes, as well as fun beer trivia. From beer books, to breweriana clubs, to beer related podcasts, "The Hawai'i Beer Book" is a unique, confidently recommended, and thoroughly 'user friendly' compendium of practical and fun information that must be considered essential reading for any resident or visitor with an interest in what Hawaii has to offer for beer enthusiasts.

Slavinski's books describe bicycle touring in a way that most closely approximates my own rhythm and pace of cycling. The experienced cycle tourist will know what I mean. I recommend newcomers who want a book to try one of Slavinski's, as well as books by other cyclists. Perhaps you'll discover a writer who "speaks" to you. If not, then you may end up writing your own. Or you may become a truly independent rider--no books, *no* maps. Try it!

A Great Book at a Great Price! My wife is ready to stat putting up the decorations. All we need is the pineapples and the pig! The book is loaded with good ideas and good food, well worth the lean investment!

"Enjoy" Joe"Luau"Kopeck

This book, the only one of its kind, is a must for everyone who loves Lighthouses or the Hawaiian Islands!

The photographs, both land and aerial, of the Lighthouses and the Hawaiian landscapes are breathtaking. Add to that the history of the Lighthouses and the insets of local floral and fauna, and you have an excellent guide to the Hawaiian Lighthouses or a picturesque, memory invoking experience, for everyone who loves Hawaii.

The Lighthouse People, Robert and Sandra Shanklin, have done an excellent job on their first, full length Lighthouse book. I highly recommend it for your own pleasure or a gift.