Hawaii Books

this is a great book to rea

Honestly? I can say, without any hesitation: this is the most extraordinary work of literature I have ever read. The prose is breathtaking, the characters are like relatives to me now, and the experiences within the book will be familliar to any Native person who reads it.

How this woman missed out on the Nobel Prize (or the Booker, at *least*) is an utter mystery to me.

If you are an Indigenous person of any stripe, do yourself a favor and buy this book. Patricia Grace is a literary kaumaatua, and I thank her for her words.

Although I read this book some time ago, I will try to make a review for some other readers passing by this page. It is about the different lifes and happenings of the members of a Maori family, mainly three women of the family, and the story spins around in time, in past and present. This is the second book I have read written by Patricia Grace and I'm lokking forward to reading some more of her work. I like her style so much, the way she can express so many feelings; you get into the story and the main caracters as you read the book, and you wish it didn't come to an end.

Read it! Dance For The Land is the greatest book I ever read. It takes place in Honolulu,Hawaii and Kate is the main character. She has to leave her dog,Boggs at California with her best friend,Sarah. Her housekeeper is working for some other family. When Kate goes to school a girl in her class performs hula dancing. Kate gets hurt from this boy named Chad. Chad hates Kate. One thing I leaned is that "haiku" means pregnant. Her aunt gets pregnant. I like this book because the setting is a great place and the main character is shy. I think this genre is realistic fiction. I love anything that has to do with Hawaii. I just hope you read it. Thank yo

"Dance For The Land," another of Clemence McLaren's wonderful novels, is one that really stands out from the others, in a way that it shares with the world Hawaii's cultures and language. About a "hapa-haole," ("half-white" in Hawaiian), Kate, who comes to the land of Hawaii unwillingly, reaches back to her past and half of her culture. Kate finds the traditional Hawaiian dance, the "Hula," as a way of making peace with her "aina," her home land. Skillfully weaving a novel together, including part of the Hawaiian language and cultures, Clemence McLaren once again creates a breath-taking page-turner that is hard to put down for an imaginative reader!

When Kate's lawyer father decides the Kahele Family should move to Hawai'i, all Kate can think about is the life she is leaving behind in California. As her father studies for the state bar exam and her dark skinned brother happily hits the beaches, she has to handle the torments of her classmates and people on the street for being half-white. When she discovers hula dancing, she begins to feel the rhythms of the land and to understand the political and social history of her place in life. This book moves beyond fears and stereotypes and talks about racial and cultural issues both within the family and the larger society. The author has lived for many years in Hawai'i. She teaches in a school for Hawaiian children, most of whom are mixed race. I found Kate's personal growth my own as well. I learned not only about Hawai'i, hula, and biracial situations, but also the pain of immigration.

This book is a must. Though difficult to obtain, it is well worth the wait. It is a usual Gordon Prange Book: Well researched, easy to read, and without errors. Prange's relentless search, and also of his "sucessors" after his death, for the TRUTH about the the attack on Pearl Harbor, make this a must read. It belongs with Prange's other works "Miracle at Midway", "At Dawn We Slept", and "At Dawn We Slept: The Verdict of History".

This book dispells many myths (as do the other books) about the December 7th attack: FDR's "guilt"(he was innocent), Kimmel and Short's responsibility (they were scapegoats), The USS Arizona (a bomb NEVER went down the smoke stack). Prange's exhaustive research gives an accurate account of Dec. 7th.

This book is a must for anyone interested in the Pearl Harbor attack, and should actually be the FIRST book to read on the subject.

I cannot praise this book and his other works enough. He IS the authority.

Although Gordon W. Prange's At Dawn We Slept was a riveting book about the events that preceded and followed the attack on Pearl Harbor, many readers were disappointed by the very short description of the combat that took place over Oahu on December 7, 1941. Three other Prange books (which were actually completed by co-authors Donald Goldstein and Katherine Dillon)
chronicled the revisionist theories and Prange's rebuttal (Pearl Harbor: The Verdict of History); the battle of Midway (Miracle at Midway); and Soviet espionage against Japan (Target: Tokyo). Finally, in the late 1980s, Penguin published Prange & Co.'s final volume, December 7, 1941: The Day The Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor.

To Pearl Harbor buffs, this is the gold mine for the most dramatic nuggets dealing with the raid itself. It tells the story of the attack's many phases from both Japanese and American viewpoints, including some heartrending recollections from military personnel and civilians who suddenly found themselves making an unexpected and sudden transition from peacetime to war.

Although Walter Lord's similarly themed Day of Infamy is somewhat more user-friendly as far as readability goes, December 7, 1941 is still a worthwhile entry in the crowded field of Pearl Harbor literature.

This is the centerpiece of Prange's (and Goldstein and Dillon's) Pearl Harbor trilogy. 'At Dawn We Slept' set the stage for the attack, and 'Pearl Harbor: The Verdict of History' summarizes and draws conclusions. But this title, 'December 7, 1941,' tells the story of the attack itself, from the point of view of both American and Japanese planners, participants, and spectators.

Prange's research is stunning, and he presents his facts in a straightforward and non-sensationalist way. He doesn't point fingers or call names, he just lays things on the table. As someone who's read a fair amount of Pearl Harbor literature, I really appreciate that.

I recommend Prange's trilogy for anyone interested in serious Pearl Harbor scholarship. And if you're just looking for a fact-filled, yet easy to read, introduction to the event itself, 'December 7, 1941' is the title for you.

Highly recommended.

Denny Miller has had the distinction of playing both Tarzan and Superman, a feat no other actor has matched, though he treats his appearances as the legendary heroes with self-deprecating humor. Indeed, humor is the mainstay of his biography, a good-natured reflection on a long career in movies, TV and commercials with anecdotes about the performers he's worked with along the way, including Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Peter Sellers, Jack Lord and many, many others. There are also reflections on his UCLA basketball career (under legendary coach John Wooden), his time as an infantryman in Germany, and - most surprising of all - his bouts with clinical depression. And, as one might expect from a man who is still in great shape at age 70, there's some solid physical fitness advice. Miller attributes his career more to luck than talent, and seems very grateful to have the life that it's afforded him - a welcome change from the usual gossipy egocentric star bio. With his positive outlook on life and easy good humor, he remains a role model.

Didn't You Used To Be What's His Name? is the superbly illustrated, organized, and presented autobiography of Denny Miller -- a man who was a professional actor playing such roles as Tarzan and King Arthur, has portrayed cowboys, surfers, and for fourteen years was the product spokesman for Gorton's Fisherman. Black-and-white photographs, fascinating tales of showbiz, and the sometimes humorous, sometimes touching, always dedicated exploits of a true professional actor makes for an engaging and intrinsically interesting Hollywood life story.

I had the good fortune of running into Denny "Scott" Miller, and his lovely, supportive wife Nancy, on Sunday, September 18th, at the Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona. It was a day full of activities in Flagstaff, and Denny was doing a book signing in the lobby. What a nice, interesting guy he is, and what an interesting book he's written!

Who, you may ask, is Denny Miller? He will cheerfully acknowledge that you may not remember him. In fact, the title of his new book is, "Didn't You Used To Be What's His Name?" But I had no trouble remembering who he is. First of all, as an MGM contract player, back when MGM was hitting the skids as a movie studio, he starred in the 2nd worst Tarzan movie ever filmed, 1959's "Tarzan, the Ape Man" (it was the first worst, until Bo Derek came along with her version of the story, and nudged it out of worst place!). This epic used stock footage from 1950's "King Solomon's Mines", as well as black and white footage from the Johnny Weissmuller original, tinted, to make it fit in.
But Denny Miller himself is an appealing personality. I'm glad to have this book, both as a Tarzan fan, and as a fan of his. Miller is a great-looking guy with a winning smile, and an engaging personality. Over the years, he's redeemed himself in a series of movie and TV roles, not the least of which was as one of the leads in the series, "Wagon Train". In that series, he called himself "Scott" Miller, in case "Denny" doesn't resonate with "Wagon Train" fans.

This book is a rollicking romp through his life, his Hollywood years, and his more recent work as the grizzled Groton seafood skipper (and he's perfect as that character!). It is abundantly illustrated. He has worked with an astonishing number of the biggest names that show business has to offer, and there are revealing shots of many of them. "Wagon Train" had a policy of featuring a different guest star each week. That, and his subsequent movie and TV commercial jobs paired him with many stars, from Lucille Ball, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Katharine Hepburn, to Peter Sellers, Barbara Stanwyck and Frank Sinatra. His dish is delicious. For the most part, he's admiring and generous. But a few big names, like Bette Davis and Charles Bronson, don't come off too well.

When I think of the roles he might have played! He'd have made a great Superman, or Flash Gordon. And he'd have had the acting chops to bring them off! Miller is a loyal, sharing friend. He acknowledges and pays tribute to many who have influenced him, and helped him along the way. In spite of all the gunfights, barroom brawls, misfired special effects and dead lions and rhinos in his movie wake, he comes across as an easygoing guy with a great sense of humor, who loves having a good time with friends and family.On top of all this, Miller has packed into his pages a lot of wisdom. He has many
important things to say about life, health and physical fitness. It's the teacher in him I guess (another of his jobs). You'll find a lot of hints about the benefits of happiness:
humor, and good health - both physical and mental. I hope he writes more.

Denny Miller the man emerges from the pages of this book. A man of thought on many subjects. A likeable, generous guy who we'd like to relax with, and listen to his stories. Since that's not possible, we can hang out with his book - read his stories. So get the book. Kick back with it. Have a good time. And, as Denny Miller himself would say, Stay Healthy!

The book can be obtained from most book stores, or from Miller's own company;

To Health With You Publishers LLC
8550 Charleston Blvd.,
#102-374
Las Vegas, NV, 89117

Did I mention that I liked the book?

Art Scott,
Historian,
Mystery writer,
Flagstaff, AZ

I bought this for my wife, who is enamored with Lahaina. The book does a great job of detailing the history of this quaint whaling port and once capital of the Hawaiian Islands.

*****
This small book (122 pages) is filled with beautiful vintage photos of Lahaina, including merchants, plantation photos, government buildings, school photos, churches, the waterfront, and more. The vintage photos are beautiful black-and-white pictures, many from archives and the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.

There is even a picture of Moku'ula included, the sacred home of the ali'i on Maui---wild and overgrown, but still evoking a mystique and beauty that is unique.

Each photo has a paragraph of explanation included. Reading this book is a pleasant way to go on a "walking tour" of Lahaina before actually visiting and going on a real walking tour. Or reliving memories of visiting or living in Lahaina.

Highly recommended.
*****

An intriguing look at the beauty that was Hawaii's first capitol, Lahaina. Personally, this book evoked memories buried deep in my heart. The collection of photos and the author's eloquent writing combine to create a book of high caliber. It is evident that Ms. Kupau is quite knowledgeable of Lahaina's history. This volume of the "small town series" allowed me to relive the vivid images of Lahaina that was my youth. Sigh. I remember my old friend Edith Miyahira and her two daughters Jean & Jane who operated the jewel of the Front Street restaurants at the time, Seaside. The home made saimin, fried rice, shrimp curry, hamburger steak and potato salad were among my favorites. Just thinking about the food makes my mouth water. Emeril could learn a thing or two from Edith. BAM! In conclusion, I am anxiously waiting Summer Kupau's next book. She is an excellent author. Keep it real, keep it old school.

I really like the way this book is organized. There are sections such as "Desserts" and "Canyons". When I went to Arizona the last time, I wanted to visit desserts, and I wanted to hike some Canyons, so I could simply read these sections and learn pretty much everything I wanted to know, rather than piece this information together as other travel books make you do (since they are usually organized by area). The organization also allows you to skip information such as "Art" and "History". Of course in the end I ended up being interested in these sections after all, so I read them in the care while I was there. And once again, I could focus on these sections rather than finding this information organized by area.

Long story short: I really like reading about an area by topic of interest, rather than by location. It makes travel planning much easier. Of course, your need may be different (you may be in a certain town and want to figure out what to do for instance...). In that case, this book still is useful (it DOES have short sections on individual locations), but there are other books I use for that type of research.

Overall, I can highly recommend this book. In fact, I will order some of the other books from this series for different states.

This book is incredible. It gives all kinds of details ranging from local interest and lore to general information about the state. It reads like a novel and yet is very informative. Even if you have no intention of ever visiting Arizona, this is still a wonderful book to read and the photographs are breath-taking.

Compass Guides are the best series I have ever read. They are literate and beautifully illustrated, laid out well and very logical to use. Of the Compass Guides I've read, Cheek's Arizona is the best (followed closely by his Santa Fe Guide).

He writes with wit and style. He's not afraid to share his opinion, but never takes for granted that his is the only viewpoint. He also adds a human element that few other guides offer. Frequently you'll find sidebar articles that introduce you to a person whose story particularly illustrates the idea or place in question.

I lived in Arizona for 4 1/2 years. This is the guide that I used to learn the state. I would recommend it to anyone. When my wife and I married in Sedona, Arizona we sent copies of this book to our relatives to acquaint them with the wonderful place they'd be visiting. All who read it were delighted. You'll be, too.

As it's title indicates, this Franko's Map is specifically for scuba divers and snorkelers. It has amazing detail about individual diving sites, sea creatures you would see, tides, etc. There is general information too, but if you are looking for a more casual, things to see and do map, then I suggest purchasing Franko's Guide Map of Hawaii, the Big Island. There are also dive maps and guide maps available for Maui, Kauai, and Oahu.

If you're going to the Big Island of Hawaii for scuba diving, you'll need this Franko's map. It's excellent!

I'm not sure the other review of this is fair. Sure it is a dive map, and if that's not what you need, well, fine. But it doesn't mean that the product itself is bad.

Franko's maps are THE best maps for diving and snorkelling, and, contrary to other reviews, are some great general-use maps as well. Roads, dive sites, fish, topography are all displayed in a pleasing way. Attention to detail is apparent in all Franko's maps. These are some of the better examples of cartography available for the sites they cover. Highly recommended!

Excellent gardening book. Even though we live in Florida, the book is very valuable for growing vegetables in our climate. Great, easy and delicious recipes too. What a great idea to have recipes in a gardening book.

This is a great gardening book! I received it as a gift and found it especially helpful in answering my questions on pesticides and alternatives to pesticides. My little backyard garden is now in much better shape. The recipes included taste just like mom's home cooking.

This is one of the best gardening books I have ever bought. The author has a wonderful sense of humor and the material is easy to read and follow. This book is definitely great for the amateur gardener. The recipes included for each vegetable are so delicious! Gardeners in all 50 states (not just Hawaii) will find this book enjoyable.

Diana Helfand has taught nutrition in the Food Service and Hospitality Education Program at Kapi-olani Community College and hosted the 'Heart-y Chef" cooking show on KHON for five years. Her column "Heart-y Cooking was a regular feature in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin for nine years, and she currently writes the weekly "Heart-y Chef" column of "MidWeek". In Hawai'i Light And Healthy, Helfand draws upon her many years of culinary experience and expertise to compile recipes (each of which includes approximate nutrition information per serving) that showcase what an Hawaii perspective has to offer the health conscious and adventurous family kitchen cook. From Chinese Chicken Salad a la Heart-y Chef; Easy Fish Stew; Candied Acorn Squash; and Banana-Chocolate Chip-Macademia Bread; to Maple Fruit Crumble; Grilled Spice Salmon; Veggie Penne with Pine Nuts; and Stuffed Zucchini Boats, Hawai'i Light And Healthy is an ideal addition to any personal cookbook collection and features a spiral binding allowing the book to lay flat upon the kitchen counter while in use.

This book has enlightened me. I never knew how easy it could be to eat AND prepare delicious, healthy foods. The recipes are easy to follow, the book has great information on the foods as well as the nutrition information. This is all very useful to me, especially being a college student. The cooking is very easy for me, even with the limited space in my small apartment. I wish my parents had sent this to me my freshman year. Then maybe I would not have gained the "freshman 15." Now I will lose that weight using this great book!

How many low fat cookbooks have you read? I've read at least 100 and I'll tell you this: You Must Buy This Book! The author is so down to earth-- there's no nonsense, no gimmicks, no fuss-- just straightforward valuable information, including nutrition information, that's needed for you and for your entire family. This book could literally save your life-- How many people do you know who are trying to lose weight? How many people do you know who have been on those awful fad diets? This book has an entirely different approach because its underlying message is to change your lifestyle; it's practical because the recipes are eeeeassssy and they're TASTY! I've tried out about 15 of them so far and everyone loves them. The recipes are easy and quick and so simple that your kids could make them. My friend, who's a single mother, bought this book and she has three kids. Her youngest is nine and she's been teaching them all to cook. Her nine year old has already made two recipes and he's thrilled because he was able to make dinner for the entire family. Let me share with you my favorite recipe so far: Wait! I can't, because I have too many favorites. Well, here are some delicious hits with family and company: Ono Caramel Pecan Apples, Turkey Shepherd's Pie (mmm mmm mmm), Candied Acord Squash, Garlic Smashed Potatoes, Shrimp and Rotini in Wine Sauce, Chocolate Surprise Cupcakes, Fall Pumpkin Date Muffins, Poppy Seed Biscuits, Hawaiian Party Fruit Salad, Soda Pop Chicken, Sesame Walnut String Beans, Seafood Linguini Alfredo, Tangy Lemon Sorbet-- there are too many good ones to choose from.
Also, there are deeeelicious recipes from ten of Honolulu's favorite restaurants; I've made two so far-- An exotic Lilikoi Cheesecake, and the most scrumptious Blue Crab Cakes I have ever tasted. I have to say folks that I'm a tough audience and I rate this book a 10/10 because the recipes are easy to prepare, the nutrition information is soooo helpful and informative, the color pictures are beautiful, the binding lays flat so you can keep your place while following the recipe, and just look at the price! How can you beat that? Buy one for yourself and I promise you that you'll come back to Amazon.com and buy another for your best friend!

Hawai'i One Summer is a slim collection of luminous essays reflecting diversal topics ranging from surfing to house chores. Indeed, this is the least read book by Hong-Kingston. Her prose is clear and evocative. It is very different from the radical Woman Warrior. It evokes a zen quality, like sipping a soulful cup of ginseng tea.

HAWAI'I ONE SUMMER is probably Kingston's least-read work, but I think it's the piece which captures this writer's clear and graceful prose style the best. Her essays range from surfing to dishwashing. Who'd ever guess that someone could write a substantial essay on a mundane activity like dishwashing? Well, Maxine Hong Kingston achieved this task. HAWAI'I ONE SUMMER would probably be good to use in an expository writing course.

A memoir of Maxine Hong Kingston's memorable years in Hawai'i, when she went from Viet Nam protests and virtual street existence to pedagogies and mythologies of empowerment that took on national and global impact. This, I find, an insightful, wry, even caustic book on the local literature movements in Hawai'i, always fresh and insightful even when New Yorkerish.