Hawaii Books

Charming story of Daphne's adjustment to a move; a fine reflection of the stresses faced by this child-equivalent. Very helpful in eliciting our children's fear to a move, and providing comfort for their adjustment. Wonderful characters and illustrations.

This is a sweet book about the trama a dog feels when her family puts her in her crate and moves her to Hawaii. Her whole world is turned upside down. Kids can easily relate to the cute little Daphne and her dog buddy porkchop! The pages that feature all the Hawaiian animals that Daphne meets are very funny and so well drawn. The whole book will make you want to go to Hawaii or maybe move there! My daughter loved this book and we aren't even moving!

The drama that plays out in this book gives the reader a rare opportunity to witness a myriad of historical events that led up to one of the most crucial turning points in aviation history. With the backdrop of the beautiful Hawaiian islands, a sensitive love story is woven around actual events to create an absorbing docudrama. The author's vivid depictions along with numerous period photos provide facinating insight into life in Hawaii, many facets of aviation, recreational sailing, military life, and survival at sea. Thoroughly entertaining and enlightening.

This is a truly outstanding book. Very rarely do I encounter text that is so captivating and compelling that I feel it can't be put down until the end is reached. Your attention to research and detail are exceptional and enhanced by the wealth of period photographs. You have taken history weaving in a background story to create in the process a beautiful tapestry that can be appreciated by any type of reader.
This is one book that will remain in my library permanently as I fully intend to reread it again down the line.

This is an amazing book full of beautiful period piece photographs of Hawaii in the 1920s as well as an exciting, nearly forgotten story that you could never dream up on your own. To find out that the historical part is all true with actual quotes and newspaper headlines is a jaw dropper. For anyone who is, or knows of, someone interested in historical fiction, flying, sailing, Hawaii and/or a poignant love story, this is a must have for the collection.

The best survey of Hawaiiana resort architecture and design. Loaded with pictures and well written text.

DESIGNING PARADISE: THE ALLURE OF THE HAWAIIAN RESORT defines the architectural style unique to the Hawaiian resort, adding a history of Hawaiian island tourism in the process. Chapters use drawings, archival images and modern color photos to chart emerging architecture in Hawaii, adding strong cultural notes on the emergence of tourist interests. An excellent guide not only for students of architecture, but for any interested in Hawaiian culture and history.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I borrowed this book from the Library, because my 3-year old daughter wanted a book about dolphins. She just loved it! Will be purchasing this book; it's a keeper!

She especially loves the picture of the bear riding the dolphin in the middle of the story. So cute!

A Dolphin Day in Hawaii is a delightful story about a bear who, on one of his free days surfing, meets a playful dolphin and has a day of adventures exploring both the ocean and land. How the dolphin survives on land, I'll let future buyers find out for themselves. Your kids will love the colorful illustrations that truly exemplify the beauty of Hawaii.

Dolphin Days is a great book about a guy who researched dolphins. It explains their behavior and scientifics without getting boring. I highly recommend it!

As a graduate student in Hawaii, I was fortunate enough to have encounters with dolphins on several snorkle outings. It is certainly a special experience, but stop reading here if you think I am about to launch into a new-age rant about "...how dolphins are helping humans to evolve"!

Norris presents an accessible description about dolphin behavior and the science involved in that study. Although I have a science background, I know little biology, and yet Norris clearly presents this work in terms I could understand, and that any thinking person will be comfortable with. I have since purchased other books by Norris on dolphins, and schedule snorkle trips everytime I visit the Islands. If you have seen the latest IMAX movie "Dolphins" (dedicated to Norris), now is the time to read the book!

This is a great book. It has excellent map, diagrams and oral histories.

I have a dear freind who was there during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and he give it approval which is saying much.

Walter said tehre are only two errors tha he could find. One was a story about a nurse getting a Purple Heart for working hard (Walter said not true) the second error was the chart on page 113. he said the helena and Ogala was shown too far south on the wharf. Walter said they moved further during the attack and Walter had a hand in moving them. He said the Helena was on the wharf and tied up outside of it was the Ogala. Walter said a torpedo went under the Ogala, and blasted the Helena and the resulting blast tore a huge hole in the Ogala causing it to sink.

Walter took the lead in taking the lines off the Ogala and Helena, and tied the Ogala to the wharf while the Helena slipped to the south. The Ogala later capsized, thus Walter helped save the helena from possibly sinking!

Helena thus moved to the south after the bombing.

I recommend this book highly, thank you Mr Stan Cohen.

This is a superior historical review, in pictorial form, of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The 50th Anniversary edition has been greatly expanded to include diagrams and photographs that were not in the original edition. Although of a pictorial nature, the text is scholarly, extremely well-researched and concise. The maps and previously unpublished photographs place the attack in an accurate historical context. This book is in the "must read" classification and it is another diamond among author Stan Cohen's many diamonds.

Historically, it is the second novel that brought about the execution of its writer, Jose Rizal. He is well renowned by his country man as a martyr for speaking against the evils of Spanish Colonialism on the Philippine Archipelago. The Title, 'El Filibusterismo' is itself a daring challenge to the Spanish colonial ruling class of that time, Filibusterismo(Subversive) or those accused of being one is automatically in serious peril.

By itself, it is an independent narrative, but actually it was an intended continuation of the 'Noli Me Tangere'(loosely translated, it means `touch me not`). As well, it is equally contemporary with the treatment of obsession among the ruling class and the question of nationalism, which makes this novel political in nature as well. The difference, however, is that the optimism seen with Crisostomo Ibarra(The protagonist of the Noli Me Tangere) is absent in El Filibusterismo's main character. In the very first scene, on the upper deck of the ferry, we are introduced to a dark character by the name of Simoun. His origin is somewhat questionable at the beginning, but as the story unfolds, those who have read the Noli will soon realize the character's true identity.

It is somewhat Victorian with it's treatment of the characters' emotions, but it shouldn't be surprising. Rizal, who was educated in Europe, actually wrote this novel when he was in England. Somewhat satirical with its portrayal of colonial society, but it is also a romantic tragedy, in which Simoun's intentions regarding the freedom of his country is questioned. Is it out of vengeance? Or is it purely for the betterment of his native land?

It is indeed rhetoric, but as most scholars in the Philippines would say, 'it is superb rhetoric`. The timeline maybe from another world and another age unknown to us. But Rizal's view regarding the issues involved is timeless and universal, especially to those people who experienced oppression. I adore his works and writings. By far, the El Filibusterismo is one of the best stories I've read.

Bravo Rizal! Your words and sentiments will never be forgotten through the accomplishment of this novel. It is now clear why the Filipinos call you their national hero.

Author Jose Rizal was revered, even as a deity in the Philippines, most powerfully by groups known as Rizalistas. El Filibusterismo was recognized as a threat by the Spanish Church; it realizes Rizal's and the Filipino people's inner struggle at the time: to regain freedom and individuality through time or by shedding blood. Ibarra (Rizal's alter-ego) is constantly torn apart by the godlike status bestowed upon him--people look to him for direction--and the knowledge that his people are physically unable to overthrow the Spaniards. He is pushed constantly throughout the book to urge bloodshed. The climactic final chapters are as heart-pounding as the final moment's of the author's life. For Filipinos, it is our Uncle Tom's Cabin, it is Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses, a book that urges political change and challenges powerful institutions at great cost to the people it inspires.

Unlike the previous reviewer, I don't think that this is the best translation of Hua-Yen principles. Rather, I would say that they all compliment each other in such a way where your understanding of the vast scope of literature will be born from within while reading in reflection of the others. Thus, reading them all (there's not that many), helps to engage yourself with the immensity of understanding so that it truly resonates with you. I have just finished utilizing Hua-Yen thought as model of perception in my Masters thesis and ... it changed my life. Really.

Hua-Yen thought is not an easy understanding to grasp. It takes a lot of study and meditation for its understanding to sit within you. This is a very good starting point as it cuts out a lot of the jargon that other interpreters prefer and allows you to read it and sit with it. Yet and still, its simpler approach only shines in the light of the other texts.

There is some antidotal stuff online as well. But, if you are interested in this school of Buddhism and its vision of totality ... this is a good start.

It seems to be a common misunderstanding that this particular sutra (or any other sutra for that matter) is "essential to the understanding of Hua Yen Buddhism". As a practicioner of true Zen, I would say that this is overly simplistic and even dualistic. All sutras, even the so-called "Hinayana" (Therevada) pali texts, can lead to sudden enlightenment. The Buddha taught via "expediant means", which is to say, he taught the same essential idea to everyone using different terms and symbols according to the capacities and tendencies of the listeners. Thus, the Flower Ornament Scripture contains the true essence of mind, as does all other sutras. Even the Holy Bible, if properly understood, can lead one to sudden enlightenment.

This translation of the Flower Ornament Scripture is by far the best (and I am not aware of many more), and Thomas Cleary is, in my opinion, the very best translator of Asian, and particularly Chinese spiritual texts (both Buddhist and Taoist), and his expertise, along with the help of J.C. Cleary, shines through here. I admit it took me a while to attain this beautiful book due to it's high cost, but it will sit in a place of honor along with my other Buddhist texts on my bookshelf.

If you read the Flower Ornament Scripture in order to "practice" the "doctrines" of the Flower Ornament Scripture, then of course you will be reborn in the lowest hell or even become a worm in a mud pit in the next life. However, if you read the Flower Ornament Scripture with your true nature and practice insight while reflecting on the rather massive text, there is absolutley no reason at all why you can't become a Buddha of the Western Paradise in a single moment!

Maybe I sound too abtuse, but the simple fact is that the Flower Ornament Scripture, while applying primarily to the "practice" of institutional Hua Yen Buddhism, is indeed a skillful guide towards the observation that the Flower Ornament Scripture would make good kindling for a fire on a cold winter night.

Thanks, and have a nice time reading this great translation of what may well be the most complete text of Buddhist practice (and yes, I am including the Heart and Lotus sutras) ever composed.

But it still doesn't "mean" a single thing!

I enjoyed reading Escape To Hawaii very much. It was a fast paced thriller that kept me in suspense up until the very end. I recommend this book as well as this author's first book "Before I Sleep". Both very good!

I enjoyed reading Escape To Hawaii very much. It was a fast paced thriller that kept me in suspense up until the very end. I recommend this book as well as this author's first book "Before I Sleep". Both very good!

What I found particularly fascinating about this book was the way it linked specific places throughout the islands, which can be seen today, with historical lore and people from Hawaii's past. I also enjoyed the way the book brought to life a lot of the mystical, spiritual, side of the Hawaiian geography and tradition. Long ago, when I first visited the beautifully desolate northwest coast of the big island of Hawaii, I had this strange sense that I was not alone. After reading this book, I realize that I, indeed, was not. The spirits of Kamehameha the great, and other warriors of Hawaii's past, live on here.

This is a great book full of beautiful photos. Best of all it guides you to the really interesting places on all the different islands. There are maps, and directions, and under each site stories are told about the site's amazing past. There are interviews with the locals describing their spiritual beliefs regarding the site. You could enjoy this book just to read about Hawaiian history and all the fascinating things that have gone on in these spiritual places. I couldn't put it down.
The book also led me to some really nice places like a blue freshwater pool right by the ocean.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!