Hawaii Atlas & Gazetteer: Hawaii Atlas and Gazetteer

Rating:
Summary: Good overview, weak in topographic detail.
Review: I hesitated in purchasing this Atlas since I had looked it over once before and had been unimpressed with its depth. The contours are at too low a resolution to be useful, trails, ridges and many peaks are not named as well as many dirt roads. The urban features are good though and most roads are drawn. What finally convinced me to purchase this Atlas was that it was convenient and nice to have all the islands in one book, instead of juggling multiple topo and sectional maps. The grid and scale systems used, as well as the rulers along the x and y-axes of each page make it easy to estimate distance and find features. The GPS Grids and Recreational Guides are also handy. Overall it is a good purchase but not a complete reference. It is especially weak as a reference for the backcountry traveler since it paints an inaccurate and overly tame picture of the precipitous terrain I, as a resident hiker, have come to love and respect.

Rating:
Summary: Good overview, weak in topographic detail.
Review: I hesitated in purchasing this Atlas since I had looked it over once before and had been unimpressed with its depth. The contours are at too low a resolution to be useful, trails, ridges and many peaks are not named as well as many dirt roads. The urban features are good though and most roads are drawn. What finally convinced me to purchase this Atlas was that it was convenient and nice to have all the islands in one book, instead of juggling multiple topo and sectional maps. The grid and scale systems used, as well as the rulers along the x and y-axes of each page make it easy to estimate distance and find features. The GPS Grids and Recreational Guides are also handy. Overall it is a good purchase but not a complete reference. It is especially weak as a reference for the backcountry traveler since it paints an inaccurate and overly tame picture of the precipitous terrain I, as a resident hiker, have come to love and respect.