Hawaii: A Walker's Guide (Hawaii)

Rating:
Summary: Here's your guide
Review: "This one's not for either the ultra-lazy pool potatoes or [those who] need step-by-step direction many pro-hiker guides provide. But if you'd like folksy-friendly insider tips to accessible Hawaiian adventures for the whole family, here's your guide." New York Daily News

Rating:
Summary: The best walks on all the islands
Review: A practical guide to the most scenic walks on the major Hawaiian islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Hawaii, Kauai and Oahu. Walks range from easy strolls of a few hours to multi-day excursions where blankets and sleeping backs are de rigeur. Waikiki, the Koolaus, Honolulu, Lahaina, the Seven Pools of Kipahulu, Kaanapali, Iao Valley State Park, Waimea Canyon, Kalalau Valley, the Na Pali Cliffs, Kalaupapa, Kaiholena Gulch, Waipop Valley, and Kilauea all have designated trails covered here. Descriptive text gives you a feel for the area, whether its downtown Honolulu or the lush green slopes of Iao Needle on Kauai. Each hike is graded for its difficulty from "family" to "strenuous," although most are suitable for the entire family. A thoughtful interior design allows you to see the trail's rating, mileage and any permit requirements at a glance. Pocket-sized, this handy guide will fit easily into your money belt or backpack. Maps of almost every trail. 192 pages.

Rating:
Summary: Hawaii. A Walker's Guide (2nd Edition) by Rod Smith
Review: I read the previous review by Marty Roth and have to agree totally. I don't think the author has tried using his directions in Hawaii.

I have been all over the island hiking. The book was helpful in so much as mentioning where to hike but the directions were not much help at all.

Rating:
Summary: The best walks on all the islands
Review: I used this book extensively in April 2000 while hiking on the island of Oahu.

First the good news -- the guide was invaluable in mentioning hikes and walks on parts of the island that even the locals didn't seem to know about. I saw more of the hidden and beautiful Oahu than most tourists ever get to see, even if they join one of the Eco-tours.

The other news is that there are some basic omissions in the guide that make it very hard to recommend.

1. There are few detailed maps of any kind indicating the trailhead locations or the trails themselves, and no indications of topography. Trailhead directions often give "street names" but they are just as often non-existent or vague e.g. "Kuaokala Road in a military district". All the trails I walked were totally unmarked and difficult to gauge without a map.

2. It mentions that "permits required" for some trails but does not tell you where or how to apply for them.

I wrote to Hunter Publishing asking for an explanation of these omissions from the author, Rod Lewis, and after two months and several follow-up requests for comment, I never received a reply.

I looked on amazon.com and Rod Smith is listed as author or editor for a number of other books, none related to hiking or Hawaii, although it appears there may two Rod Smiths. My guess, based on his non-response, is that the author catalogued the trails from other sources (unmentioned) and never did the on-ground verification of trailhead locations or actually walked the trails himself. Perhaps he relied on others for the verification, but overall I found it lacking, and not the "practical guide" he purports it to be.

In sum, if you are looking for a "practical" walking guide for Hawaii, look elsewhere.