Foster - Frommers 2014 easyguide to Hawaii

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A resident of the Big Island, Jeanette Foster has skied the slopes of Mauna Keaduring a Fourth of July ski meet, no lessand gone scuba diving with manta rays off the Kona Coast. A prolific writer, widely published in travel, sports, and adventure magazines, she has been the editor of Zagats Survey to Hawaiis Restaurants since 1997. She has been writing for Frommers since 1995 and is the author of more than four dozen guide books for Frommers (including Frommers Hawaii; Frommers Maui; Frommers Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu; Frommers Kauai; Frommers Hawaii with Kids; Frommers Hawaii Day by Day; Frommers Maui Day by Day; and other books). In 2010, she was awarded the Bronze Award by the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation Lowell Thomas Travel Journalist Competition for her book Frommers Hawaii Day by Day.

ABOUT THE FROMMER TRAVEL GUIDES

For most of the past 50 years, Frommers has been the leading series of travel guides in North America, accounting for as many as 24% of all guidebooks sold. I think I know why.

Though we hope our books are entertaining, we nevertheless deal with travel in a serious fashion. Our guidebooks have never looked on such journeys as a mere recreation, but as a far more important human function, a time of learning and introspection, an essential part of a civilized life. We stress the culture, lifestyle, history and beliefs of the destinations we cover, and urge our readers to seek out people and new ideas as the chief rewards of travel.

We have never shied from controversy. We have, from the beginning, encouraged our authors to be intensely judgmental, criticalboth pro and conin their comments, and wholly independent. Our only clients are our readers, and we have triggered the ire of countless prominent sorts, from a tourist newspaper we called practically worthless (it unsuccessfully sued us) to the many rip-offs weve condemned.

And because we believe that travel should be available to everyone regardless of their incomes, we have always been cost-conscious at every level of expenditure. Though we have broadened our recommendations beyond the budget category, we insist that every lodging we include be sensibly priced. We use every form of media to assist our readers, and are particularly proud of our feisty daily website, the award-winning Frommers.com.

I have high hopes for the future of Frommers. May these guidebooks, in all the years ahead, continue to reflect the joy of travel and the freedom that travel represents. May they always pursue a cost-conscious path, so that people of all incomes can enjoy the rewards of travel. And may they create, for both the traveler and the persons among whom we travel, a community of friends, where all human beings live in harmony and peace.

Arthur Frommer

T heres no place on earth quite like this handful of sun-drenched, mid-Pacific islands. The Hawaii of South Seas literature and Hollywood films really does exist. Here youll find palm-fringed blue lagoons, lush rainforests, hidden gardens, cascading waterfalls, wild rivers running through rugged canyons, and soaring volcanoes. And oh, those beachesgold, red, black, and even green sands caressed by an endless surf. The possibilities for adventureand relaxationare endless. Each of the six main islands is separate, distinct, and infinitely complex. Theres far too much to see and do on any 2-week vacation, which is why so many people return to the Aloha state year after year.

Unfortunately, even paradise has its share of stifling crowds and tourist schlock. If youre not careful, your trip to Hawaii could turn into a nightmare of tourist traps selling shells from the Philippines, hokey faux culture like cellophane-skirted hula dancers, overpriced exotic drinks, and a 4-hour timeshare lecture before you get on that free snorkeling trip. Thats where this guide comes in. As a Hawaii resident, I can tell the extraordinary from the merely ordinary. This book steers you away from the crowded, the overrated, and the overpricedand toward the best Hawaii has to offer. No matter what your budget, this guide helps ensure that every dollar is well spent.

HAWAIIS best BEACHES

Lanikai Beach (Oahu): Too gorgeous to be real, this stretch along the Windward Coast is one of Hawaiis postcard-perfect beachesa mile of golden sand as soft as powdered sugar bordering translucent turquoise waters. The waters are calm year-round and excellent for swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking. Two tiny offshore islands complete the picture..

Hapuna Beach (Big Island): This half-mile-long crescent regularly wins kudos in the worlds top travel magazines as the most beautiful beach in Hawaiisome consider it one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. One look and youll see why: Perfect cream-colored sand slopes down to crystal-clear waters that are great for swimming, snorkeling, and bodysurfing in summer; come winter, waves thunder in like stampeding horses. The facilities for picnicking and camping are top-notch, and theres plenty of parking..

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Haena Beach (Kauai): Backed by verdant cliffs, this curvaceous North Shore beach has starred as Paradise in many a movie. Its easy to see why Hollywood loves Haena Beach, with its grainy golden sand and translucent turquoise waters. Summer months bring calm waters for swimming and snorkeling; winter brings mighty waves for surfers. Numerous facilities include picnic tables, restrooms, and showers..