Congratulations! You finally found the perfect time to visit Hawaii! You’ve always wanted to explore the 50th state. You dream of lazy afternoons on a glistening white beach. Brilliant, multi-colored sunsets. Drinks with umbrellas. Maybe you’re more interested in long tropical hikes. Horseback riding on a secluded beach. Cooling off in a tropical waterfall. Whatever your island dreams may be, you need a plan. Now that you’ve marked your calendar, how do find all the activities, must-see attractions, and secret hideaways across the islands?
In today’s world, online resources provide up to date information on lodging, activities, and local eateries. Browsing tripadvisor or Booking.Com will go a long way to securing reservations. But what if you’re focused on finding that secluded beach. The one no other tourist knows about. That’s where a good guidebook still comes into play.
There are lots of excellent guidebooks on the market. Each company has its strengths. For Hawaii, my favorite is, hands down the ultimate Guidebook series. Published by Wizard Publishing, the writers are island residents who share their knowledge with travelers. Each of the 4 main Hawaiian Islands has its own book.
Each guide is organized by island region – north, south, etc. In addition to the usual review of zip lining tours and local brew pubs, these guidebooks reveal all the hidden secrets of the islands. Kauai, our favorite island to explore, has loads of beaches to uncover. Each beach has its own unique character and has variable accessibility depending on the season. Driving by, you’d never know a beautiful swath of white sand stretched along the nearby coast if you didn’t have this guidebook.
Hiking is another great way to explore the islands. Again these excellent books will take you to the trail head and send you on some outstanding adventures.
In addition to the guidebooks, Wizard Publishing offers mobile apps and an online resource to accompany each book. Subscriptions are available for 3 months – plenty of time to plan a trip and explore the islands. You can purchase a bundle of the book, 3-month subscription, and app on their website (https://www.revealedtravelguides.com/). The online resources update you on closures, traveler’s restrictions (helpful while travelling during COVID), and other timely resources. AT the time of publishing this blog, the app is available for $17.99 per year for 1 island or $29.99 for all 4 islands. A free preview is available for a test drive.
You can also pick up a copy of each guidebook at Amazon. You can find the guides, along with reviews as follows:
Ultimate Kauai
Maui Revealed
Oahu Revealed
Big Island Revealed
What are you waiting for? Hawaii awaits your adventurous soul. Choose your islands, order the books, and get planning! The only way to learn more hidden corners of the islands is by geocaching. But that’s a whole different subject!