Kauai Underground Guide

A planning section detailing where to stay and what to pack is followed by overviews of activities, adventures, and discoveries--such as useful Hawaiian words, where to watch sunsets, and how to find the best artists and artisans. A chapter on beach adventures offers up-to-date reports on beaches all over the island. This guide covers all the bases to help you make the most of your island time.

On "Hideaways" Beach, for example, the detailed account reads:

At the base of the cliff near the Pali Ke Kua Condominiums in Princeville is a lovely sandy beach set inside a reef, where you can watch the sun sparkle on the waves in near solitude. It is a peaceful spot, secluded and beautiful, actually two beaches connected by a rocky point. Swimming is not the best because of the coral bottom and the offshore rocks, but snorkeling can be very good in calm summer seas. Be cautious. As on all north shore beaches, snorkeling can be risky and is advisable only in a calm ocean; when the surf is up, current can become dangerous.

The restaurant section's useful chart lists phone numbers, prices, and color-map reference numbers, followed by readers' choices of the best places to find fresh fish, ocean views, steaks, etc.

As a bonus gift in this 15th-anniversary edition, you'll find a free CD of Hawaiian music by popular artist Keali'i Reichel. A portion of the proceeds from Kauai Underground Guide go to literacy, arts, and special needs for Kauai's children. --Kathryn True