Items related to Lonely Planet Hawaii the Big Island (Lonely Planet...

Lonely Planet Hawaii the Big Island (Lonely Planet Hawaii the Big Island) - Softcover

 
9781740593458: Lonely Planet Hawaii the Big Island (Lonely Planet Hawaii the Big Island)
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 

Whether you’re looking to hike stunning Mauna Loa or laze on a perfect black-sand beach, our guide will show you how to live it up – or slow it down – on Hawaii’s Big Island.

  • where to get 'broke da mouth' (that's good!) meals on any budget
  • manta ray dives, volcano treks and more in a special activities chapter
  • lodging options from campsites in the Valley of Kings to condos at Kailua
  • learn local lore, including why you should offer a ride to that nice little old lady
  • 35 maps, including water sports and camping maps

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:
A sage kupuna (elder) observed today that the Big Island is so beautiful it hurts your eyes; she's right. In this tropical wonder world, azure waves lap at the green-sand beaches and volcanoes flush lava to the sea in a primordial display of fire, boiling water and steam. On this idyll, dolphins and morays, turtles and rays sluice through coves and there's snow for the ski bums, rain forest for the hardy, idyllic beaches for the idle and the world's clearest stargazing.

Like a lover so cherished you conjure pet names in a vain attempt to capture their every essence, so too the Big Island goes by several names: at turns it's Hawaii, the Orchid Isle, and the Volcano Island. It's also the home to Madame Pele, goddess of volcanoes, and Ku, god of war. But above all, it's the superlative island, the singular jewel in the string of Hawaiian beauties making up the archipelago.

What so distinguishes this islands is its geography. The Big Island is so big, you could fit all the major Hawaiian Islands within its borders twice. The entire land mass is five volcanoes fused together, created by eons of magma pulsing from deep within the earth. Stacked layers of lava grew so high that the newly created land eventually emerged from the depths of the sea. The magma is still pumping, new volcanoes are still rising and the Big Island is still growing. Indeed, the newest volcano in the chain is expected to break the surface and unite with the others in as little as 10,000 years - tomorrow in geological terms.

All these tidbits should be sufficient to excite chronic stoics, but you might also consider that the Big Island is the youngest piece of earth on earth, it's the most isolated piece of rock in the world (2500 miles from the closest landmass) and contains so many microclimates you can realistically go from desert to jungle to permafrost in a day. The diverse flora and fauna here will delight the casual visitor and is a bonanza for birders, orchid lovers and entomologists.

As islanders the world over know, thriving on a piece of land amidst a great sea promotes a certain psychology, philosophy and innate, sometimes subconscious, self-reliance that sets these communities apart. On the Big Island, this unique perspective is intensified by wide open spaces, resulting in the least touristed and most mysterious of all the Hawaiian Islands. Here you'll find mavericks and misfits, astronomers and mystics all dipping into the pools of Big Island mana (spiritual power). Much of this power is generated by the gods and goddesses of the land, sea and volcanoes - forces forever worshipped and harnessed by Hawaiians - and you won't have to look long or hard to find ample evidence of this in your travels. Waipi'o Valley, Halema'uma'u Crater, South Point, Mauna Kea and the Place of Refuge - the list of historically, archaeologically and mythologically significant sites is long and varied and even if that leaves you yawning, each is also a place everyone should set their eyes and heart upon at least once.

Still, there's trouble in Paradise, as struggles amongst man, nature, progress and history threaten to upset Hawaii's state of grace. In a certain sense, Hawaii is stuck between a rock and a hard place, with Mother Nature on the one hand and rapacious developers on the other, forever trying to tame her handiwork into hedonistic oases. Drought on the Kona side and lava and tsunamis on the Hilo side are a constant worry. An economy overly dependent on tourism means even higher unemployment in an already anemic job climate, and a heavier reliance on those aforementioned developers.

Nevertheless, nothing defines Hawaii more than the spirit of aloha. Here, this isn't just a cheesy marketing slogan; it translates into genuine friendliness, courtesy and suspension of judgment. Welcome to the Big Island, where you can hike, bike, ski, camp, dive, swim, snorkel, sunbathe, surf and dine finely; this is the place to live your dreams.

Review:
Nobody covers the world like Lonely Planet.' --New York Post, May 2004

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9781741047158: Hawaii: The Big Island 3 (Lonely Planet)

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  ISBN 13:  9781741047158
Publisher: GeoPlaneta, 2008
Softcover

  • 9781740596916: Lonely Planet Hawai: The Big Island

    Lonely..., 2005
    Softcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Stock Image

Conner Gorry
Published by Lonely Planet Publications (2002)
ISBN 10: 1740593456 ISBN 13: 9781740593458
New Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
BennettBooksLtd
(LOS ANGELES, CA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! 0.65. Seller Inventory # Q-1740593456

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 61.46
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.13
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds