Excellent book for the "short of time and attention" crowd

Didn't have time to read anything before our trip. Found this book in our condo. EXCELLENT BOOK! Rates the various sites around the island and decribes them well (also a lot of color pics) - makes it easy to prioritize what you want to see and how long you want to be there--without a lot of reading. The edition we had even included restaurant reviews. In addition, offers other tips only a local would know...great gift for friends going to the island. Don't do the Big Island without it! Publisher also offers similar books for the other islands.

Another hit!

This book truly is the only guidebook you'll ever need. We used this book to plan every part of our vacation from where to stay, what to eat, where to snorkel, what helicopter to go on, and what sights to see. The most important thing about this book is that authors give you their recommendations... it's not just a list of a million hotels and activities, and you have no idea which one to pick. They'll tell you which ones are bad and which ones are good, and why. I have disagreed in the past with their recommendations, but everyone has a different opinion, and I would not go to Hawaii without theirs. I used their Maui book last year, and I have their Kauai book in my shopping cart even as I type this. Their photographs are wonderful and are all taken from places that a tourist can get to, not from places that you need special access to get to. They publish updates on the website about places that have closed, accesses that have changed (i.e. things they thought were on public land, but turned out not to be.) I also love the little tidbits of information about the history of certain places and why they are interesting/important. And they review each hotel, restaurant, and activity as a tourist -- meaning they don't announce themselves as tour book writers when they go in so that they may receive special treatment. They act like they are average Joes, so they get treated like everyone else... and if the treatment's bad... they let you know about it. The maps in the book are extremely helpful, with the mileage markers, it makes it real easy to find things. The only thing I wish is that they would take all the maps (in the same detail that they are in), and fit them all together in a foldout map because sometimes it's hard to see how one piece of map connects to another other. All in all, great book and a must-have!

We called it the Bible

Just back on the mainland and still in awe at how essential we found this guidebook. It seems that no matter what you want out of your Big Island visit, this one will help you make the best of it. We met other travelers who were also referencing it and called it their Bible for touring the island. Well done, Andrew and Harriett!