Hawaii: True Stories of the Island Spirit (Travelers’ Tales)

I checked out a pile of books about Hawaii from the library prior to my recent trip to Oahu. Unfortnately, I alternated between being so crazy busy or tropically indolent that I had little time to read. I did, however, read Hawaii: True Stories of the Island Spirit (Travelers’ Tales) cover to cover, finishing up two days ago. It’s the best thing I’ve read about Hawaii in, well, ever, really.

Hawaii: True Stories of the Island Spirit (Travelers’ Tales) isn’t a guide book per se, but it does have some guide-like information in the appendix at the end of the book. All that stuff is useful and offers the editors’ excellent insight into island travel, focusing on such critical things as favorite beaches or who makes a smashing mai tai, but that’s not what this book is for. The book is a compilation of non-fiction  essays and excerpts from longer works that go beyond the shiny outer layers of Hawaii’s cosmetic packaging. It’s a three dimensional Hawaii, one that goes from luxury private bungalows to drug dealers and dance hall girls. There’s surfing and fishing and whoring and ghost hunting and wallowing in splendor and being an outsider and, well, it’s just a remarkable collection of short reads about Hawaii from a remarkable array of angles.

Because the selections are short, it’s great for reading while you’re in the islands when you either have to skip off to meet friends for sushi or you’ve fallen asleep in your hotel room with the windows open or you’re on the plane home trying to understand why, exactly, you’re on the plane home. It’s a fantastic read, I loved it and can’t recommend it enough, even for those who think they have an educated idea or two about the islands. It would make  nice gift for those who are Hawaii lovers or Hawaii bound.

If you get yours using this Amazon link, I get a few cents and it doesn’t cost you any extra. And hey, if you have must-reads for Hawaii, I’d love to see your recommendations. In the comments, please.