Oahu Revealed

This travel book of Oahu definitely lives up to its claim of being "The Ultimate Guide To Honolulu, Waikiki & Beyond."  Someone recommended it to me last week so I went to Borders and bought a copy ($16.95, but I'm sure you could find it online for cheaper).  Unlike most travel publishers who send one or two writers to a given location for a few weeks to become "experts," Oahu Revealed is written by people who actually live on the island for a minimum of 2 years.  They hike the trails, ride the boats, eat in the restaurants, explore the reefs, and do the things they write about.  I am also inclined to agree with their claim that they do not get any kickbacks for reviews because they have some scathing reviews of certain places.  I have tried to read travel books before, all with the same result.  They try to do too much for too big an area and only provide a one sentence description of whatever it is the book is talking about.  In so doing, travel books are often boring, cover too much information, and never give enough detail to actually tell you how to get to where they're referring the reader.  So I get bored, put the book down, and call it a day.

Not Oahu Revealed.  I actually started reading it on my commute every day.  It's interesting, has pictures, has maps, and GIVES DIRECTIONS.  Yes, when the book says, "oh, you should go to Lanikai" it tells you what is there, what to expect, where to park, and how to actually get there.  It will give street names and an address (so you can GPS it if you want).  I am actually enjoying reading it and have gotten some great ideas for places to go.  If you're planning a trip to Oahu, I highly recommend the book.