http://kgmb9.com/kgmb/display.cfm?storyID=8153#revealed

I thought I would post this article again for a few newcomers who might not realize the controversy behind their favorite travel guide.

I would invite those who have not - to search this forum and tripadvisor travel forum to make you own conclusions regarding these guides, and whether when educated you will still recommend them. (blue book, blue bible, revealed books etc)

There are many reasons to love these books, but buyer beware.

On that note, there was a story in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin about a week ago describing how a man barely survived a 40-foot fall off a cliff at Makapuu Point on the east shore of Oahu. He and his wife had left a marked path and were hiking on an unmarked trail described in a guidebook, when the man fell about 20 feet, landed on a ledge and then fell another 20 feet to another ledge below. The man was conscious and alert, but had some trauma injuries from falling on the sharp and jagged rocks when a helicopter crew airlifted him out.

I don’t have a copy of the Ultimate “blue bible” Guide for Oahu, but it would be interesting to see if it advises going off-trail at Makapuu Point

That link doesn't seem to be working for me. Is that article still active. I am looking for a good guidebook for Kauai. Any suggestions?

I am a veritable safety nut, maybe that's why I don't find these books threatening for myself, in that I pick up on their warnings - even the subtle ones.

They often say to check conditions with locals & officials & that conditions can vary greatly. They also strongly encourage use of common sense, though I think some people prefer not to listen to theirs.

I do own/use a copy for each of the major four islands & have found them very helpful guides.

There are several cautionary statements in their articles regarding this beach & trail as they tell you how to get there & describe what is there.

What I like about this guide is that it is easy to use, great maps & descriptions & pictures.

I avoid any of the areas some indicate are 'controversial' in regards to trespassing, as I don't need to do that to enjoy myself in Hawaii.
There is plenty to do without inflaming/offending anyone who lives there, and that would ruin the spirit of the trip IMO.

We have used the last three editions of "The Big Island Revealed" and have found them to be very accurate, and to include warnings when conditions may be unsafe.

I could not find the article on the link, so I don't know what it said. But I just want to say that anyone with good sense would not be misled by anything in the books.

We used the books in Hawaii last summer and loved them! We used our own judgement to decide if what we were doing was safe or not. The books contain many warnings about unsafe places. As with anything else, you have to use your own common sense! You should not leave marked trails, especially when cliffs are involved!

In addition to trails, the book also provides useful information on restaurants and places to visit. I think they are invaluable resources.

i own the ultimate kauai revealed, and i'm unsure as i'm not really THAT adventurous. so i'm going to purchase a few other books and see if they offer anything else. I do appreciate their food reviews however, since i am a foodie.

in the early nineties we found big island revealed revealed a trail that trespassed on our property. we wrote letters, that were ignored until we threaten legal action, sadly. they left most of it in there but with a disclaimer.

FYI cabrack - the original post was done in March 2007, which is probably why it doesn't work now.
Deb

There was a death at Kipu Falls on Kauai the other day.

Private property, but according to the owners, tons of people have been making the trek ever since it was written up in Kauai Revealed.

Try these two article links for more perspective.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar.../ln/ln01a.html

http://starbulletin.com/2007/08/26/news/story03.html

Thanks for posting those articles, hawaiifanatic.

We're planning a trip to Maui and the Big Island this fall, and when I found a used copy of Maui Revealed, I bought it just to see what all the fuss is about.

So far, it's been very helpful as I'm looking at Kihei condos, but I think their warnings about dangerous spots on hikes could be more strongly worded, as could their comments on the EMI properties.

Lee Ann

Infamous, if you are planning to get few other guide books for Kauai anyway, why not look into Kauai Underground Guide by Lenore Horowitz? It must be in its 20th edition by now. This one is of Biblican importance, IMO.

Anna Roz

anna, i'll look into it. thanks.

As the original poster of this, I do not recall which article I was sharing. I will see if I can find a new link. I think it was an article in which one of the authors were interviewed regarding the many complaints. The answers were flip, arrogant and complacent dismissals of any responsability.

Again, I will search for the article, if this is in fact the post I recall regarding that interview, and the answers I found very disturbing from Andrew Doughty/

you're sistahlou, too? i learn something new. i saw you wrote you were gyppie. just don't et banned as k-lani, ok?

as far as the blue books goes. i have no problem since they've made corrections from their first print. the trail on our property is by permission only and we grant that to certain groups. kauai too, lots of sites privy to some not printed in kauaiunderground. but its private property and at least kug is respectful. same goes for maui. oahu on the otherhand...

Being encouraged to ignore "no trespassing"signs has been a big problem with the books and sometimes has resulted in more than just property-owner anger, as this story illustrates (look for it in the lower right of the webpage)....

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...ok-flood_x.htm

I have three of the guidebooks, and I think they do a good job of telling people not to go where they shouldn't.
And nowhere in my books do they encourage trespassing on private property; maybe that was something from the first editions?

I hope that's true. I recall reading the story at the (no longer active) link that sistalou posted at the beginning of this thread and the authors were expressing stubborn refusal to make such revisions. I always felt that if they would make these revisions all would be well with the guides. Perhaps it got to the point where there was enough hue and cry that they thought it better to opt on the side of respecting private property and encouraging safety rather than reckless action. I don't have the latest "Maui Revealed" at my fingertips. As a test case, do they still advocate going into the Olivine Pools? And if so, what kinds of precautions do they include?

My used copy of Maui Revealed has a 2006 copyright; I don't know if they have updated it since.

Olivine Pools - they say (really condensing here) the rocks can be slippery; high surf at high tide or prolonged heavy rain can ruin the area; big waves could make it dangerous; don't get too close to the ocean; don't get too close to the blowhole; there is a faint trail to the pools ("footing can be awkward and a bit slippery"). But they still advocate going there.

Lee Ann