crazy4Hawaii,

When I questioned accountability, it was on the part of the author, not the consumer. If a guide book tells me to ignore the sign that is clearly posted and I choose do trespass, who is really accountable if I get injured?

If there is a policeman in the intersection directing traffic and signals you to stop on a green light, do ignore him and go anyway?

I have never read the book, but I do have friends who own property adjacent to one of the spots mentioned in the book who have had many problems in recent months with traffic, cars on their front lawn, trash and noise. They have noticed a sort of proprietary attitude from some visitors who one reason or another think that the information in the book takes precedence over legal access, trespassing private property. They even had one man pull out the book and point to the item on the page, as though this gave him free range to trepass. I have been told that in the book it tells readers to climb over the fence and essentially ignore the locked gate to access the site.

We also had a very nasty run-in at the Red Sand Beach in January with some very vocal visitors who hiked their entire group, four or five adults and a handful of children, including a toddler in a back pack down to the beach. The one man in the group had his Maui Revealed book in his hand as they came down the trail. They became very upset with a group of people who were sitting at the back of the beach and were nude. They were doing nothing lewd, simply sunning in the buff. Apparently they were offended by the nudity, and they were loudly expressing their disproval, and confronting the people. We got tired of listening to them and left. We have no idea why they didn't just leave, but they succeed in chasing off many of th eothers who were there that day. First of all, this is not a safe hike, and certainly not one to be made by children. The footing is very loose and it is dangerous for an adult. But, more importantly, does the book not mention that this is a very popular spot for nude sunbathing?

Now, perhaps none of this can be blamed directly on the book. I was raised to always behave respectfully when I was a visitor in someome's home, and some people seem to forget they are visitors here and should behave accordingly. But from what I have heard, the information in the Revealed books is irresponsible in encouraging people to ignore posted warnings and private property. And, no, these books may not be the only book in print that describes some of these place, but they are the only ones, as far as I know telling people to ignore a locked gate and climb over it.

An editorial in the Maui News some time back did mention an up-side to this: Once all of these hidden places have been trampled and they become too crowded to be enjoyed, visitors will stop going to them.

I must say that I have mixed feelings about this article. I respect those who feel their private properties are being trespassed and want it to stop.

What I don't understand are the people who don't use common sense. Is it really an author's fault if the reader jumps off the cliff when he tells them to do so? I have used both the Maui and Kauai Revealed books and found them extremely useful. BUT whenever a hike described a route that took me through private property I did not even attempt that route; whenever I went on a hike to an area that had warnings posted I heeded them (instead of getting washed away by a huge wave, etc).

As for the part of the author's reviews of restaurants and excursions - well, that's just it - it's a REVIEW. Not everyone has the same taste and not every experience is exactly the same for everyone. It's up to the reader to take in the opinion and see if it helps their decision. Hopefully they're smart enough to come to this web site and read LOTS of reviews to come to a better conclusion.

Cajun, in the case of the drowning at the Olivine Pools earlier this year, the criticism of the book is that it is written to imply that this is a 100% safe place, when in reality it is not. Unfortunately, too many people do not have experience with the ocean, or have the background and konwledge to understand or appreciate the cultural significance of some of the sites included in the book. This the problem with the section in the book that includes Ahihi-Kinau, and why there is a group here on Maui that have been asking the authors to rewrite this part of the book. While the area is not private property, it has great cultural significance and visitors to the area have caused some damage here, more out of ignorance than maliciousness.

I have the books and use them for my planning, but it's all the wonderful reviews I get here that solidify my choices. Fodors Talk rocks. I am so happy this site exists and fodors puts space on their serve to help us and it's FREE. Thanks Fodors.

here_today_gone2maui

Thanks for pointing that detail out to me. I think I DO tend to agree with that one.

Let's hope that the revealed authors can compromise by adding in warnings and SPECIFIC DETAILS about how to be safer while visiting Hawaii. I would rather have that happen than not have the info from those books.