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Books and periodicals for the active mind
Honolulu-Waikiki Handbook
By J.D. Bisignani and Robert Nilson
Moon Travel Handbook
328 pages, paperback, $14.95What the "Honolulu-Waikiki Handbook: The Island of Oahu" lacks in glitzy graphics it more than makes up in gritty content. Photos are sparse and black and white, but maps are informative and well executed.
Most importantly, the authors pack more information into these compact 328 pages than most guide books.
About the first third of the handbook is devoted to the geography, history and demographics of the island, and Hawaii as a whole. Visitors who digest this well-researched offering before their trip should feel much less culture shock than the average tourist.
In addition to the usual information on food and lodging, the handbook does a particularly good job of illustrating the outdoor recreational opportunities available on Oahu. It also offers a calendar of annual events for those who want to get a head start on planning their itinerary.
Some of the more unusual insights offered by the authors include a brief but decent pidgin glossary, a longer and equally well thought-out Hawaiian glossary, and sections on such cultural characteristics as drug use and prostitution.
Though the book delves into the seamy side of Honolulu life, it speaks of the state and its residents with a great deal of affection and respect.
A first-time visitor to Oahu would be well-armed indeed with a copy of the Honolulu-Waikiki Handbook.
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