Covering all of the islands in detail, this is your Guide's favorite reference source about Hawaii, and winner of the Hawaii Visitor Bureau's "Best Guidebook" and "Overall Grand Excellence" awards. With 1,200 pages including 104 detailed maps, this book is a best buy.

Each island is handled in a separate section divided into chapters addressing such topics as the land; flora and fauna; history; government; the economy; the people; festivals; holidays and events; sports and recreation; shopping; accommodations; food; getting there; getting around; general information and services, as well as special topics applicable to each individual island.

Robert Nilsen, author of "Moon Handbooks: South Korea", has assumed the helm of this and all of the Hawaii series of Moon Handbooks previously written by the late J.D. Bisignani. Under Bisignani's authorship, these books were widely acknowledged as the premier guides to Hawaii. The sixth edition was released in late 2001 and is the first written by Robert Nilsen. It is a thorough update to the previous edition, providing totally updated information for each island. The good news is that the book continues the high standard set by the original author.

"Hawaii: The All-Island Guide" is much more than a mere tour book. It not only provides the visitor with the information that one needs to know to plan that perfect Hawaii vacation, but it also provides detailed information about the culture and history of each place of interest. In many ways, each section reads more like a self-contained travel novel than like a standard tour book. Yet, when the reader is seeking specific information, the book contains a comprehensive 30 page index of accommodations, restaurants, and other important information.

At over two pounds in weight, this book is much larger than other guide books. However, instead of taking several separate books, travelers can take this one volume and be confident that they have all of the information needed.