Tag Archive: hiking

Kauai Trailblazer 2025: “The Patagonia of Travel Books”

When Trailblazer Travel Books were first published in the 1990s, one reviewer (Midwest Book Review) called them “The Patagonia of travel books, well-written and designed, ingeniously organized, and produced by people who are… Continue reading →

HAWAII: WHOSE BEACH IS IT, ANYWAY?

All beaches in Hawaii are public. Put a big asterisk here. About 80 percent of the beaches in the islands are easily reached, but for many other gems getting to the beach can… Continue reading →

Trailblazer’s Hawaii Guides: Adventure in your Pocket. Memories in the Bank.

Hawaii means different things for different people, offering a mind-boggling array of choices. With Trailblazer guides, no matter where you are, you can answer the question, “I wonder what’s down that road?” Some… Continue reading →

The worst way to screw up on your Hawaiian vacation

For sure, lost luggage and sunburn can be a bummer, but we can all agree that the best (worst) way to ruin a vacation is dying. Sadly, about one person a month is lost to a fatal accident in Hawaii while recreating. Happily, virtually all of these deaths can be avoided.

Oahu’s Mt. Olympus: The Wild Green Yonder above Waikiki

Fifteen minutes after twirling a cocktail umbrella at Waikiki Beach, you can be embarking on one of the best tropical ridge hikes in Hawaii. The trek to Mt. Olympus (as students at the… Continue reading →

A short trip to the Top of the World — TRAILBLAZER HAWAII

Mauna Kea on the Big Island is easily the highest mountain in the world—about 43,000 feet when measured from its base that lies about 5 miles below sea level. The next tallest is… Continue reading →

This may be Kauai’s top hike:

Kauai has many hikes that score a perfect 10—and you just can’t get better than sublime. But the Awa’awapuhi Trail may get the top vote among many visitors. It’s freaking breathtaking.  Just the… Continue reading →

“Tweeting” in Hawaii used to take many days

In ancient Hawaii (the first Polynesians arrived from Marquesa around 200 A.D.) the only way to send a message other than by speaking was to etch out a symbol in smooth lava rock.… Continue reading →