I have hiked just about every trail on Oahu and many trails on the other Hawaiian Islands. Plus, I am a writer and avid reader. As such, I have developed a good sense for what are the best books about hiking, backpacking, and camping in Hawaii. Here is the list.
- For hiking on Oahu, the top tome is Stuart Ball's The Hikers Guide to Oahu
. When I first began hiking in 1993, I carried this book (or photocopied pages from this book) with me on just about every trail I hiked. I even bought a second copy, one for my backpack while hiking and another for my home library. Best book on Oahu hiking, bar none.
- For backpacking in Hawaii, Stuart Ball has also written the primo book: Backpacker's Guide to Hawaii. Ditto my comments above buth for backpacking. While it is true that there are not a slew of backpacking opportunities in Hawaii, for the outings that exist, Ball has written the most detailed and comprehensive guide. This is a must have for anyone who wants to backpack in Hawaii, especially the little-known routes like the Koolau Summit Trail.
- For hiking on the other islands, Stuart Ball is again the kingpin author with his book Hikers Guide to the the Hawaiian Islands. No one has matched Ball's comprehensiveness for hiking on the other major Hawaiian Islands, so this book is a good resource. While not extensively thorough, this book covers the major trails in the islands, with good pictures as well.
- For the botanically inclined, an excellent book about trailside flora is John Hall's A Hikers Guide to Trailside Plants in Hawaii. Hall is a retired University of Hawaii professor and scientist and a legendary hiker. A great read.
- While not a comprehensive trail guide, Peter Caldwell's Adventurer's Hawaii is a good read for those who are looking for recollections of great outdoor adventures in Hawaii.
