Best-kept Secrets of Hawaii presents this stunning American state, which sits in splendid isolation in the middle of the Pacific, well over 3,000 km (2,000 miles) from its nearest neighbour, in easily digestible sections, taking you on a trip around the key windward islands of the group - from verdant Kauai ('The Garden Isle'), mountainous Maui ('The Valley Isle') and the big island of Hawaii ('The Orchid Isle'), to sublime O'ahu ('The Gathering Place'), and the little gems of Lana'i and Moloka'i. Discover the superabundance of waterfalls, from Haleakala National Park's striking Waimoku Falls to Wailuku River State Park's picture-postcard Rainbow Falls; contrast the rocky red Waimea Canyon with the shimmering rain-drenched greenery of the state's highest peak, Mount Wai'ale'ale; imagine yourself hiking among the steaming lushness of the Iao Valley or riding the rollers at top surfing spot Hamoa Beach; experience the peaceful beauty of Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden or the stark and volatile side of nature evinced by the active shield volcano Kilauea, one of many volcanoes that created the islands; soak up the cultural history of the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park or revel in the modern yet idyllic city of Honolulu - the list is endless. The sheer variety inherent in these beautiful islands offers something for everyone. AUTHOR: Michael Kerrigan (author) has written on the history, mythology, arts and culture of many different countries, from India to Ireland and from Mongolia to Peru. His abridgements of The Journals of Lewis and Clark (2004) and Charles Darwin s Voyage of the Beagle: The Journals that Revealed Nature s Grand Plan (2005) presented the explorers own journals, in their own words, for modern readers. More recently he has been author of Best-kept Secrets of Paris (2012), Undiscovered Wales (2015) and A Dark History of China (2019). A longstanding contributor to the Times Literary Supplement, he lives with his family in Edinburgh. 150 illustrations