I recently had the opportunity to read “Hawaii true stories of the island spirit” This book was edited by Rick and Marcie Carroll who moved to the Hawaiian islands in the early 80’s. Over the years they have learned about the islands and themselves and have created this book to share their discoveries and the ways Hawaii changed their lives and touched the lives of the contributing authors. This book is filled with stories of island experiences; off the beaten path moments, sacred beauty, and special experiences that bring the true beauty of the islands to the reader.Â
 Having spent three years living in the islands I was touched by some of the stories in the book. I liked the fact that the book is compiled of many different people’s experiences, when one didn’t appeal to me there was another a few pages away that did. The book is easy to pick up, it’s cover is attractive and evokes an island feel. It’s stories are short enough to appeal to almost any reader and allowed me to read as I had the time. The contributing authors range from well known writers to never before published and native Hawaiians to first time visitors.
 Here is an excerpt I particularly enjoyed from the story Moonless Night on Kona. “I could see the men wearing mahiole and feather capes. They looked like warriors. There was no sound. It hit me like a lightning bolt. These were night marchers, a long procession of them. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I was as white as a sheet. Juanita was trying to talk to me, I kept telling her to be quiet, not to make a sound.
All the stories I had heard from my tutu and my dad came to mind. I kept pointing to the procession and telling Juanita about the movement, but she kept telling me there was nothing there. I don’t know how she could have missed them.”
“Upon overhearing our story an elderly Hawaiian woman walked up and told me not to fret. “Those night marchers were your “ohana, welcoming you to the place of your family’s beginnings. Don’t fear them, embrace them, for they will watch over you during your stay here.
 The publishers of this book, Traveler’s Tales Guides has an entire line of books written in this style. Among them, 30 Days in the South Pacific and 30 Days In Italy reviewed recently by World Eats and Reader Treats.