“Slow down—this ain’t da mainland,” mixes with the spirit of aloha in this unusual book of the Big Island of Hawaii. What’s different from the mainland? Climate, beaches, volcanoes, aloha shirts, o’hana, shaka, pidgin, architecture, fishing, diving, fishponds, menehunes, turtles, humpback whales, golden plovers, hula, pig hunting, wine tasting, Kona coffee, shave ice, poi, Pele’s hair, blowholes, queen’s baths, petroglyphs, geckos, green flash, dogs and cats.

The author has visited the Big Island of Hawaii two or three times a year for the last 22 years, personally exploring the sights, talking with the locals and participating in the activities. Narrowing thousands of her photographs down to those included in this book was no easy feat.

Be forewarned: This is not a guidebook and not a personal vacation journal.