125 Fun Facts About Humpbacks Paul H. Forestell and Gregory D. Kaufman Island Heritage Publishing, 51pp, $9.95

Did you know that when a humpback whale sings, it usually remains suspended 50 to 70 feet, head down, tail up underwater? It remains motionless except for the ‘gentle sculling of the pectoral fins.’ Jeez. And you thought patting your head and rubbing your belly was hard.

Authors Paul H. Forestell and Gregory D. Kaufman compiled 124 tidbits just like that in their book 125 Fun Facts About Humpbacks. How much ‘fun’ you have while reading this slim tome really depends on how interested you are in those barnacle-ridden sea creatures, but considering the popularity of whale watching as a past time in Hawai’i, this book should please its niche.

Also scattered throughout the factoids are color photos that are not only breathtaking, with giant tails splashing in the ocean and hulking masses breaching and turning in mid-air, but also informative. The book is divided into sections like anatomy, physiology and mating, but most gruesomely intriguing is the parasites and predators chapter. Among the well-known killer orcas and commercial hunters, are more arcane dangers like circular scars caused by the ‘cookie cutter’ shark. Alas, no pictures of that creature, but the grisly marks are there. Worth picking up for ocean adventurers. –R.S.

Hawai’i, a Pictorial Celebration Ellie Crowe Photography by Elan Penn Sterling Publishing Co., 160pp, $14.95

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What better adornment for a coffee table than a coffee table book? And what better coffee table book than Hawai’i, A Pictorial Celebration? This hardback book highlights the beautiful nuances of nature, the authority and history of structure and the vibrant culture of the Hawaiian Islands with picture and prose. The book opens up with a brief but detailed history of the Islands spanning from the islands’ volcanic inception, early inhabitants and contact by Captain Cook through a budding Honolulu and the picturesque Waikiki of the early 20th century. Sepia prints of ancient Hawaiian warriors tell a story of their own. The pictorial journey is grouped into chapters that explore the unique facets of the Islands in depth–volcanoes, natural landscape, early civilization, church and state and the Hawai’i of today. The vivid photos are enhanced by insightful anecdotes and plenty of bet-you-didn’t-know facts.

This book is a well-rounded introduction to the Islands and is perhaps better suited to a mainland Hawaiiphile than kama’aina. –K.W.

Hydrology of the Hawaiian Islands L. Stephen Lau and John F. Mink University of Hawai’i Press, 274pp, $59

Fresh water is a valuable commodity in the Hawaiian Islands. Over millions of years, hydrology has shaped the Islands and as of late, it has shaped the growth of our island society. Hydrology is the science of the movement, distribution and quality of water–and the focus of this book.

The hardback seems to be geared toward the third-year geography major rather than the general public, but don’t let that stop you from exploring the importance of water for these islands. A bit burdened by jargon and data, the book is perfect for the home scientist. –K. W.

Growing Palm Trees in Hawai’i and Other Tropical Climates David Leaser Mutual Publishing, 128pp, $12.95

David Leaser is more than just familiar with palm trees–he’s an expert. With two books about palms and numerous journal articles under his belt, he has become a sought-after speaker and authority of the palm. And in this, his third book, Leaser combines basic how-to knowledge with captivating photography of many palm species.

Of the 2,500 species of palm found around the world, Leaser focuses on 80 species that are best suited to thrive in the tropics. A full color photograph–most useful for species identification–and a short blurb about the region of origin, light requirement, water needs and maximum growth height is given for each noted palm. He concludes the book with brief lessons on planting, transplanting, growing palms from seed, maintenance and pests and diseases. The language is suitable for the beginner and the information is precise and to the point. He even includes contact information for botanical gardens in Hawai’i and palm organizations from around the world. A must for the home gardener. –K.W.

Surfer’s Guide to Hawai’i Greg Ambrose Bess Press, 209 pp, $15.95

If you can wade through all the Hollywood surfer-dude lingo and totally tubular cliches, then Greg Ambrose’s Surfer’s Guide to Hawai’i has something to offer for the rookie island surfer.

This O’ahu-centric surf guide focuses mainly on the south and north shores of O’ahu, and manages to list a few waves on the neighboring islands in the more populated towns. Each surf spot is ranked with the vitals: type of wave and direction it breaks, best swell direction, wind direction, type of board to use, hazards, amenities and girls on the beach. The breaks are also mapped out to show roads, parking and coastline features. It’s not a comprehensive guide, but more of a general overview of the prime locations.

Ambrose spares newbies from the wrath of the reef by giving detailed descriptions of the surf zones and the waves themselves. He lets the reader know where the channels are for an easy paddle out and shallow spots in the reef to be avoided at all costs.

In this surf guide, the crowded lineups and unobliging locals are of a fiercer variety than any reef shark. To this, Ambrose gives one piece of advice: smile. –K. W.

Honolulu Weekly Recommends

Barefoot On Lava Edited by Neal. L. Evenhuis Bishop Museum Press, 410pp, $29.95

The Bishop Museum, as it has become known to do, has compiled old information, edited it so as to be reader-friendly (in this case, it’s Neal Evanhuis who holds the red pen) and bound it all together in a book that even the not-so-buffed-in-history can appreciate.

The subject of Barefoot on Lava is the highly revered–among his peers, certainly, but also among anyone who envies the expertise of a genius–naturalist and Hawaiian Island-species expert R.C.L. Perkins.

Perkins was the man behind Fauna Hawaiiensis, a three-volume work from the early 20th century that covers most terrestrial animal groups in Hawai’i.

The fieldwork and collections on which that book was based were mostly conducted by Perkins, who could merely look at an organism and identify its species.

Though many of Perkins’ original field notes have been lost, herein lies the surviving notes of the naturalist. Lava is a compilation of Perkins’ journals during his seven years in Hawai’i collecting zoological data, as well as letters to Perkins from his patrons.

The pages are dense with type–too dense to read through in a sitting–but flip to any page and find interesting little tidbits, like a colleague, Alfred Newton, asking Perkins to please trade one of his birds for a much coveted dragonfly that is in the custody of the Bishop Museum.

‘We want it badly,’ Newton writes. ‘Only three specimens known and all in the British Museum.’

–Kawehi Haug