We hikers are a restless bunch, and there are many fine trails beyond Oahu throughout our beautiful island chain.

These eight books describe hiking on the neighbor islands as well as on Oahu. Others have been written, but they are either out of print or not readily available.

Not surprisingly, three of the authors of books on Oahu trails also appear here, expanding their coverage to the rest of the state. Only three of the eight books include hikes on Molokai and Lanai.

Since these books cover many of the same trails, the choice becomes which ones cover them best. Listed below, in no particular order, are descriptions of these books, all of which are either available in stores that sell Hawaii books or online through Amazon.com and other websites.

"Hawaiian Hiking Trails,"
by Craig Chisholm (Fernglen Press, 1999, 152 pages)

This attractive book hasn’t been reprinted since 1999 and is difficult to find except at public libraries. It offers 49 hikes on six islands, including four on Lanai and three on Molokai. All hikes are well described, and excellent maps (trails superimposed on USGS topographic quads) are clear and easy to follow. Good black-and-white photos throughout the book are supplemented by a section of color photos at the beginning.

"Hiking the Hawaiian Islands,"
by Suzanne Swedo (Morris Publishing/FalconGuides, 2010, 252 pages)

Although subtitled "A Guide to 72 of the State’s Greatest Hiking Adventures," only 50 of them can be stretched to justify that description. The other 22 are a combination of nature loops, garden strolls and short walks to tourist features, half of which are less than a mile long. Nevertheless, the book offers a good selection of the best hikes on four islands. The information is well organized, with detailed introductory information for each hike, followed by a good description of the route. Maps lack geographic detail and are little more than lines on the paper. A useful feature is a "Trail Finder," which classifies hikes by activity level (easy, moderate, strenuous) and by features (backpacks, birds/wildlife, waterfalls, beaches/shoreline). The author has provided some excellent black-and-white photos, but the publisher has not taken care in reproducing them, giving some a muddy or underdeveloped appearance.

"Hiking in Hawaii,"
by Sara Benson and Jennifer Snarski (Lonely Planet, 2003, 240 pages)

Offering 57 hikes on five islands, this well-designed and organized book contains, page for page, more information between its covers than any of the others despite being the smallest in size. At 5 by 7 inches and a half-inch thick, it is hands-down the easiest to take along on a hike. A table of hikes at the beginning of the book lists them by island, duration, degree of difficulty and main features. Fine color photography appears throughout, excellent two-color maps are provided for every hike, and lots of sidebars present interesting related information. It is one of only two books that provide guidance on places to stay and eat. Its adherence to the typical Lonely Planet format makes it a good choice for first-time visitors.

"Adventuring in Hawai‘i,"
by Richard McMahon (University of Hawai‘i Press, 2003, 363 pages)

Although this book covers many other outdoor activities, its 49 hikes on six islands qualifies it for inclusion here. As the name of the book implies, it tries to select hikes that are "adventures" rather than routine walks in the woods. Because it lacks maps for some of the hikes, it is more useful as a reference than a trail guide. Also, because it is organized by activity on each island (hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, etc.), the hiking sections are mixed in with these activities.

"Hawaii’s Best Hiking Trails,"
by Robert Smith (Hawaiian Outdoor Adventures Press, 2004, 311 pages)

Robert Smith should probably be considered the dean of authors of Hawaii hiking books. This book was first published in 1982, and his Oahu book first came out in 1978. He has also published three other hiking books for Hawaii, Maui and Kauai. Over the years, they have all been published in numerous editions. Here, Smith selects an astounding 115 trails from six islands. This total has been helped by including many of the interconnected trails in the Hono­lulu Mauka Trail System and Kokee State Park’s spider web of short trails, but the list is still impressive. Route descriptions tend to be short, and maps are mostly lines drawn on blank paper with geographic features sketched in. Black-and-white photos throughout the book are sometimes underexposed, but the color photos in the center of the book are attractive. A three-page hiking chart provides a lot of information in table format. I keep this book handy for descriptions of trails not found anywhere else.

"The Hikers Guide to the Hawaiian Islands,"
by Stuart M. Ball Jr. (University of Hawai‘i Press, 2000, 299 pages)

Hikers familiar with Stuart Ball’s fine guide to hiking on Oahu will be completely at home with this book. Using a similar format, he selects 44 hikes from four islands. His maps are again USGS topographical quads with trails superimposed upon them, and they provide a clear understanding of trail and terrain features. Waypoints on the maps are well keyed to the trail descriptions, which are detailed and easy to follow. Notes accompanying each trail description contain information about flora, history and other significant facts. A two-page hike summary provides trail information in table format, and an eight-page section of excellent color photos occupies center space in the book.

"The Backpackers Guide to Hawai‘i,"
by Stuart M. Ball Jr. (University of Hawai‘i Press, 1996, 130 pages)

Choosing to separate backpacking trips from day hikes, Ball describes 10 trips on four islands in this small volume. His selections qualify as including the best backpacking experiences in Hawaii. The previous book description serves just as well here, so I won’t repeat it. Fine color photography and detailed topographic maps are hallmarks of Ball’s books, and he does not disappoint.

"Frommer’s Best Hiking Trips in Hawaii,"
by Pamela Wright, David Thompson and Michael Tsai (Frommer’s, 2009, 288 pages)

Like the Lonely Planet, being a member of a family of tourist guide books gives Frommer’s an advantage in professional formatting and appearance. Offering 60 hikes on five islands, the book conforms to its title by nominating the best hikes in nine categories (including the best family, cultural, coastal and waterfall hikes). There are best "accommodations" and "best restaurants" as well. One chapter suggests itineraries to get the most out of hiking on each island. Trail descriptions are aided by a star rating system, and a table of hikes furnishes information about each trail. GPS readings are given for each trail head, the only book to do so. Maps lack geographic detail but show waypoints keyed to the text and include elevation profiles. A short selection of color photos opens the book. Hono­lulu Star-Advertiser staff writer Michael Tsai, a dedicated hiker on four continents, wrote the Oahu chapter.

"Adventurer’s Hawai‘i,"
by Peter Caldwell (Taote Publishing, 2013, 236 pages)

Although not a hiking guide in the usual sense, this book puts the icing on the cake for all the others. It has no trail descriptions or maps, but what it does have is page after page of stunningly beautiful photos of places you can get to only by trail or kayak. The author intersperses stories and comments throughout striking images of unspoiled, out-of-the-way places on six islands. This just-published new addition almost doubles the size of its predecessor. It is a treasure for anyone with a love for outdoor Hawaii. Even if you are not a hiker or kayaker, this book will make you yearn to get up and go.

Richard McMahon is the author of “Adventuring in Hawai‘i” and other outdoor books. He has led hiking trips worldwide for Mountain Travel Sobek and REI. His latest book is a historical novel, “The Dark Side of Glory.” Read his Hono­lulu Star-Advertiser article on Oahu hiking guide books at goo.gl/niOujx.