Discovering Hawaii is likely to be a lifetime labor of love, not easily accomplished during a two-week vacation. Yet insights do reward those travelers who approach the Islands and their people with open minds and hearts, humor, and humility, even if the encounters are brief. Travelers' Tales: Hawaii gathers compelling essays by major writers about this magical destination. The book features personal stories from new voices and literary stars. They include veteran travel writers, first-time visitors, Kamaaina residents, and native Hawaiians. The complexities of Hawaii — from its spiritual resonances to its inexplicable addiction to Spam — are beautifully conveyed in such varied essays as Rick Bass’s "Paradise Rising" and Rob Walsh’s "The Tropic of Spam." These stories reveal Hawaii in a way no ordinary travel book could, shedding light on why millions have traveled — and continue to travel — to these remote islands in search of paradise.