REVIEWS OF HAWAII'S FISHES (excerpts)
These reviews pertain to the 1st edition. The 2nd is only better!

"New guide to Hawaii's fishes is a real pleaser"
by Harry Eagar. Maui News, Sunday November 21, 1993

There are too many guidebooks to Hawaii, yet not enough good ones. John Hoover's "Hawaii's Fishes" is one of the good ones.... Though I own numerous guides to natural history, it is already obvious that this is the one I am going to reach for first when somebody asks a question about reef fishes. That's because it covers every nearshore fish you're likely to encounter (Tuna and other offshore fishes are omitted.) It gives a meaningful amount of information on the behavior of each family of fishes and plenty of descriptive information about each species, including behavioral quirks.

There is information about where to see particular fish and a series of appendixes on invalid names (very handy sometimes), Hawaiian names, collecting, photography....

All in all, it's hard to imagine more useful information in such a small book, and useful to both residents and visitors alike.... The color printing is gorgeous. How Mutual Publishing can deliver this much color at the price is a mystery.

From a review by Michelle Blanchard in Freshwater and Marine Aquarium March 1994 .

...This little book is bursting at the seams with good, solid information... Throughout the book [the author] subtly teaches you Hawaiian history, culture, language, and customs.... Some of the photos will leave you gasping in disbelief--surely no fish could be so vivid! Virtually all the photos are close-ups, showing the fish to its best advantage.... Each photo lists the common, Linnaean (Latin), as well as the Hawaiian name for each fish. The data also includes the subject's habits, dietary needs, depth and habitat where found, how suitable it is to captivity, and whether it is endemic to Hawaiian waters. Species that change color as they mature are shown in the juvenile and terminal stages.

[The author] then proceeds to tell you the best locations to dive/snorkel on each of the main islands, with supporting maps. His individual location descriptions include what types of facilities are available (i.e bathrooms, parking, public transportation, etc.) He also tells you when it's a good time to dive, including not just the time of day and the months of the year, but weather, prevailing winds, surfs, currents, tides and water temperatures as well....

The author gives tips on catching your own fish. You'll learn that harvesting live rock is illegal in Hawaii. "Photographing Fishes" is filled with technical advice on which type of lenses and lights work best underwater. "Source Materials" and "Further Reading" cover a vast array of information sources....
The charm of the book lies in its gentle way of easing you into an underwater paradise.... By the time you finish "Hawaii's Fishes" you will feel as if you've been there....

From a review in the Hawaii Tribune Herald by Jim Witty.

It's a guidebook and more. In addition to providing basic nuts and bolts information on Hawaiian fish likely to be encountered while prowling the reef, Hoover includes many tidbits culled from ancient Hawaiian stories and fishing lore and hints for aquarists. Hawaii's Fishes also includes chapters on the state's undersea environment, fish anatomy, and where to snorkel and dive.