Knowing how to identify trailside plants, and learning their historical uses and associated legends will greatly enrich your hiking experience. In A Hiker’s Guide to Trailside Plants, author John B. Hall introduces you to many of the species – both native and non-native – that you are likely to encounter on Hawaii’s trails.

For easy reference, plants in this handy book have been divided into the following climatic zones: Coastal, Dry Forest, Mesic Forest, Wet Forest, and Alpine. Each color-coded zone is further subdivided into Herbs, Shrubs, Trees, Vines, Ferns, and Miscellaneous. Along the way, the author points out notable features – leaf shape, flower color, and even taste – that will help you identify each plant.