Local authors and publishers have offered up tons — or at least a couple dozen pounds — of gift and coffee table books to suit various interests. Here's a sample:

"Architecture in Hawai'i: A Chronological Survey," by Rob Sandler and Julie Mehta; Mutual Publishing

The 1993 book is updated to include newer buildings like the Hawai'i Convention Center and Kapolei Hale, additions to the University of Hawai'i and Punahou School, the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Kaka'ako, and homes from the renovated low-income Kalihi Valley Homes to the new Moana Pacific luxury condominium.

"An Island Spa Experience," by Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi; Island Heritage

Veteran journalist Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi interviewed health experts and native Hawaiian healers across the state for a comprehensive healthy living guide that includes traditional Hawaiian health and beautification techniques, profiles of Hawaiian healers, a roundup of the state's best spas and tips on how to create a spa environment at home. The book also includes more than 200 resources for health and wellness retreats and events and manufacturers of spa products and accessories.

"Hawaiian Cowboys: A Photographic Journal," by Michal McClure and Dr. Billy Bergin; Island Heritage

Like cowboys elsewhere, Hawai'i's paniolos have changed with the times, but the lifestyle is still deeply rooted in tradition. Mainland photographer and essayist Michal McClure, with assistance from Big Isle veterinarian Dr. Billy Bergin, explores the Hawaiian cowboy life from ranch work to rodeos, with special attention to family and heritage.

"Honolulu Stadium: Where Hawaii Played," by Arthur Suehiro; Watermark Publishing

Baseball fans and Honolulu history buffs will appreciate this tribute. Now leveled and turned into a park, the Isenberg Street location was home to the Honolulu Stadium for 50 years. In a book sponsored by Hawaii Winter Baseball, it's not surprising that Hawaii Islanders baseball is prominently featured, but the book goes beyond that by adding nuggets of history. Sure, visits by baseball greats like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays are included, but the stadium hosted other sports as well, and it served as the venue for some of the city's biggest events, such as performances by Elvis Presley, Irving Berlin and Hopalong Cassidy.

"Sublime Beauty: Hawai'i's Trees," by Jim Wageman; Bishop Museum Press

You don't need to be a botanist to appreciate this pictorial essay, which begins with native trees and expands to include those brought over by canoe from around Polynesia and more recent arrivals. A blend of scenic and closeup photographs offer a comprehensive look at the trees that thrive in Hawai'i's diverse ecosystem and cultural quotes mixed with short captions add dimension without detracting attention from the lush art.

"USS Arizona: Warship, Tomb, Monument" and "Hawaii Homefront: Life in the Islands During WWII," by MacKinnon Simpson; Bess Press

During World War II, territorial Hawai'i was both a war zone and a homefront. In "USS Arizona," MacKinnon Simpson writes about the U.S. Navy's most famous ship, reminding us that the ship had a history before the bombing that killed 1,177 men aboard and plunged the country into WWII. In "Hawaii Homefront," Simpson looks at Hawai'i during the war, when more than 40 percent of Isle residents were classified "enemy aliens" by the government and the territory was a stopping place for more than a million soldiers and war workers.