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Stories of AlohaWritten by Jocelyn Fujii 
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| Good grinds, great finds, and Hawai'i ’s liveliest minds are brimming between the covers of a released book. Look for a friend, family member, or neighborhood favorite in a new book highlighting the small family businesses and extraordinary individuals of Hawai'i . Local author Jocelyn Fujii and photographer Brett Uprichard released Stories of Aloha: Homegrown Treasures of Hawai'i in October 2009. The book is a compilation, with updates, of 140 articles culled from the hundreds of articles she wrote for Spirit of Aloha, the inflight magazine of Aloha Airlines, before the airline shut its doors in 2008. Local farmers, artists, designers, bakers, chefs, entrepreneurs, and purveyors of Island delights are featured in the book. The 264-page softcover also features extraordinary individuals leading ordinary lives, who inspire readers and perpetuate Hawai'i ’s best qualities. |
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Pono, the Dog that DreamsWritten by Jocelyn Fujii
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Meet Pono the Poi Dog, an unlikely new superhero, in Pono, the Dog that Dreams, written by Jocelyn Fujii and illustrated by Hawai'i artist Donna Burns. Based on a real-life poi dog named Pono, this children’s book chronicles the tales and adventures of a lovable puppy that rises from abandonment into a canine force with special friends and powers. The real-life Pono was rescued from a Maui shelter by Honolulu dog lover Larraine Koike, founder of Pono the Poi Dog Productions. Koike’s company brought “Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan to Honolulu for sold-out appearances in 2005 and 2006. Since those events, Koike has nurtured the idea of a children’s book series based on a dog named after pono, the Hawaiian word for righteous and correct. “It had to be a poi dog, representing the mixture of cultures in Hawai'i,” Koike comments. “And it had to be a story that takes readers on a journey through Hawai'i—not just the physical dimensions of the Islands, but also the cultural.” Pono is a German shepherd/border collie mix that grows from a modest, unremarkable puppy into a courageous superhero who strives to live up to his name. Characters such as a mo’o, a water spirit, and Nana, a wise Hawaiian elder, guide Pono through the labyrinths of life. The 40-page hardcover is a romp through island culture, spiced with layers of adventure, fantasy, and discovery. For information and purchase: ponopoidog@hawaii.rr.com |
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Forever BusterWritten by Martin Rabbett
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| One man’s powerful testament to the inexorable bond between a man and his dog, written passionately and poignantly in this 36-page children’s book. Watch Buster come alive in this delightfully illustrated book describing his life, passing, and ultimate immortality. As Rabbett makes clear in his enlightening and uplifting first book, even death cannot break the bonds between a dog and his beloved master. “It is said that energy cannot be created nor destroyed, which makes me believe that somewhere within the universe Buster’s energy still exists, as does the energy of all our departed loved ones,” writes Rabbett in his author’s note. “I choose to feel Buster in my heart, alive and spirited within me. May this little story lighten the burden of sadness when loss is at hand and turn a heavy heart to glad by nurturing the good memories that live within us.” Author Martin Rabbett has performed, produced, and directed for network television, Broadway, and regional theater, including the Berkshire Theatre Festival. Donna Burns is an artist, designer and consultant who specializes in island apparel, interiors and home accessories. |
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