Notes From The Publisher

 Plenty Saimin, is our first publication hosting a wonderful and talented new author residing in Hawaii, Feng Feng Hutchins. Plenty Saimin also features an amazing illustrator with roots in Nanakuli, Adriano F. Abatayo III. Although he moved to California with his family when he was a boy he never forgot his aloha for this place.

As publishers, over the years some of the submissions we've received have gone on to be published by other Hawaii publishing houses. Nothing we had received touched us with its message quite like this one has— it fits right in with our books of encouraging lessons told through island style living.

Story Line: When Ah Kee brings friends together for his birthday they offer a little something to add to the soup pot, then what have they got? Plenty Saimin! This book is a tribute to the late 1950's rural life style here in Hawaii. A time when folks farmed the land and took care of one another so naturally. Something we'd like to always remember, continue to practice and pass on to youngsters—just another one of the wonderful things about Hawaii.

For me, arriving in the late 1970's I really liked the idea of everyone pitching in when we went to someone’s house for a meal. The fact that we didn't have much money was part of it but the fun part was trying all the different kinds of food. I'm happy to say my family and friends still do this when we get together— I hardly ever go to someone's house without bringing a little something to eat.

Island Paradise Publishing was created out of the need to create in 2000. I have been blessed with the entrepreneur spirit as far back as I can remember, at times a curse, but more so— a joy.

For the last 15 years writing and publishing has been the creative vehicle. As a homemaker this has worked out quite well because the business of writing and publishing picture books takes time—allowing me to handle the needs at home as well as a business. It started out with wanting to write a story for our son and over the years has become four picture books on bookshelves throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

My read aloud Kimo stories are about life lessons, told through island style living, which, has influenced me so dearly. In each storybook I have taken into consideration some of the great lessons of life that young readers, our son, and children everywhere are going through. For instance, when they hear and eventually read for themselves, the story Surf' s Up For Kimo, they hear the encouragement to never give up, that it's not easy, but with work they can achieve whatever they want out of life.

In Kimo's Summer Vacation, the message of 'there's no place like home' is woven through Kimo's adventures around where he lives, after he thought he was really missing out on something better, somewhere else. In the third book, Kimo's Surfing Lesson, Kimo finds things are not always as they appear. The lesson of not judging someone for how they look or dress may allow for a new friend.

Each book came on its own time and took about two years to finish. The first book allowed enough excitement and encouragement (or maybe I should say courage?) to write and produce another. After each book was released it took some time to muster up the courage again.

The Kimo series has won two awards and has sold over 30,000 copies. Surf’s Up For Kimo is under option for an independent live action film. Plenty Saimin recently won two awards for the Hawaii Book Publishers Association and is half way through the first printing.

A hui hou,
Kerry Germain
Author/Publisher
Island Paradise Publishing