Benjamin "Buddy" Bess, Publisher of Bess Press (wearing lei), presented a generous donation of 3,000 copies each of "Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope and Redemption" and "IZ: Voice of the People" to the Hawaii State Public Library System on December 3. The books are worth a combined total of more than $100,000. Joining in the book presentation are (from left) Carol Mon Lee, Chairperson of the Board of Education's Committee on Legislation, Public Charter Schools & Public Libraries; Susan Nakata of Library Development Services; Ann Fujioka of Technical Support Services; and State Librarian Richard Burns. Photo is courtesy of HSPLS.

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Bess Press, an independent Honolulu book publishing company, offered a generous donation today of recent “Top 20 Bestsellers” – “Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope and Redemption” and “IZ: Voice of the People” – to the Hawaii State Public Library System.

“Hawaii Warrior Football,” written by J. David Miller features a Forward by former UH Head Football Coach June Jones. Author Rick Carroll’s “IZ: Voice of the People” includes a Forward by Marlene Kuupua Kamakawiwoole (wife of the late musician Israel Kamakawiwoole).

Benjamin “Buddy” Bess, Publisher of Bess Press, presented 3,000 copies of each book worth a combined total of more than $100,000 to State Librarian Richard Burns and Carol Mon Lee, Chairperson of the Board of Education’s Committee on Legislation, Public Charter Schools & Public Libraries.

“We are very grateful to Buddy Bess and Bess Press for their overwhelming generosity and sincere aloha for Hawaii’s public libraries during this holiday season,” said Burns. “Hawaii Warrior Football,” the most authoritative and significant book in the history of University of Hawaii football, and “IZ: Voice of the People,” which presents the life and times of Israel Kamakawiwoole, one of Hawaii’s greatest musicians, will be added to enhance our sports and music collections, respectively, and are scheduled to be part of various library promotions in the near future.”

Interested book publishers who would like to make a donation that would benefit all readers in Hawaii are encouraged to call the Office of the State Librarian at 586-3704.