In the Garden of Pineapples

Taking you to an emotional roller-coaster ride, this is a story full of sweet ironies. It is a narration of one's failures and triumphs; happiness and grief; loss and reunion. This story tells the humble beginnings of an Asian kid who, due to unfortunate events, had to try his luck in another land along with his family. Written by a voice that exudes passion plus the writer's subtle play in words goes beyond narration. It lets the character speak for itself-complete with some hints of humor and anti-character flaws. And yes, the story is just as intriguing as its title.
The narrator takes the driver's seat in telling his story. The narrator starts from the time his family moved to Hawaii from the Philippines in 1946. It is presented in a post-war context where most families in the Philippines are suffering from hunger and unemployment. These same reasons forced a migrant family to leave Asia and start a new life in the islands of Hawaii. But everything is not as easy as it seems. Some siblings are caught up by the unfortunate circumstance, need to stay behind. Reunion with his siblings in the latter part, however, tells yet another story of both love and longing which is marked by happiness in the end.

Life in Hawaii had not been easy. Successes came through hard work and perseverance. Sometimes, learned in a very hard way, too. The story also reveals high school life spent within the confines of elementary and high school. There he learned his paper route business which led him to acquiring a second-hand bicycle, a faithful companion to his adventures. The story plummets into his life after elementary and his adventures shared with friends Wilson, Mando, and Randy.
The story is crafted from the minds of an individual who is responsible for creating the fictional characters. If you have been reading the last adventures of the same individual, you know that he comes from an Asian descent and is currently residing in Hawaii. Challenged to chronicle his experiences to avoid it from being ceased from his memory. He has come up with a collection of stories that evoke bits and clues about his life. Tagged as "talk story" in the Hawaiian island, this narrative is teeming with enthusiasm and viewpoint about a life of fulfillment. Plus, it also gives away the same references to papaya and mango trees, Kauai Surf, and Hawaii life which you may have enjoyed from the past stories. With so much authenticity in voice, each chapter is irresistibly engaging minus the boredom of reading an autobiographical-sounding account.
It is a fictional take on reality and vice versa-something which you can surely enjoy amidst a cold weather and a cup of hot tea. But like what the author said in his introduction, if you do not know how to listen, then this book is not for you.

Pineapple Sam originated as a fictional character from the mind of Ismael Tabalno from Hawaii. He is an individual of Asian descent who decided to write story as a hobby when he retired.
Pineapple Sam loved to "talk story" as they say in the islands, now many of his friends and family can still listen or read about his adventures.