BEN: A Memoir, from Street Kid to Governor
BEN: A Memoir, from Street Kid to Governor by Benjamin J. Cayetano
BEN: A Memoir, From Street Kid to Governor is the long-awaited autobiography of Benjamin J. Cayetano—the nation’s first Filipino-American governor—whose political career spanned a seminal period in Hawai‘i’s history. Offered in softcover and limited-edition hardcover, this revealing, 560-page book provides a rare look at the inner workings of Island society and government—from ethnic voting to the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, from the Bishop Estate controversy to the backroom maneuvering of politicians and business leaders.
Released in February 2009, BEN: A Memoir has appeared on the Hawai‘i bestsellers list more than 20 times, charting at #1 more than 15 of those times.
David Shapiro, columnist for The Honolulu Advertiser, calls it “... one of the most important books ever written on Hawai‘i politics .... It’ll still be in circulation 30 years from now.”
Says veteran political consultant Joseph Napolitan: “Cayetano explains the intricacies and convolutions of Hawai‘i politics better than anyone ever has. This is must reading for understanding how government in the Aloha State really works.”
In his review, MidWeek columnist Dan Boylan called it “The best book on Hawaii politics since Lawrence Fuchs’ Hawai‘i Pono.”
Born and raised in the blue-collar neighborhood of Kalihi, Ben Cayetano worked his way through UCLA and Loyola Law School and served four terms in the Hawai‘i State Legislature, two in the House of Representatives and two in the State Senate, before being elected lieutenant governor under Gov. John Waihee. Cayetano’s 28 consecutive years in public office were crowned by his own administration, during which he served as Hawai‘i’s governor from 1995 through 2002.
Besides its behind-the-scenes view of Island politics, the new memoir presents a vivid account of Cayetano’s personal life—including early encounters with Hawai‘i’s ethnic pecking order, his youthful brushes with the law and his mother’s struggles with prescription drug addiction—private experiences that would later shape his views on public policy.
A pre-publication excerpt ran in HONOLULU Magazine while Cayetano was still finishing up his last chapters.
BEN: A Memoir has been reviewed and Governor Cayetano interviewed by numerous publications and media outlets. Visit the publisher’s Web site for a complete list, including links.
Author: Benjamin J. Cayetano
Hardcover & Softcover, 568 pp
Release Date: February 2009
ISBN 978-0-9790647-0-8 (softcover); 978-0-9821698-0-3 (hardcover)
$19.95 retail price (softcover); $50.00 retail price (hardcover)
Tags: Ben Cayetano, Watermark Publishing
