ISLAND AUTHORS
Writers draw on careers to inspire books

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

DIAS: Lecturer on criminal justice

Wahiawa native Gail Honda, president and CEO of Global Optima, co-authored "The Essential Guide to Internet Business Technology" with business partner Kipp Martin, a professor of computing technology at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Published by Prentice Hall, the book is scheduled for national distribution in late February.

Retired police major and homicide unit supervisor Gary Dias, meanwhile, has written a book on the life of a police officer based on his 27 years with the Honolulu Police Department. "Honolulu Cop" will be available in local bookstores in late May or early June, said publisher Benjamin Bess of Bess Press.

The books are first-time efforts for both Honda, 43, and Dias, 51.

HONDA: President, Global Optima

"I think the book is unique in that it's a business book about technology, but written for the nontechnical business professional," she said.

Global Optima is a Honolulu-based start-up business. Writing the book was the founders' first project.

Dias' book is not an autobiography but a "look back on my career," the Damien Memorial High School graduate said.

Dias, head of security at The Queen's Medical Center, is a lecturer on criminal justice at UH-West O'ahu, Chaminade University and Wayland Baptist University.

"In reality, police officers are like everyone else," Dias said. "In the book, I try to present what law enforcement is like in Hawai'i. It's my opinion, and I might ruffle a few feathers.

"Everything is true to life. There are some funny things, some serious. We look at alcoholism among police officers. ... One lighter story is how we accidentally set fire to the Kane'ohe police station."