By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

File Jeremy Harris' new book under "fantasy."

According to a city press release, the book "chronicles the mayor's 10-year quest to revitalize O'ahu and make Honolulu a model sustainable city."

The 220-page book, titled "The Renaissance of Honolulu," bears little resemblance to real life in this town, with pretty aerial photos taken from far enough away so you don't see the junked cars, the trash, the homeless problem, the substandard housing and the maddening traffic.

Sustainable? Honolulu?

But the grandest fantasy of all is that this book will "pay for itself."

Harris generously set aside $75,000 of city taxpayer money for his book. City managing director Ben Lee was quoted as saying the proceeds of the book would go back into the city's general fund to recoup the cost.

Except the math doesn't work.

The book retails at $19.50.

To make back that $75,000 the city would have to net $15 per book in the 5,000-copy first run.

The cost per book, which was printed locally, is around $12, Lee said.

Bookstores generally take a 40 percent cut of the retail price. Borders, for one, isn't giving the mayor any special deal. Book distributors (and this book has one) traditionally take another 18 percent to 20 percent.

Pay for itself? How? Sure looks like the thing's in the puka already.

Lee says he was not misquoted in news stories as saying the project would "pay for itself," but he adds: "It's not a requirement.

"We anticipate there will be future printings. We hope that some of the visitor industry and some of the hotels will use this as a coffee talk book, certainly not for all their hotel rooms but maybe for some of their VIP rooms. ... We just thought it was nice to have at least the proceeds go back to the general fund to pay for a part of the book or perhaps if there's future printings it would pay for all the fixed costs."

The content of the book itself is fantasy, starting with the first page — a lovely shot of Magic Island like you've never seen it before. The photo was taken from the ocean and far enough away so that you can't see all the homeless people and the parking problems.

On Page 37, a photo shows a pretty park with a lovely water feature. The caption reads: "The seedy core of downtown Honolulu has been revitalized with the Chinatown Gateway Plaza and Park."

What?! That park has perpetual problems with homeless people and drug traffic. It reeks of urine. Even the pigeons look sickly. Guess that was "Photoshopped" out.

The most egregious misrepresentation is the photo on Page 125 of Hanauma Bay — the parking lot is nearly empty and there's no one on the beach! As if!

The project is meant to reflect Harris' years as Honolulu mayor, and you know? It really does.

Reach Lee Cataluna at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.