DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Dale Fishell, who retired in June from a 32-year career with Kmart, is the new vice president of operations for the Islander Group, a wholesale supplier of books, music and souvenirs.

Wholesaler not
ready to retire

Dale Fishell » New vice president of operations for the Islander Group, a wholesale supplier of books, music and souvenirs. The company, located in the Mililani Technology Park, is the parent of Booklines Hawaii, Aloha Music International and Maui Pacific Traders. » Retired from Kmart as Hawaii's district manager at the end of June after a 32-year career. He is 55.

I wanted to spend more time with my family and with my grandchildren and travel less. After almost 33 years in the retail business, you want to do something else after you've been in a career for so long.

I wanted to retire early so I can be an asset to someone else and do something else for a few more years before I fully retire.

I like working for the Islander Group. It's challenging. They've made me feel comfortable and welcomed.

I'm certainly challenged with working the wholesale business. I have plenty to learn still but I like doing what I'm doing and I like the company.

What is the Islander Group?

We are a wholesale distribution company.

A large core of our business is books. Our good customers in the state would be Waldenbooks, for example, and those folks.

We also do a decent large business to souvenir-type customers, ABC Stores and those shops in Waikiki.

We also do business with the Wal-Marts and the Kmarts of the world, primarily in those big-box retailers' souvenir departments.

How well have Hawaii Kmart stores fared compared with stores on the mainland? And why?

They've done well out here vs. the mainland.

Through all of the ups and downs that that Kmart has been through all the years, Hawaii Kmarts have done well. I think that the management teams out here are good and the stores do respectful volume and they are therefore successful.

What brought you to Hawaii?

I actually started here in 1991 to prepare the Nimitz Highway Kmart store for opening in 1992. That Nimitz store ended up being attached to my Orange County, Calif., district. After we got that store running and started to expand in Hawaii, I guess I was the natural district manager. One of the reasons that I've retired was because I also wanted to stay here. One of the ultimate goals is to work for the Islander Group for a few more years and then totally retire, live here during the winter months, and we have property on the mainland.