In 1989, June Tong published a modest little cookbook called “;Popo's Kitchen.”;

Released to mark the bicentennial of Chinese immigration to Hawaii, the collection of home-style recipes sold more than 40,000 copies, quite respectable for a self-published effort. It's been out of print for years.

Until now.

Tong has reprinted 2,000 copies of “;Popo's Kitchen”; and is selling them to benefit her neighbor, Morgan Tanaka, who has autism.

Morgan's mother, Lauralei Tanaka, says all of the proceeds will to toward her son's treatments, noting that health insurance doesn't cover most autism therapies.

She also notes that she and her husband, Jordon, can attest to the ease of using Tong's cookbook, with its 200 recipes for such dishes as Chinese Beef Tomatoes, Pot Roast Pork (Kau Yuk) and Tong's old favorites, Bar-B-Que P-Nut Chicken and Monk's Food (Jai). “;Every Chinese New Year I make two army pots,”; Tong says.

“;Popo's Kitchen”; is a community cookbook of the old school - every recipe tested by Tong many times, while cooking for her family and teaching Chinese cooking classes.

The original 5,000 copies were sold on behalf of a teenager with leukemia who was the grandson of Tong's bowling partners. Later sales benefited the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals Hawaii and the Chinese Bicentennial Committee. Eventually, Tong did sell some for herself.

In the years since, she's received many requests to reprint the book, but busy with caring for her ailing husband, she didn't have the time. He died 18 months ago, after eight years as an invalid, Tong said.

“;Now I have a little more time, but I'm a little older. I'll be 78 next year.”;

Beyond selling these copies for Morgan, Tong plans to close the book, so to speak on “;Popo's Kitchen.”; Instead, she's working on a new cookbook, with new recipes and updated, simplified versions of old ones.

Until then, note the quantity stated above: Only 2,000 copies. Better order fast.