It's early Thursday afternoon, and Gloria Estefan's time is short.

"Ten minutes," her manager says bluntly over the phone, "then I have to cut your interview off. ... Sorry."

Ten minutes — to cover three decades of heat-generating salsa grooves and sultry ballads with the Queen of Latin Pop?

It's not enough time. Not to cover — (deep breath) — more than 90 million copies sold of 29 CDs, two children's books written with a third on the way, a cookbook, "Estefan Kitchen," for Cuban food aficionados, a screenplay in the works on legendary pop singer Connie Francis and five Grammy awards, all topped last year when she became the first female to be named the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year for her philanthropic, professional and cultural accomplishments.

And ... (breathe) the real kicker for hoping time stands still is when Estefan — who performs Saturday night at Blaisdell Arena — gets on the phone.

"The last time I performed in Honolulu, they gave me so many leis I had no peripheral vision and fell," Estefan said, laughing. "I've never been lei'd in one place as much as I was in Honolulu. Hawai'i will always hold that distinction for me."

These are good — make that great — days for the 51-year-old singer, who acknowledges that her tour days are winding down — a natural progression after decades of 16-month tours across the country and Europe. There will be no more touring in the United States, although she plans to keep performing and may soon release a second Christmas album of old standards.

These days, her passion is writing.

"My children's books always have a message," she said. "There is a dog, Noelle, who helps teach life lessons to kids. The first book is about self image and keeping your uniqueness; the second is about what's important in life. This third book will be about dealing with sibling rivalry and jealousies, accepting new people that come into your life."

Estefan said finding time to sing, write and spend time with her family keeps her busy.

She just got back from touring in Europe and has a ski trip planned in February with her husband, Emilio, and their 28-year-old son and teenage daughter.

But Estefan is also excited to return to Honolulu after a 12-year absence, partly because her daughter, Emily, will join her on stage.

"The last time I was in Honolulu, she was 2 and really didn't get to enjoy it," Estefan said. "I tell people Hawai'i is like Miami Beach, but with mountains. Beautiful. You're going to love hearing Emily perform. She plays the piano, drums and guitar. She's amazing. She's shy like I used to be, but she loves music. She's everything wrapped up in one package.

"Performing is not something I would push on my kids because it can be a tough lifestyle. They know it. I've always taken my son and daughter on tour with me, even when they were little. I think that's why my son hates to travel now and is in film in Los Angeles. By the time he was 10, he'd seen the world."

Estefan, for all her music and writing accolades, can't help but spend the first five minutes of the interview raving about her daughter's musical and athletic prowess.

"She's very talented, but she will be going to go to The U (University of Miami) and get a degree," Estefan said. "Life is about choices. I don't want her to limit her options. She's a normal kid, but it is special to get to share performing with her."

The final five minutes of the interview are winding down and, well, you start hoping her manager is on Hawai'i time and 10 minutes is more of a guide than a rule.

It's not.

But there's just enough time left for Estefan to say she's bringing to Honolulu the same Miami Sound Machine that she had 12 years ago, plus a few additions.

She promises to put on a show, complete with Latin dancers, and to sing such favorites as "Conga," "Anything For You," "Rhythm is Gonna Get You," "Get on Your Feet" "Oye Mi Canto," and "Abriendo Puertas."

Plus, she promises to give fans things they've never heard before.

"I'd tell people to bring their dancing shoes and get ready to have fun," she said. "I still have as much energy as ever on stage."

Family aside, she said her greatest honor came last year when she became the first woman to be named the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.

It was a nod to her music, her books, and the impact she's made throughout the world.

"It was such a thrill and honor to be just the ninth recipient of the award and the first woman," Estefan said. "To sit in the audience and hear my favorite performers, Carlos Santana and José Feliciano, play my songs as a tribute was amazing."