When I go to Duke’s Canoe Club, I don’t think twice. I order the fish tacos (2 for $12.95). Two soft flour tortillas stuffed with grilled ahi and topped with sliced cabbage. On the side, scoops of fresh-made salsa (finely diced and laced with cilantro), guacamole (blended and a little to mayonnaise for my perfection) and sour cream (good ‘ol regular sour cream). I added dollops of all three to my fish tacos. The result: messy and yummy. Even though I enjoy the same dish time after time, last night’s order was particularly good. And I know why.

George’s introduction to playing music at age 11 is his famous story about cleaning cars for Lippy Espinda at ten cents a car and playing a three-minute gig for Kui Lee at Forbidden City that scored him $27.10 from the appreciative audience of construction workers and stevedores. 

I’ve put in my time on plenty of food photography sets to know that a really good—and tempting—image of a plate of food takes time to style and light. Under the right conditions, my Volcano Roll would expose a tantalizing photograph. But at night? Inside a dark restaurant? With a pocket camera? 

A few days ago, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a plan to help remove man-made debris from coastal waters and coral reefs on and near the Hawaiian Islands. It is the first of its kind. A new year's resolution of another kind that I can get behind and shout, "Yes." 

A couple weeks ago, a group of virtual writer friends started posting their goals for 2010. They could all be my own: Write more, publish more, stop procrastinating. But out of the dozens of New Year’s resolutions I read, one stood out. And ever since I read it, I have pondered it. Rolled it around in my mouth like my dog eats peanut M&Ms.