Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar

I'm surprised I haven't written about this place before.  I have been here twice on Friday night and it's always a pretty good time.  In Japanese the word sansei means “third generation” and in this case refers to the founder of the restaurant who is a third-generation Japanese-American.  Sansai Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar (3rd Floor of the Waikiki Beach Marriot Resort - 2552 Kalakaua Avenue - map here) serves contemporary interpretations of sushi and Asian cuisine. In the interest of full disclosure, I don't have much experience with the menu outside of Friday night happy hour.  That being said, Friday nights are great here.  They have half price sushi and appetizers as well as $3 kettle one drinks, $3 beers, and free karaoke until 2pm.  Now, overall this place is not as good as Doraku, but it's still really good.  However, when you're able to have 4 people go out, drink and eat all night, sing free karaoke (I don't sing AT ALL, but I hear others are into it), and spend less than $100 total, sign me up.  Normally (i.e. during the week at regular hours), Sansei is waayyy overpriced unless you get the Kama'aina discount, which gives 50% off everything on Sunday and Monday or 25% Tuesday-Thursday.

Anyway, their Friday night deal starts at 10pm, but I recommend getting there at 9:30 because it is first come-first served and it fills up quickly.  If you get there late, or even try to go at dinner time on a regular day, the wait can be upwards of 45 minutes.  It's best to make a reservation if you want to go for dinner (808-931-6286 - no reservations for Friday late-night special).  The best sushi roll here is their signature "Butterfry Roll."  Yes, I spelled that correctly.  I guess they appreciate a good Asian joke too, which is another reason to like this place.  If you're thinking that 10pm on Friday night is too late, I would remind you that you're in Hawai'i and therefore likely on vacation.  Therefore, relax and go have fun.

Headnote of the Week

For those paying attention in Egypt...

In order to preserve order when unpopular speech disrupts it, the police may not silence the rabble-rousing speaker, but must permit the speech and control the crowd; there is no heckler's veto. Ovadal v. City of Madison, Wisconsin, 416 F.3d 531 (7th Cir. 2005)

No Snow Days Here

It has been brought to my attention that the East Coast and Midwest are being absolutely pounded by winter storms.  Weather.com is reporting that 100 million people will be affected.  In Chicago "this may be the biggest snowstorm the city has ever seen." Forecasts call for more than 24 inches of snow, with snow totals possibly surpassing those of the 1967 and 1979 blizzards. A record 23 inches of snow fell during the 1967 blizzard.  An ice storm struck the Dallas metro area, closing schools and snarling traffic.  A foot of snow is expected in St. Louis.

If that weren't enough, reading news reports you'd think it was the end of the world as we know it. According to weather reports, "the system will increasingly target the Midwest through tonight and the Northeast Wednesday bringing more of the same: blizzard conditions, heavy snow, damaging ice and some rain. In the South, blizzard conditions linger in Oklahoma while severe thunderstorms race eastward from the lower Mississippi Valley to Alabama and western Florida today."

CNN.com, the new tabloid of mainstream media, is also claiming armageddon-like conditions: "wind-whipped snow twisted like a frozen dust devil across a vast swath of the nation on Tuesday, blinding motorists, closing airports and even complicating the travel plans of football fans headed to this weekend's Super Bowl."

Not in Hawaii.  We may have earthquakes and oozing volcanoes, but damn it, we don't get blizzards.  However, I am starting to buy into the end of the world theory.  We have gotten some ridiculous weather here, too.  A cold front moved in last night and it's supposed to dip into the low 70s this week!  Last night, I actually had to sleep under my sheets! It was freezing! Close to 64 degrees.  Now, I was explaining this to a law school friend who used to live in Hawaii.  He is currently a public defender in Boston where, I'm told, they have already received 60+ inches of snow this winter.  He sent me this youtube video that pretty much perfectly sums up Hawaiian weather and everyone's feelings about it.  It's pretty hilarious.

Luana Hills Golf Course

I had another "Hawai'i Moment" (times when I look around and realize that I live in a pretty awesome place) during my most recent Furlough Friday when I spent the morning playing golf at Luana Hills near Kailua.  Ever since I brought my golf clubs back with me after Christmas, a co-worker and I have been playing golf every weekend.  Normally we just play for $10 at the Pali Golf Course.  However, last Friday we decided to try Luana Hills.  Nestled between Mount Olomana and the towering Ko'olau Mountains, Luana Hills is one of the most unique and breathtaking golf courses I've ever seen. Carved from tropical rainforest in the heart of lush Maunawili Valley, the course is not only gorgeous, but strikingly difficult.  It might be the hardest course I've ever played, which doesn't say a whole lot, but still.

Signature Hole (#11)

The course itself was designed by golf architect Pete Dye and is a high risk/high rewards course.  Stretching across 6,595 yards from the back tees (5522 from the White), golfers have to consider a lot before they tee up in front of an array of forced carries, bunkers bordered by railroad ties, par-3s over streams and ravines, undulating bent grass, and fairways that slope off into bunkers and ravines. The course's signature hole is set deep in the rainforest along Maunawili Stream where you have to shoot over two fountains and a pond to get to the green.

Set in historic Maunawili Valley, this area was once the meeting place of great Hawaiian warriors and the island's queen.  Now it is home to a variety of wildlife. Native Hawaiian birds like the rare Aku`u nest in the palms and koa trees, and wild boar visit the streams. The hidden valley course is a site for feature films and a frequent stop of celebrities visiting Hawai'i, including both Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Luana Hills is the perfect place for those looking for a quiet escape (but be prepared to lose your golf balls - I literally lost 10...it was a long day).

Some Details:
Course Type: 18 holes, par 72
Yardage: 6595/6164/5522/4654
Slope: 136/131/126/139/117/129
Rating: 70.9/68.8/66.2/70.9/61.7/67.4

Price: Kama'aina - $39 weekday/$49 weekend

          Guest/Non-resident - $125 + tax
Golf Carts: yes
Pull Carts: no
Walking Allowed: no
Greens: Bent
Fairways: Bent
Dress Code: proper golf attire
GPS Tracking: no
Lessons: yes
Club House: yes
Pro Shop: yes
Restaurant: yes
Bar: yes
Showers: no
Lockers: yes
Rider Fee: $20
Practice Green: yes
Driving Range: yes
Club Rental: Callaway $50

Week 3 Triathlon Training

This week, I looked at the 2009 and 2010 race results for the Lanikai Triathlon and compared the various winners' times to my training times.  I think that might have been a mistake.  I am a naturally competitive person.  I think most lawyers are.  I played competitive sports growing up and into college.  I love to win and I hate losing.  I also think it's really important to push yourself to try new things, have different experiences, and learn as much as you can.  Obviously you don't have to compete in sports to do all those things, but that mentality has carried over into my training.  I originally set a goal to finish in 1:10:00.  However, looking at the results from the last two years, I have a new goal.  I want to finish in the top 10-25.  The only problem, of course, is that to do that in the last 2 years would have required a time of less than an hour.  Right now, my times are nowhere close to that.  Yeah yeah, I know.  It's still early and it's my first triathlon.  I don't buy into those excuses.  I'm a relatively athletic person who should be able to make a strong showing.

I went out and bought two books on triathlons the other day - Your First Triathlon (yes, it does sound like a child's book) and Triathlon 101 - and have found them both informative, but maybe a little simplistic.  They each say that the goal of your first triathlon should be to "finish with a smile."  Yes, I swear it says that.  I feel like the book is written for parents whose kids are retarded but still get the "everyone's a winner" trophy.  I smile when I win.  You should not be smiling when you finish in 100th place. I understand that the book is designed to encourage everyone, but this whole "you're a winner if you try" crap is exactly the kind of mentality that led Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell to say that America has turned into a country of wusses.  That said, I think the books' nutrition chapters about the proper foods to eat to boost energy and build muscle will be incredibly helpful.

Anyway, I am getting off track.  So far, in week three I have been doing a pretty good job of staying on pace with the training.  My uncle was nice enough to send me his really nice triathlon bike so I have a fighting chance out there.  When I told him that I planned to just get a Craigslist mountain bike, I believe his exact words were "hey rook, get serious.  converse high tops and gym shorts ain't gonna cut it." I appreciated his enthusiasm.  This is another reason I love having a big family.  There is always someone there to encourage you and help out whenever they can.  I'm pretty excited to get it all set up.  In fact, there is a triathlon club here in Hawaii that holds weekly bike rides, seminars on fixing/tuning up your bike, etc that I am going to start participating in.  Island Triathlon & Bike is going to be a great resource, I think.

So here was my Week 3 Schedule:

Monday - Swim 25 minutes

Tuesday - 40 minute run (was supposed to be 48 - I got bored) and 20 minute bike (again, should have been longer, but I got bored and tired)

Wednesday - weight training + 45 minute bike

Thursday - Off

Friday - 38 minute swim + 29 minute run

Saturday - 45 minute bike + 10 minute run + weight training

Sunday - Pro Bowl - too much drinking to train

And of course, if anyone has any training suggestions, post them in the comments!  Now that I will be riding a bike outdoors (I have previously been riding stationary bikes in the gym), I'll be posting pictures of my training progress.

Palazzo Ristorante Italiano

I know it may seem like I get out and explore a lot, but my experiences are generally limited to a small geographic area.  It didn't take long before I developed the Hawaiian mindset where a 20-30 minute drive to the western part of the island was a major hassle not worth the trip.  Not surprisingly, therefore, there are things that I haven't tried.  One of those places is Palazzo Restaurant in Aiea.  See, Hawaii is great for a lot of food - as long as it's some type of Asian.  This does not include Mexican and it does not include Italian.  However, the reviews on this place were positive, but going here required going out to Aiea, which is past the airport.  Crazy, I know.  Anyway, it's a little Italian restaurant tucked away in the back of the Aiea shopping plaza.  It's located at 99-080 Kauhale St # C2 Aiea, HI 96701 (map here).  So based on the feedback, we decided to give it a try before bowling the other night.

I think I would go back.  The food was really good, but the service left a lot to be desired.  It wasn't busy at all, but there was no host/hostess to seat us for several minutes when we arrived.  Then once we finally sat down and ordered, it took about a half an hour to get the food.  That was the only negative of this place, though.  The ambiance was nice and it wasn't like a lot of Italian restaurants where the guests sit on top of each other and can hear the neighbor's conversation.  There was space between the tables and dividers between the two halves of the room.  There was some soft music playing as well.  The whole place had a very quiet atmosphere with a feel of a little boutique restaurant.  For anyone who likes to find hidden gems outside of the bustle of tourist places, I definitely recommend this spot.

The food itself was good.  I had the Osso Buco (veal) and it just melted in my mouth.  It also came with linguine and sauce with heaping portions of each.  Pricing was okay, too.  For the size of the portions and everything, I thought it was worth it.  If you like Italian food and you're willing to explore a little, check this place out.

Criminal Justice in Hawaii

The Judiciary's annual report - entitled Justice in Jeopardy - details the current state of the Hawaiian Judiciary and discusses the impact that furloughs and budget cuts have had on the operation of the court system.  The report itself is 14 pages long and is a very easy read if you're interested.  However, since I know most people 1) don't care, 2) don't like to read boring things, and 3) like interesting bullet points, here is something I think people might want to know - the criminal stuff.

Before I get to the facts and figures, I have to explain why I decided to highlight this.  Every time I get asked what kind of law I practice, I calmly (and quickly) explain that I work for a judge.  Then I get asked, "so do you do prosecution or defense?"  See, I have two theories as to why this is the case:  1) the person did not read my blog post on how the judiciary works, and 2) most people get their information about the legal system from Law & Order.  So no one really understands anything beyond criminal law.  Even if they've been to civil court before, people think the "plaintiff" is the "prosecution." Besides all that, the sexy stuff of the law is found in who's going to jail.

Here is a quote from an attorney in private practice about the current criminal justice system in Hawaii: “[A]s a practicing litigator, I can share with you the impact that the budget cuts on the Judiciary have caused.  Among my case load, I have a case that is about four years old that has been ready to go to trial since late last year.  It has been delayed because of the backlog of criminal trials and was recently reset to [redacted], 2011 - a year away.  Many of my colleagues are reporting similar occurrences. The Judiciary allows economic, political and social life to function properly and it must be spared any further budget cuts.”

So here you go:  In FY2010, the Hawai'i Judiciary was involved with:


◆ 68,041 criminal traffic cases including:
          • 13,593 DWI/DUI cases
          • 1,264 reckless driving cases

◆ 94,479 District Court criminal cases including:
          • 9,413 larceny/theft cases
          • 6,154 assault cases
          • 2,169 vandalism cases
          • 1,349 prostitution cases
          • 4,096 narcotics cases
          • 1,232 sex offense cases

◆ 17,220 Circuit Court criminal cases including:
          • 178 murder & manslaughter cases
          • 97 forcible rape cases
          • 1,602 aggravated assault cases
          • 1,235 burglary cases
          • 2,686 larceny/theft cases
          • 3,633 narcotics cases

American Judicature Society's Special Committee on the Effects of the Economy on the Judiciary

As I have written about numerous times HERE and HERE, the State of Hawai'i is having budget issues (to put it mildly).  The annual budget meeting was a few weeks ago and my judge was in charge of reporting what the judiciary was feeling with respect to budget cuts and furlough days.  When I say it was my judge's job, I think we all know what that means.

My judge drafted a survey that consisted of only four questions...presumably because most lawyers are too self-important to be bothered by such non-sense as answering a few survey questions.  Anyway, I found the responses pretty interesting if simplistically obvious.  The four questions, which were sent out to the 82 judges sitting on the Family Courts, Circuit Courts, Intermediate Court of Appeals, and Hawaii Supreme Court (all state court judges) were:

1. Has your decision-making been impaired by judiciary budget cuts? If so, please explain.

2. Are you able to perform your duties so that your conduct and performance are not subject to undue pressures or criticism? If not, please explain.

3. Do you believe that budget cuts have impinged on the courts' effectiveness? If so, please explain.

4. Have the cutbacks impacted judicial independence? If so, please explain.

21 judges responded to the survey (25% response rate) and then we summarized their answers so my judge could present the findings to the American Judicature Society.  The results of the survey were used to help the Judiciary develop it's annual report on the State of the Judiciary.  In fact, today Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald delivered his first State of the Judiciary Address using a lot of the facts and figures found in the survey and report.

The report - entitled Justice in Jeopardy (pdf copy of the report) - echoes a lot of what I've written about here before - furloughs suck.  The Judiciary report sums it up a little more eloquently, though by saying "these reductions have had substantial negative effects throughout the judicial system, by reducing, delaying and in some cases eliminating important services. Notably, Hawaii’s families and most vulnerable citizens have been significantly impacted."  The report went on to discuss budget cuts by saying, "Adequately funding the state court system is an investment in justice, and an investment in our democracy that should not be compromised even during tough economic times."

Rum Fire

Rum Fire at the Sheraton Waikiki (2255 Kalakaua Avenue - see map here) is an awesome spot for sunset cocktails or drinks on the water.  The only real appeal to this place is the ambiance.  The service is actually terrible.  I have gone there maybe 5-6 times and I have yet to be even moderately impressed with their service.  The waitresses (they've all been women so far) are slow and unfriendly.  Every time we've been there we've had to specifically ask someone to take our drink order or to ask for another drink.  But maybe it's been busy and they were overwhelmed?  Nope.  I've been there when it's busy during their nightcap specials, I've been there in the middle of the afternoon on a Monday, and I've been there in the evening on a Saturday.  The service is terrible.

So why do I tell everyone to go here when they visit Honolulu?  Because if you go during Happy Hour or during their nightcap specials (i.e. when drinks/food are cheap) and have a drink while sitting outside looking out over the water with Diamond Head in the distance, it's pretty much impossible to be upset about anything (see the pictures?).  If you sit close to the bar, it can get loud, though, so I recommend trying to find a seat outside.  I have never had a problem finding a table outside (just a problem getting served).

I've never had dinner there and I rarely see people with entrees, but I have had lunch and I would recommend passing.  The sandwich I ordered tasted fine, but what you get does not justify the cost.  You're better off sticking to pre-dinner drinks/appetizers during happy hour (4-6pm M-F) or the nightcap specials (9:30-11:15pm M-F).  Here is a copy of their happy hour menu if you're interested.  Cocktails during this time are $5, draft beer is $3, house wine is $5, certain shots are $3, and appetizers (i.e. edamame, nachos, baby back ribs, chicken wings, fish tacos, chips and salsa, etc.) range from $4 to $10.  Overall, if you can go and just relax and remember that you're not on the mainland and just enjoy the company and scenery, it's a must-go place.  You can view their lunch menu here and dinner menu here.

Yep.

Week 2 Triathlon Training

The second week of triathlon training has convinced me that doing triathlons is not going to be my newest hobby.  Sure, it'll be cool to say I finished one (well, a sprint triathlon anyway), but beyond that I don't really see the appeal.

Week 2's schedule looked like this:

Monday - Off
Tuesday - 44 minute run + weight training
Wednesday - 53 minute bike + weight training
Thursday - Off
Friday - 26 minute run
Saturday - 30 minute swim
Sunday - got too drunk the night before and did not do the scheduled 88 minute bike

Now, for those paying attention at home, that amounts to only about 5 hours.  Seriously, when you think about 5 hours a week of exercise, it's nothing.  At the same time, when I'm in the middle of it, I feel like I am going to die.  Actually, the truth is, I can already tell I am improving in the swim.  When I first started, I was convinced I was going to drown.  Now I can go for a pretty solid distance before needing a rest (well, compared to when I started).

I think the toughest thing about doing the different exercises is that I just get bored in the middle of it.  I literally sit there and think, "yea, I'm over this. I want something to eat."  So I'm hoping that I lose that attitude and am able to focus on improving my times.

Date of Triathlon: Sunday, April 17, 2011