What are you reading?

I read a lot of food trend and industry magazines, and I like to get the new cookbooks and see where people are. I'm looking at a lot of articles on cooking solutions, because as the world gets smaller, I like to find things that can be used instead of depleting a species or type of food. I also really liked this book I found on www.Oprah.com, "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" by Eckhart Tolle, about how we all in certain times in our lives get to a place where we need to refocus or reapply ourselves.

What do you like about it?

It gut-checks yourself, it humbles you, gives you a different perspective on things happening within yourself. It coaches you to where your weaknesses are so you can shape it up. ... This book says, "Who says we have to drive a certain car — you don't have to compete with the Joneses." If you're confident in your life being, that's a plus right there.

Has Tolle's book moved you to push cuisine in a new direction?

We don't have to push our cuisine; it's always been there. ... We add our touch and twist to it. That's what makes cuisine so exciting, and that's why Hawai'i, to me personally — our only handicap to food is 2,500 miles and six hours. If we were in the next time zone we'd be cutting-edge. ... But in Hawai'i, I tell you, we're missing the boat. We have so many golden opportunities in terms of growing things. ... I want to have our state turn around and support people growing stuff, like on the Hamakua coast and in Kula. With the right people, we could feed ourselves.