If you grew up in Hawaii, everyone is either your cousin, Aunty or Uncle. Technically, the person I call cousin Neal is the husband of my cousin's cousin, no more 'blood-related' to me than say, my foodie friend Lana (whom my kids call Aunty, nonetheless).

But I digress. Neal's absolute importance, aside from being a great person, is that he has the 'Sashimi Responsibility'. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Graduation, Funerals, Weddings--you know it's a Special Event when there is sashimi. 

Here was our spread from Thanksgiving, and I already can't wait 'til Christmas. Dark red was maguro, orange was salmon, and the two white were hamachi and halibut. Bought at Tokyo Fish Market, Berkeley and happily gobbled-gobbled up by our ohana at Thanksgiving.