Attorney Joseph Bert Vargas faces not only suspension from the practice of law but also public censure in Hawaii and Arizona. Attorney censured in 2 states
for misconductThe Hawaii Supreme Court issued its censure following similar action by the Arizona Supreme Court. The Arizona action, reciprocal in Hawaii, was based on the attorney's ethical misconduct while representing a criminal defendant in 1995.
The Hawaii Supreme Court ordered that Vargas may not be reinstated to the practice of law in Hawaii until he has paid costs of disciplinary proceedings and completed one years' probation set by the Arizona Supreme Court.
Vargas, who resides in Arizona, was admitted to the Hawaii Bar on May 3, 1985.
In another action, Kauai attorney Thomas M. Medeiros has been suspended from the practice of law effective June 30.
The Hawaii Supreme Court suspended Medeiros for his failure to cooperate in an investigation of his professional conduct.
He will remain suspended until further order of the Supreme Court.
Hana hotel acquired, all employees rehired
WAILUKU -- The 93-room Hotel Hana-Maui and Hana Ranch have been sold to Meridian Financial Resources, a private financial investment firm based in Batavia, Ill.Meridian has rehired all of the almost 200 employees, nearly a fifth of the workers in rural Hana.
"We have no predetermined plans at this time, other than to continue the operation of the hotel, the ranch and other commercial operations," Meridian spokesman Mark C. Ward said.
Meridian officials plan to meet with the community from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Helene Hall.
Directory assistance will cost at pay booths
Pay phone users will need an extra quarter to use directory assistance.GTE Hawaiian Tel began charging for the formerly free service yesterday.
Callers can duck the 25-cent charge for awhile by seeking out an old-fashioned coin-operated telephone.
Hawaiian Tel spokesman Keith Kamisugi said the new toll was implemented only in the millennium smart telephones -- the ones that take a phone card -- which make up about one-third of the company's 8,000 pay phones.
Eventually the freebie will end in all pay booths.
The change is not related to the company's application for rate hikes filed with the Public Utilities Commission this week. Among the changes sought was to decrease the number of free directory assistance calls made at home from 10 to 3 per month. Customers now pay 20 cents for each additional call; that would change to 75 cents under the application.
More homes getting automated trash pickup
Automated trash pickup will begin for 45,000 Oahu homes beginning Tuesday, city officials said.The 96-gallon containers have been delivered over the past month to Ewa, Waipahu, Haleiwa, Waialua, Kawailoa, Kaneohe, Kailua, Waimanalo, Manoa, Makiki, Nuuanu, Papakolea, Pacific Heights and Liliha.
Also joining the ranks of the automated pickup crowd are those who had their containers delivered last year before a dispute with the United Public Workers temporarily halted plans to begin the service in those neighborhoods. Those areas include Kaneohe, Palolo, St. Louis Heights, Ewa Beach, West Loch and Waianae.
U.S. Senate supports protecting Big Isle trail
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate this week unanimously approved designating the 175-mile Ala Kahakai trail on the Big Island a national historic trail.The designation would provide federal protection for the trail, an ancient shoreline footpath that once connected some 600 Hawaiian communities.
Sen. Daniel Akaka, architect of the Senate bill, called the trail "a unique indigenous resource. No other trail comes close to featuring as many historic and cultural sites as the Ala Kahakai."
The proposal must be approved by the House.
Corrections
An incorrect telephone number was listed in Friday's story for the "From Hawaii ... Destination Stardom" television show.
The correct number is 377-5328.
On the left was IS2 Scott Greer. On the right was IS1 Carlton Wourman.
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffFallen pole in Haleiwa closes Kamehameha Hwy
Parts of Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa were closed this morning while repair crews replaced a fallen utility pole near the Rainbow Bridge.Police said the utility pole, located on the Waianae side of the bridge, fell about 1:11 a.m. today, possibly due to termite damage. The incident forced police to close the highway between 62-595 Kamehameha Highway and Haleiwa Beach Park.
Woman blacks out, then finds half her clothes off
Police said a 33-year-old Wahiawa woman reported she may have been sexually assaulted by an acquaintance of her husband.The woman told police she was with the suspect at an Ohai Place residence yesterday morning when for some unknown reason she blacked out around 5 a.m. When she woke up, she found the bottom half of her clothing removed.
Police arrested a 38-year-old man.
Man allegedly uses wood dowel to beat woman
A 32-year-old Ewa Beach man was arrested yesterday after he allegedly beat a 32-year-old woman with a wooden dowel.The woman was treated for multiple bruises to her body. The man remains in custody pending possible second-degree assault charges.
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