Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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High surf closes North Shore beaches

A high-surf warning for the north and west shores of all islands remained in effect until early today.

Roy Matsuda, the National Weather Service's lead forecaster, said waves peaked at 25 to 35 feet yesterday. Waves are expected to subside to 20 to 25 feet today and 10 to 15 feet by tomorrow, he said.

Beaches on the North Shore were closed to the public, according to the Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division. Areas such as Three Tables and Sharks Cove were taped off to the public due to high-surf conditions.

The force of the waves broke numerous surfboards on the North Shore, Lifeguard Capt. Bodo Van Der Leeden said. Two lifeguards, Mark Dombroski and Guy Pere, took turns on a jet-ski, monitoring about 60 to 70 surfers at Waimea Bay, where waves reached 18 to 20 feet.

By 3:30 p.m. yesterday, Van Der Leeden said, lifeguards had counted about 50 rescues on the North Shore. "Our lifeguards were busy all day long," he said.

Some people suffered minor injuries and were pulled out of the water due to exhaustion, but no serious injuries were reported. "People should use extreme caution ... or they could be swept off the beach," Van Der Leeden said.

Capt. Kenison Tejada, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department, said a 44-year-old surfer who participated in a tow-in surf competition at Alii Beach yesterday suffered a wipeout. He was pulled from the water by his partner and taken to Wahiawa General Hospital in stable condition, according to EMS District Chief Pat Jones.

2 Hawaii attorneys suspended over ethics

Two Hawaii attorneys have been suspended for ethics violations, the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel said.

Honolulu attorney Paul D. Hicks was suspended for three years effective Feb. 21 for ethics violations in five cases, the counsel said. Hicks allegedly failed to communicate with clients or promptly provide a file to another client.

He also allowed a paralegal to practice law, failed to properly supervise the paralegal and did not comply with court instructions in a case that required attorney fees to be paid to the opposing party.

Also suspended was Sharon V. Matutino of Waialua.

The counsel said Matutino mishandled clients' funds and failed to perform legal services in a timely manner. She was suspended for two years, effective Feb. 23. During her suspension, she cannot accept any retainers or clients.

Boys and Girls Club gets $200K

HILO » The Boys and Girls Club of Hilo has received a donation of $200,000 from the Frear Eleemosynary Trust for renovation of the club's buildings, Chief Professional Officer Steven Pavao announced.

The club has a goal of $2 million for the project and has reached $1.4 million in the campaign that started in March 2005, Pavao said.

"Less than five years ago, the club was about to shut its doors forever. A few passionate leaders would not allow that to happen," Pavao said.

Today, the club operates three units with 18 employees and an annual operating budget of $1 million.

The club is also supported by a multiyear, $6 million grant secured by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, Pavao said.

It served 4,000 children last year and plans a rural outreach program this year, he said.

Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

2 women hospitalized after going over waterfall

Two women were seriously injured Saturday after they went over a 30-foot waterfall in Waimea.

At about 1:26 p.m. Saturday, five people went hiking on White Road trail toward Waipio Valley. Hawaii County Fire Capt. Pat Cassidy said in a news release that the hikers were riding down an irrigation flume on a raft when they noticed they were heading toward a waterfall.

Three men were able to get off the raft, but two women went over the waterfall.

Cassidy said the women were found lying in a stream about a mile off of White Road. One of the men sought help while the other men stayed back to help the injured women.

Cassidy said one of the female hikers was reported in critical condition, and the other was in serious condition. They were both flown to North Hawaii Community Hospital.

HONOLULU

Suspect allegedly hits victim with trash can

Police arrested a 34-year-old man after he allegedly struck a co-worker with a rubbish can Saturday night in Waikiki, knocking him unconscious.

At about 7:23 p.m., police said, during an argument between the suspect and the victim, 42, at 2301 Kalakaua Ave., the suspect struck the victim in the head with a rubbish can.

Police said the victim was unconscious for about four minutes. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. Police arrested the 34-year-old man on suspicion for second-degree assault.

Passenger in hospital after mo-ped crash

A 19-year-old Kaneohe man was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition yesterday after a mo-ped crashed on Ala Moana Boulevard.

At about 2:15 a.m., police said, a mo-ped operated by a second 19-year-old man, also from Kaneohe, overturned on the roadway near Queen Street.

Neither the passenger nor driver was wearing a helmet, police said. The driver sustained minor injuries and was treated and released at the Queen's Medical Center.

His passenger remains in the hospital.

Police said alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Examiner identifies car crash fatality

The city Department of the Medical Examiner identified a 26-year-old man who died in a single-car crash on the H-3 freeway Friday as Kekoa K. Keo of Waimanalo.

Police had said Keo was driving east on the freeway in a Honda sedan near the Likelike offramp when he apparently lost control and struck a concrete barrier.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Speed was a factor in the crash, police said.

LEEWARD OAHU

Woman found floating face down at Ko Olina

A visitor was taken to St. Francis Medical Center-West in critical condition yesterday after she was found floating face down at a Ko Olina lagoon.

At about 12:15 p.m., bystanders brought the visitor, a woman described to be in her 50s, to shore after she was observed floating face down for about 10 minutes.

Capt. Kenison Tejada, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department, said the woman was unresponsive and that cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered.