BRING IT ON

Legal eagles compete at Hawaii Supreme Court

Hawaii's best young legal minds will gather at the state Supreme Court tomorrow to argue a case that will determine ... local bragging rights and a chance to move on to the nationals.

After months of winnowing competition, teams from four high schools — Kauai High School, St. Joseph School (Hilo), Moanalua High School and Punahou School — will compete in the state Mock Trial finals. The winning team gets a trophy and a spot in May's national contest.

The case the students will argue is fictional, but the judges are genuine: Chief Justice Ronald Moon and Associate Judge Mark Recktenwald of the Supreme Court, and Chief Judge Craig Nakamura and Associate Judge Daniel Foley of the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

NEXT: HUMANS

Pochie gets her day in the sun

Seven-year-old Pochie was cured of agonizing arthritis recently through the use of stem cells, which were derived from fat from her own body and injected into her knee joints. Pochie's owner, William Staggs, was amazed by the success of the treatment, administered by Dr. Patrick Leadbeater at Kahala Pet Hospital. It was expensive by doggie standards — $2,800 — but months after the procedure, Pochie is still romping around happily and seemingly pain-free.

Let's hope it isn't too long before such treatment is commonly available for humans.