Medeiros appointed family court judge

Dyan M. Medeiros has been appointed a district family court judge for Oahu.

Medeiros was appointed by Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald to fill a vacancy created when Judge Christine E. Kuriyama was appointed to a Circuit Court seat. Medeiros will serve a six-year term upon confirmation by the state Senate.

Medeiros is a partner in Kleintop, Luria & Medeiros, where she specializes in family law. She received her law degree from the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, and sits on the board of directors of the Family Law Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association.

The chief justice appoints district court and district family court judges from a list of not less than six nominees submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission.

Maui lawyer Ueoka put on inactive status

Meyer M. Ueoka, 94, a Maui attorney who has served as a state representative and Board of Education member, has been put on inactive status by the Hawaii Supreme Court’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

The action against Ueoka was "due to mental or physical illness or disability," the ODC announced Wednesday.

The ODC warned that Ueoka is ineligible to practice law and cannot accept or handle any retainers, clients or legal matters.

He was admitted to the Hawaii bar on June 30, 1952.

Surf of up to 15 feet forecast for 5 islands

A late-season northwest swell is expected to bring surf as big as 15 feet to some islands, according to forecasters at the National Weather Service.

Weather officials posted a high-surf advisory for Wednesday afternoon through 6 a.m. Thursday for the north- and west-facing shores of Oahu, Kauai, Molokai and Niihau, and the north shore of Maui.

Waves reaching heights of 10 to 15 feet along north-facing shores and 8 to 12 feet along west-facing shores were expected to roll in Wednesday night, forecasters said.

Kauai residents hope to repair 100-year-old stone lantern

KAPAA, KAUAI >> Kapaa residents are try- ing to repair a historic Japanese stone lantern damaged by strong wind.

The lantern was built in 1915 by first-generation Japanese immigrants in honor of their roots and Japanese Emperor Taisho’s coronation in 1912.

It stood in Kapaa until 1943, when it was toppled and buried to show American loyalty during World War II.

The lantern remained buried until 1972, but no organiza- tion would take responsibility for it, so it was reburied 24 hours later.

It was unearthed again in 1987, when Mayor Tony Kunimura, the Kauai Historical Society and others worked with the community to reerect the structure, securing it with braces and a large concrete base.

The lantern under- went a restoration effort in 2008 when students from the Leadership Kauai pro- gram and the Kauai Business Association repaired the land- mark.

Kapaa residents are looking to replace the glass orb that fell off the lantern and shattered in February, The Garden Island reported Wednesday. The glass ball sat on top of the structure and measured 15 to 20 inches in diameter.

‘“Historical preservation is so important and the stone lantern, I think, it’s one of our community treasures,” said Wailua Kapaa Neighborhood Association Chairwoman Rayne Regush. “This is the 100-year anniversary for when the lantern was built.”