State briefs for March 25

Judge orders man to avoid Pepsi while on probation

WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A judge has ordered a Hawaii man to refrain from drinking his favorite soda as part of his probation.

Second Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo imposed the soft drink restriction Friday while sentencing 21-year-old Christopher Montilliano Jr.

Montilliano pleaded no contest to unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and driving without a license. Police say he was arrested June 12 in Wailuku on Maui and charged with stealing a 1990 Honda Accord from a Texaco station.

The newspaper says the judge told Montilliano that because he lied to police about taking the car to buy soda rather than acknowledging he stole the vehicle, she ordered him not to drink Pepsi for four years in addition to 100 hours of community service and a $100 fine.

Maui Health System hires 5 new doctors in 4 months

WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — Maui’s new medical care provider has hired five doctors in the last four months, bringing to 11 the number of new physicians Maui Health System has brought in since Kaiser Permanente took over management of Maui County’s three public hospitals nearly two years ago.

Michael Rembis, the CEO of Maui Health System, said the newest hires include two neurosurgeons, two trauma/general surgeons and one oncological surgeon. The system aims to recruit 10 physicians every year. A firm hired by Maui Health System found Maui needs 100 more physicians over the next five to 10 years.

The system took over Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital and Lanai Community Hospital from the Hawaii Health Systems Corp., a state agency, in 2017.