A man accused of attempted murder after punching a man outside a Waikiki nightclub last year was found guilty yesterday of first-degree assault.

Circuit Judge Richard Pollack delivered the verdict in the nonjury trial of Ryan Carrillo, 25.

Prosecutors said the victim in the incident, Jesse Greenwood, was left permanently disabled by brain injuries after Carrillo delivered a "superman punch" to his head in February 2007.

The affray, on the sidewalk fronting Moose McGillicuddy's Pub & Cafe, occurred after Greenwood was involved in an altercation inside the night spot with Carrillo and a group of his friends.

Both Carrillo and Greenwood were visiting from California.

Carrillo faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for the assault conviction.

Pollack will sentence Carrillo on July 21.

HAWAI'I NO. 1 FOR SEAT BELT USAGE

Hawai'i again leads the nation in seat belt use, with almost 98 percent compliance with the law in 2007.

Nationally, seat belt use rose 1 percentage point to 82 percent, the government said. Twelve states had rates of 90 percent or better, led by Hawai'i and then Washington.

Three states were below 70 percent: Arkansas, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

The annual Click It or Ticket safety campaign began May 12 and runs through June 14 on O'ahu and June 1 on the other islands.

State law requires drivers, front-seat passengers and back-seat passengers younger than 18 to buckle up. Violators face a $92 fine.

Children under 4 must ride in a child safety seat, and a booster seat is required for children under 8. Violators of the child passenger restraint use law are required to pay a fine between $100 and $500 and attend a four-hour class.

BOY HIT BY CAR ON WAY TO SCHOOL

A 12-year-old boy walking to Dole Intermediate School was in guarded condition after being struck by a vehicle yesterday while crossing Kamehameha IV Road at Lakaloa Place, police said.

The boy, a sixth-grader, was on his way to school and was hit at 7 a.m., said police Sgt. Lloyd Sanburn.

The boy suffered injuries to his right shoulder and arm, Sanburn said.

Police arrested a 35-year-old man for allegedly driving without a license, a misdemeanor.

KAUA'I SEWER PROJECT BEGINS

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has begun a $290,000 sewer connection project at Waimea State Recreation Pier.

The five-month project by contractor Tomco Corp. will remove an existing cesspool and connect the restrooms to Kaua'i County's sewer system, according to a news release from DLNR.

The job will include excavation in a field near the pier and excavation and trenching of La'au Road, which may affect traffic at times.

The large cesspool that has served the restrooms at the Waimea Pier will be closed when the connection to the sewer system is complete.

The restrooms will remain open throughout the work, except for one day in July when they are switched from cesspool to sewerline, the DLNR said. Portable toilets will be available that day.

The project is set to be finished in October.

Waimea State Recreational Pier is open daily during daylight hours. It features ocean pier fishing and picnicking, pole fishing and crabbing. Restrooms, picnic areas, trash cans and drinking water are provided.