Airbnb should need real estate license

If Airbnb is engaged in real estate rentals in Hawaii, for which it advertises and collects a commission, it is obviously engaged in real estate activities and should have a state real estate license. And if its clients are breaking the law and Airbnb is assisting them in this illegal activity, then Airbnb can be held accountable and should lose its real estate license — that is, if it has one.

Inasmuch as the real estate profession is monitored by a state agency under the control of the governor, it is incumbent on Gov. David Ige to check this detail out before he contracts with Airbnb.

Bob Hampton

Hawaii Kai

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New golf feature would be welcome

I disagree with Robert Soberano regarding young folk and golf (“Most young people don’t care about golf,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 19).

Maybe the expense can be off-putting (no pun intended), but having been introduced to Topgolf in Oregon — by young people, actually — I found it challenging and a lot of fun for both experienced and novice golfers.

I think it would draw more people into the game as a social occasion instead of the movies, in a similar vein as, “Let’s go bowling.” You can order food and drink, which is served to you during play. There is music, competition, laughs and you pay by the hour.

It would certainly be a great added attraction for both visitors and locals, and the young folks can use their smartphones to book specific times online.

Edward H. Lewis

Kailua

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Don’t burden condo owners even more

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you do is stop digging!

But government continues to dig: rail transit, $10 billion; relocating the Oahu Community Correctional Center, $600 million; revamping the Neal S. Blaisdell complex, $700 million.

Now, legislators are considering passing the exorbitant cost of retrofitting buildings with fire sprinklers directly to the owners in 150 condominium towers. This outrageous proposal will conservatively cost owners in my building $30,000, and residents must vacate their units for three months.

It’s a concrete building, while houses on Oahu are made of flammable wood. Once one of those tinder boxes becomes aflame, it can spread rapidly to adjacent homes. There are far more fires and fatalities in houses than in condominiums.

This plan would be financially disastrous to those of us on fixed incomes and to those who survive from paycheck to paycheck. So why are legislators targeting the owners of comparatively safer buildings?

Ronald Pike

Nuuanu

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Powers that be stage a coup against U.S.

Wake up, Americans!

I concur with Richard Nemoytin (“Americans must fight to preserve country,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 18).

It has been coming for a very long time. Now all the pieces are in place. The powers that be have sycophant President Donald Trump to do their bidding — a silent, smooth, precise coup. Yes, you read that right: the dismantling of the U.S. government.

Impossible? Here’s the evidence: surveillance of government employees who criticize Trump; demands to revoke broadcast media licenses; restrictions on words that can be used in government documents; disparaging intelligence agencies; demeaning the Justice Department; dismantling the State Department.

This is about silencing you and me, and tyrannical government control of your thinking, your money and your life. Wake up!

Beth Rasmussen

Kaneohe

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A courageous act to recognize Jerusalem

Mahalo for President Donald Trump’s courage to acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and his intention to eventually move the U.S. Embassy there.

Finally, after 22 years of presidential promises to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, we will no longer have terrorist countries and groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Palestinian Authority dictating U.S. foreign policy and who, in response to Trump’s announcement, declared three days of rage.

Having made eight mission trips to Israel, I have learned that Israel is the only Middle Eastern country that practices gender equality, freedom of religion, speech and election. Eighteen percent of Israel’s citizens are Muslims, and they enjoy greater economic prosperity than their non-Israeli counterparts, including free medical care, education, speech. As elected members of the Knesset, the national legislature, Muslims can and have denounced the state of Israel.

It is essential that the world recognize Jerusalem as the unified and undivided capital of Israel.

Kaatee Bailey

Director, Hawaii Israel Alignment

Puunene, Maui

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Trump’s action hurts Mideast peace efforts

President Donald Trump has done Israel no favor by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state. Instead he has made it virtually impossible for the United States to forge a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

Every member of the United Nations Security Council, with the sole exception of the U.S., voted to demand that Washington rescind Trump’s decision. Even America’s staunchest allies joined in the condemnation.

The reason is that the world community believes the status of Jerusalem should be determined by negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. Jerusalem is sought as the capital of the projected Palestinian state. The most probable outcome would be a sharing of Jerusalem.

By his announcement, Trump has disqualified the U.S. as an impartial negotiator in the eyes of the Palestinians. Jews like myself who yearn for a peaceful solution see this as a step backward.

Carl H. Zimmerman

Salt Lake

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Not everyone in isles celebrates Christmas

In response to John Nakao’s letter railing against atheism as the cause of the City and County’s disclaimer in front of Christmas and Jesus displays, I think he misses the point (“City Lights sets religion aside,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 13).

The real issues, as I see it, are the appropriate separation of church and state and, obviously, not everyone celebrates Christmas.

Hawaii is not uniformly Christian. Buddhists, Jews, Muslims and many other religions are represented in our state, and a municipality should not impose a favored religious holiday in a public setting.

This proper restraint is certainly not a sign of a “totalitarian regime,” as Nakao claims.

J. Marc Rosen

Kaneohe