Cronyism no way to select judges

The Judicial Selection Commission’s list of nominees for the Intermediate Court of Appeals is very impressive — with one embarrassing exception (“Ige’s manager quits, aims for judgeship,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 6).

The inclusion of Gov. David Ige’s campaign manager only fosters cynicism as to how our judges are selected. It does not matter what you know; it is who you know.

Keith Hiraoka should remove his name from the list of nominees and reapply when his best friend is no longer governor. Merit should be the guide to selecting our judges — not cronyism.

David Kimo Frankel

Kaimuki

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Where you grad not so important

I graduated from Roosevelt; therefore, I’m probably either a Manoa elite destined for success, or, a Papakolea kid doomed for the Oahu Community Correctional Center.

Absurd. Yet, this is the flawed logic in Lee Cataluna’s column (“Where you wen grad? Isle bias is instructive,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 30), perpetuating stereotypes and discrimination and deeming it fair to make assumptions based on high school alma mater.

Cataluna asserts that “those four years can shape how people see you forever” — assuming that what was true in school will always be accurate.

Linking the mistakes of one man to his private high school is a serious error of composition and suggests educational privilege is something to be ashamed of.

School pride and connections are important. However, what a person accomplishes after graduation is more meaningful. We should hold all students to the same high standards and be proud of all island graduates regardless of institution.

Lauren Watanabe

San Francisco

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Settlements keep conflict going

Charles Krauthammer seems to forget the Golden Rule (“UN resolution provides ammunition to Israel-haters,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 30).

More than 2,000 years ago, Rabbi Hillel said, “Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.” Jesus repeated this wise advice.

It’s Israel’s refusal to stop expanding Jewish settlements on their Palestinian neighbor’s land that provided the “ammunition” for “anti-Israel” resolutions at the United Nations. While American opposition to these settlements is longstanding, President Barack Obama apparently is the first U.S. president to back up that policy by declining to vote against the latest resolution concerning the settlements.

It seems common sense that the settlements, plus the mixed message from past U.S. votes at the U.N., are the main reason that, despite much peacemaking effort, the Israel-Palestine conflict still festers. It fuels terrorism by Islamic extremists. By abstaining in the U.N. vote, Obama gave Israel a wake-up call.

Janet Gillmar

Palolo Valley

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Trump himself called for hacks

Why are we sanctioning Russia but not Donald Trump? Everyone saw him on national television, asking Russia to hack Hillary Clinton’s emails.

Regina Gregory

Makiki

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Helicopter noise bothers neighbors

Adding to two prior letters (“Tour helicopters ruin Kauai coast,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 1; “Helicopters buzz Pearl Harbor, too,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 5): There has been a significant increase in aircraft traffic flying directly over my home in Waipio Gentry in Central Oahu. Helicopters of all types, from Chinooks to Blackhawks to tour choppers and small prop planes, are flying over and around my neighborhood at very low altitudes all day long.

I have called the Federal Aviation Administration, the state Department of Transportation and the airport noise hotline. I get the runaround from all our government officials who claim there is nothing they can do. I contacted my senator in the Legislature and she suggested I contact my representatives and senators in Washington, D.C. to address my noise problem. Does anyone represent local residents?

The state needs to establish an aircraft noise abatement program to protect local residents from aircraft noise pollution.

Joy Schoonover

Waipahu

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Ige’s leadership style right for us

I am astonished by the news reports that Gov. David Ige’s detractors are attempting to portray the governor as somehow “weak” or “vulnerable” for re-election two years from now (“Quiet leadership draws criticism,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 2).

Steady and thoughtful governance is what Hawaii needs, not a hothead or loudmouth Twitter-style hero. When decision time comes, Hawaii’s people will be as thoughtful and quietly guided at the election booth as our governor is in office.

Brash politics leads to a disaster in leadership rather than cool-headed guidance. Ige is what Hawaii needs.

John Shockley

Makakilo