Gov. Linda Lingle and Chief Justice Ronald Moon are seeking public comments on nominees for appointments to three circuit judgeships and four district court judgeships on Oahu.

Both released the list of names submitted to them by the Judicial Selection Commission and must appoint the judges from the lists. The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

Lingle will be appointing three Oahu judgeships to 10-year terms. The names submitted for those positions are:

Jeannette Holmes Castagnetti, Colette Y. Garibaldi, Karen T. Nakasone, Dean E. Ochiai, Faauuga L. To’oto’o, Bode A. Uale, Lanson K. Kupau and Catherine H. Remigio.

Comments may be sent by e-mail to Governor.Lingle@hawaii.gov or by fax at 808-586-0006 by July 12.

Moon will be naming four district judges, including three in Family Court, to six-year terms. The nominees are:

Cecelia C.Y. Chang, Tracy S. Fukui, James H. Hershey, Sherri-Ann L. Iha, Cindy S. Inouye, Shirley M. Kawamura, Katherine E.K.P. Kealoha, Lanson K. Kupau, Lynette J. Lau, Lenore H. Lee, Linda S. Martell, Trish K. Morikawa, William J. Nagle III, Steven M. Nakashima, Karen T. Nakasone, Dean E. Ochiai, Catherine H. Remigio, Renee R. Sonobe Hong, Michael K. Tanigawa, Matthew J. Viola and Wayson W.S. Wong.

The public may submit comments in writing to Moon at 417 S. King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, fax 539-4703 or e-mail at ronald.t.moon@courts.state.hi.us by June 30.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Tourist drowns in South Kohala

A 69-year-old woman from Southern California drowned while snorkeling with her family in South Kohala on Monday.

Big Island police identified the victim as Gloria Graf of Glendale.

Graf was snorkeling with her husband in waters off the public access to the beach in Puako when she began feeling ill and wanted to return to shore.

Her husband noticed that she appeared disoriented and then saw her go under water. He brought her to shore, began resuscitation efforts and called the fire department.

Graf was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at about 6:18 p.m.

Police have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Fire destroys home on Big Island

Fire destroyed a two-story home in Honomu on the Big Island’s Hamakua Coast, firefighters said.

The Red Cross assisted the residents of the home.

The fire was fully involved and the roof had collapsed when firefighters arrived Sunday night. No injuries were reported. Damage is estimated at $122,000 and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The fire was reported at 9:12 p.m.

Firefighters arrived at 9:30 p.m. and brought the fire under control at 10:05 p.m. It was extinguished at 11:40 p.m.