Choose candidate based on merits

No question: The death of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye was a tragic event in the history of our state.

A legendary figure, he was elevated to near sainthood over the years. And not surprisingly, his political legacy is one marked by conflict.

It’s beginning to look like expressing his own personal choice for a successorhas led to a debate that is more emotional than rational.

Let’s remember, though, the late senator was elected, not anointed. The divine right of kings is long gone. His successor should be decided in an election focused on merit, not just sentiment.

Let’s hope the debate about who succeeds Inouye merges into a reasoned political choice.

Jack McDermott
Waialae-Kahala

Abercrombie not helping Schatz

Gov. Neil Abercrombie, as he has done so many times in his career, once again contracts foot-in-mouth disease.

Regardless of the intent in the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye’s letter to him, his callous and disrespectful comments only serve one purpose: to make sure his selection of Brian Schatz is vindicated by a victory.

Unfortunately, his actions may have the opposite effect: People who were undecided may just vote for someone else just to stay away from anything Abercrombie.

I certainly don’t see Schatz publicly defending any of Abercrombie’s actions, and it would be a shame if they negatively affected the outcome of the election.

I’m guessing that right about now Schatz hopes that Abercrombie would just keep his mouth shut.

Orson Moon
Aiea

Let OHA do what it wants in Kakaako

Concerning the debate over whether the Office of Hawaiian Affairs should be allowed to develop condominiums on the few parcels of land in Kakaako Makai that were grudgingly returned too late from the state of Hawaii, I have this to say: It’s none of our business.

When will we stop pretending the land stolen from Native Hawaiians generations ago is ours?

When will we stop lecturing and attempting to control a long-suffering people of grace and dignity?

Give them all their land back and gratefully be a tenant.

It never ceases to amaze me how the spirit of aloha has survived through all the injustice.

The disaster waiting to unfold across the street in Kakaako Mauka, courtesy of the Howard Hughes Corp., should be more of a concern.

I trust OHA to make the right decision. That’s their kuleana. Not ours.

Gregory Carley
Waikiki

Dentist exam just blocks competition

The spin that Dr. Lili Horton, president of the Hawaii Dental Association (HDA), put on Dr. John Stover’s ending his problem-plagued Hilo dental and medical practice was laughable ("Dentist quits as complaints mount," Star-Advertiser, April 12).

Horton implied that Stover and Dr. Lily Geyer would not have been practicing dentistry in Hawaii had they not obtained their licenses based on credentials from other states and instead been required to undergo "a rigorous exam."

This statement is disingenuous and insults our other 49 states. For one thing, the "rigorous exam" Horton referenced does not test competency on the procedures that caused problems for the Stover and Geyer patients.Furthermore, Stover also had a Hawaii medical license.

The sad reality is that Hawaii, like a diminishing number of states, requires experienced dentists from elsewhere to undertake a cumbersome and irrelevant clinical examination so as to limit competition among local dentists.

Michael P. Rethman, D.D.S.
Kaneohe

Waiver form to hike not going to happen

Why would state Rep. Sylvia Luke change a bill that has had 98 percent support ("Outdoor groups hit state lawmaker with ethics complaint," Star-Advertiser, April 10)?

Where has she been the last two years as Senate Bill 1007 was discussed and rewritten to limit liability against the state?

It’s not possible to have everyone who goes hiking, biking and jogging on unimproved state land sign a waiver form. That’s ridiculous. It won’t happen.

We don’t have surfers or boarders sign waivers before they break their necks at Sandy’s, do we?

The Hawaii state law is clear: Luke’s personal interest as a trial lawyer is clouding her judgment.

She should do the right thing and step away on this topic.

She may not want the state Ethics Commission looking into her law firm’s emails.

John Miller
Hawaii Kai

Isle residents can’t afford COFA aid

I believe it is high time for Hawaii taxpayers to stop funding not only Medicaid but other state-funded programs for Compact of Free Association migrants as well ("Migrants will not lose health benefits, official says," Star-Advertiser, April 9).

Our politicians should not be spending state tax money on these programs while our very own citizens continue to struggle themselves.

Many of our own taxpaying citizens who have fallen on hard times are out in the street right now because of limited availability in state-funded public housing.

Yet at the same time, there is no shortage of COFA migrants in public housing.

Where is the priority here?

I believe we all would like to pick up the tab for Medicaid and other programs for COFA migrants, but the last time I checked, there wasn’t a whole lot of money falling out of our pockets to pay for it.

Gene O’Brien
Wahiawa