Also, adding 200 parking meters would be a beginning.

Otherwise, the self-supporting boating program and the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor will continue to be reduced to a homeless person sleeping on a park bench next to the trash washing down the Ala Wai Canal.

Richard Johnson | Waikiki

DOE BUREAUCRACY

QUALIFIED TEACHERS ARE BEING IGNORED

Your editorial "Isle teacher shortage needs creative fixes" and other news articles throughout the past month have discussed the teacher shortage in Hawai'i. The lack of certified teachers is on the front page of the newspaper too often.

I am a certified Texas teacher. I moved to O'ahu a month ago and submitted an application with the DOE in March in anticipation of my move. I met with a recruiter in Dallas in May, and it is now August and school has started. I have passed four of the six Praxis tests required to obtain certification in Hawai'i. I will take the remaining tests Sept. 16 and will be certified in Hawai'i by the end of 2005.

The DOE called me last week, in response to my phone call more than a week before, and told me my application was incomplete. It was missing my Texas Teacher Certificate, which I mailed with my original application in March.

I have five years of successful teaching experience in Texas, and this past year 100 percent of my students passed the state reading exam, granting promotion to the next grade, and 95 percent passed the state math exam. By No Child Left Behind standards, my students are in exemplary shape.

Because of the DOE's delay, I sought employment elsewhere. I was hired at a terrific private school that had responded to my application immediately. I am thrilled to work with the children there, and I consider this the DOE's loss. The DOE says it needs qualified teachers, but it is not hiring them. I can't help but wonder how many other teachers are in my shoes.

Ann Vaseliades | 'Ewa Beach

TAX HIKE

WATCH YOUR WALLET; IT JUST GOT LIGHTER

No surprise that the City Council has decided to raise the GET. Raising taxes in Hawai'i is no more sensible than me telling a lung cancer patient to smoke more cigarettes.

To all those poor souls out there working two jobs and barely getting by: Watch your wallet; it just got lighter.

Joseph M. Zobian | Waipahu

KAMEHAMEHA

NON-HAWAIIANS SHOULD TAKE CULTURAL CLASSES

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling against Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy reminds me of the Star Trek enemy, the Borg Collective. The attitude our government and court system seem to have toward the Hawaiian people is "Resistance is futile." They shall be absorbed into the collective whole of Western civilization whether they want to be or not!

President Clinton formally apologized for the illegal overthrow in 1893 of the Hawaiian monarchy, but the overthrow seems to be an ongoing process of government interference and discrimination against the civil rights of the Hawaiian people and the sacrosanct nature of the trust that created Kamehameha Schools. U.S. law was not applicable when that trust was created under the monarchy, and should not be applicable today. Is nothing sacred anymore?

If Kamehameha Schools is forced to admit non-Hawaiians, then the trustees should require such students to take Hawaiian language, history, music and cultural values classes as part of their admission requirements to the school. I wonder how many John Does would apply for admission under those circumstances.

Ed Wagner | Mililani

PRIDE

KAMEHAMEHA RALLY WAS POWERFUL EVENT

I am a proud senior at the Kamehameha Schools Kapalama campus, and the unfortunate results given by the 9th Circuit Court have affected not only me, but also the Hawaiian community. When I received the disturbing news, I became angry; however, deep down inside, my heart felt crushed with sadness. I felt sad for my school, our princess, the future of our Hawaiian children and the Hawaiians of this land.

On Aug. 6, I gathered with family and friends in front of 'Iolani Palace. It was wonderful to see the thousands of people who attended, and you couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. The large number of people who were present proves that the Hawaiian community is not weak but stronger than ever.

I've always had complete faith in our school, but on Aug. 6 my faith was unmeasurable, having witnessed such a powerful event. The unity rally reminded me of why I am fortunate to be Hawaiian and a student at a remarkable school. We will fight this battle and I believe we will win.

He Hawai'i au mau a mau! I mua, Kamehameha! I am Hawaiian forever and ever! Go forward, Kamehameha!

Lahela Rice | 'Aiea

CUT RATE

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ISN'T 'FAIR, EQUITABLE'

I agree with Mr. Thomas H. Yagi's Aug. 5 letter pertaining to shibai on property tax relief. I really don't see any equitable benefit for everyone.

Regarding the example of a person with a $500,000 home and income of $50,000 whose property tax would be capped at $2,000: Big deal! That person's annual property tax is $1,875! Tax relief? What if that person's property assessment for last year was $400,000? Her property tax for last year was $1,460, and this year her home is assessed at $500,000, so her new tax would be $1,875. Tax relief? So, next year her home is assessed at $600,000 and her annual income is $50,200. Auwe! Where is the tax relief?

It seems to me that one of the more favorable methods to property tax relief is to decrease the tax rate or increase the home exemptions considerably. I hope Mayor Mufi Hannemann remains true to his word about a "fair and equitable" tax break for more residents. Ann Kobayashi's proposal on the $50,000 bracket is by far not a favorable method.

Melvyn Mon | Kailua

NEW FOCUS

MICHELLE WIE COVERAGE HAS GOTTEN OUT OF HAND

The Aug. 5 issue of The Ho-nolulu Advertiser printed the results of a survey indicating that "the majority of readers" want to hear more about teenage phenomenon Michelle Wie.

If The Advertiser truly wants to determine the consensus of its readership regarding frequent coverage of Wie, why not publish a survey in the sports section of the newspaper, rather than burying it on your Web site, where only a statistically insignificant sampling of your readers will see it and vote?

Your articles about Michelle Wie, particularly the synthesized ones that appear on her non-golf days, remind me of your coverage of the Ehime Maru incident several years ago, when The Advertiser insisted on beating the topic to death long after there was any relevant news to report.

Since The Advertiser seems determined to provide a daily dose of Michelle Wie, how about some stories that present her as a role model for Hawai'i's children? Instead of writing about the millions Michelle will make through various product endorsements, perhaps you could tell us about her social life on the Punahou campus or her plans for college.

James Moninger | Honolulu

SPENDING

SPARE US FROM THE CITY

Honolulu residents do not need a cap on the price of gasoline nearly as much as we need a cap on the price of city government.

Mark Hildebrant | Kailua