It's final-exam week for the University of Hawaii, and the lesson is hard to swallow.
Imagine asking your uncle for $500 to cover basic car repairs. He wants to help—really, he does. But first, he suggests you both put $500 into a CD, live off the $50 annual interest, and then launches into a lecture about Japanese fuel efficiency. He questions why you even need a car for work. Eventually, he offers $120. Then, after months of back-and-forth, he says, "Sorry, my family decided not to help."
That's essentially what's happening when UH asks the state for financial assistance to compete in the era of name-image-likeness (NIL) compensation for athletes.
Many state senators seem sympathetic. They nod along to reports on UH sports' economic impact. They cheer for the Rainbow Warrior volleyball team. But when it's time to write a check? Suddenly, no one can find a pen. Even when the proposal is one they helped craft.
Over the past few years, UH officials have been called to hearing after hearing. They've brought charts, studies, and stark realities: the House vs. NCAA settlement will require Division I programs to pay up to $20.5 million annually in NIL compensation. They've shown how donors, sponsors, and season-ticket holders are already stretched thin. Meanwhile, the football team—through no fault of its own—still lacks a permanent home stadium or a grass practice field.
This year, UH asked for $5 million from the state to help fund NIL payments. That's a fraction of what power conference teams spend. It's also just 0.025% of Hawaii's state budget. After negotiations, the request was whittled down to a minimum of $1.5 million. Last Friday, that proposal died in a Senate vote.
Let's be clear: elected officials have a duty to protect public money. Most are smart, service-minded, and careful with taxpayer funds. But some opponents simply don't like the new NIL reality. A few seem to enjoy saying no. And at least one lawmaker falls back on the old refrain: "My constituents don't want it."
Funny thing about that—mention Las Vegas near a group of seniors, and half of them start drooling like Pavlov's dog. But when it comes to supporting UH athletes? Silence.
For the University of Hawaii, the final exam isn't about what you know. It's about whether anyone is willing to help you pass.