Kalbert Young, 糖心Vlog官方 vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer, shares his analysis of the concluded 2025 Legislative session.
Aloha 糖心Vlog官方 ʻohana,
The 2025 legislative session concluded on May 2. While not all of the funding requests submitted by the 糖心Vlog官方 Board of Regents (BOR) at the beginning of the legislative session were included in the final state budget, the university appreciates the funding we did receive, and we believe it could have a positive impact on our 10 糖心Vlog官方 campuses and the State of Hawaiʻi.
Overall, State general funds account for approximately 50% of 糖心Vlog官方’s operating budget, and depending on the individual campus, general funds can represent as much as 70% of their annual budget. This level of funding places 糖心Vlog官方 amongst the top third of public universities in terms of the degree of state support in the U.S.
This significant legislative support has allowed 糖心Vlog官方 to keep tuition relatively flat for the past eight years. When adjusted for inflation, the cost of attending a 糖心Vlog官方 campus is actually lower today than it was in 2017, a rare achievement in higher education or any industry, for that matter.
糖心Vlog官方 will continue to work with the State and the Legislature to advocate for additional funding to support new initiatives and excellent programs.
糖心Vlog官方 Cancer Center and JABSOM
One potentially positive outcome of the 2025 legislative session relates to the 糖心Vlog官方 Cancer Center and passage of a bill that increases the cigarette tax from 16 to 18 cents per cigarette. The new revenue will be dedicated to covering the 糖心Vlog官方 Cancer Center’s debt service until 2030 and could provide additional financial stability for the center.
The BOR had also requested: $6.9 million a year for the Cancer Center and $2.7 million a year for John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) for each year of the biennium budget. The Governor’s budget included: $9.4 million a year for the Cancer Center, $1.1 million in FY26 and $1.5 million in FY27 for JABSOM. This specific funding was not included in the budget.
In order to meet financial obligations in these areas, the programs and university will draw upon existing university funds. I expect that we will continue advocating for additional support in the next legislative session.
Athletics
Also some positive news for 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补 and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo athletics. The Legislature permanently added $3.2 million annual for 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补 Athletics, matching the BOR’s request. 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Athletics received a $500,000 increase in its base budget (the BOR had requested $800,000). Previously, the money was not part of the base budget, which meant we had to make the funding request each session.
A proposed $12.8 million increase for 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补 Athletics that was requested by Governor Green and numerous community partners, and strongly supported by 糖心Vlog官方, was not included in the final budget.
The request aimed to help 糖心Vlog官方 remain competitive in the rapidly evolving landscape of Division I athletics. A pending settlement in the House v. NCAA lawsuit would eliminate scholarship caps and expand roster limits, allowing schools to award scholarships to more student-athletes. If implemented, this change would significantly increase costs for 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补 to stay competitive.
Nursing programs and Hawaiʻi Promise
The Legislature did fund several of the requested nursing initiatives, including a joint 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补–糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu nursing collaboration, a new Pre-Nursing Pathway at 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu, and an expansion of the nursing cohort size at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.
However, the university’s long-standing request to expand the Hawaiʻi Promise needs based scholarship program to four-year campuses was not approved. The last dollar program will continue to serve students at 糖心Vlog官方’s seven community colleges. The university is considering other alternatives to help students at the four years with proven need.
Overall budget request and outcome
The BOR’s biennium budget included requests for $37.8 million in FY26 and $38.7 million in FY27. The final legislative budget provided $9.3 million in FY26 and $9.8 million in FY27.
A table comparing the BOR’s budget request to the final legislative appropriation is included below.
| Campus | Project Description | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Regents | Legislature | ||||
| FY26 | FY27 | FY26 | FY27 | ||
| Permanent Funding | |||||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Make Mānoa Athletics subsidy permanent | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | HIMB Positions from Act 181/23 | $246,118 | $246,118 | $246,118 | $246,118 |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | K–12 Expanded Teaching Cohort from Act 141/22 | $420,556 | $375,556 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Pamantasan Council from Act 64/23 | $85,500 | $85,500 | $85,500 | $85,500 |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | Make Hilo Athletics subsidy permanent | $800,000 | $800,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | Full Year funding for BS in Education Studies and Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education | $142,500 | $142,500 | $142,500 | $142,500 |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | Windward CC Mental Health Tech Certificate of Competence Program from Act 107/24 | $210,150 | $210,150 | $210,150 | $210,150 |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | Maui College Practical Nursing Bridge Program from Act 74/23 | $330,000 | $330,000 | $330,000 | $330,000 |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | Pamantasan Council from Act 64/23 | $196,000 | $196,000 | $196,000 | $196,000 |
| Hawaiʻi Promise | |||||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Hawaiʻi Promise Program Expansion | $8,683,397 | $8,683,397 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | Hawaiʻi Promise Program Expansion | $920,938 | $920,938 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu | Hawaiʻi Promise Program Expansion | $2,451,832 | $2,451,832 | ||
| Student Support | |||||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Financial Aid Counselors | $904,152 | $904,152 | $199,440 | $398,880 |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | Retention Coordinator | $37,500 | $75,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | Internship Coordinator | $37,500 | $75,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | Student Enrollment Management | $432,500 | $640,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu | Admissions and Financial Aid | $213,600 | $213,600 | $37,650 | $75,300 |
| Workforce Development – Nursing | |||||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa-糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu Nursing Collaboration Phase III | $447,936 | $447,936 | $447,936 | $447,936 |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Online RN to BS Program | $111,984 | $111,984 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | Increase School of Nursing cohort size | $297,500 | $595,000 | $357,500 | $475,000 |
| 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu | Pre-Nursing Pathway | $424,364 | $424,364 | $107,776 | $215,552 |
| Workforce Development – Other | |||||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | Administration of Justice Program Expansion | $75,000 | $150,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | Data Science Program | $42,500 | $85,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | Biocultural Science Program | $85,000 | $170,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu | Teacher Preparation Programs | $90,455 | $90,455 | ||
| Medical Facilities | |||||
| JABSOM | Debt service for Kakaʻako Health and Wellness Campus | $2,725,000 | $2,725,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Cancer Center | Debt service and operational costs | $6,857,810 | $6,857,810 | ||
| Other Requests – Core Functions | |||||
| JABSOM | Central Chiller Plant Operations | $63,000 | $63,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | Groundskeepers | $101,280 | $202,560 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu | ACM Facilities and Core Services | $341,748 | $341,748 | $66,888 | $133,776 |
| 糖心Vlog官方 System | Information Security | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 | ||
| Other | |||||
| 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补 | Expand Concussion Education to Middle Schools | $200,000 | $200,000 | ||
| JABSOM | Focus on cardiovascular disease and treatment | $700,000 | $700,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补 | Convert Athletics Positions and Additional Support | $4,519,341 | $4,519,341 | $320,000 | $320,000 |
| Governor?s Message | |||||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Pamantasan Council (additional funds) | $175,000 | $175,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Economic and Policy Research at 糖心Vlog官方ERO | $480,000 | $480,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | Pamantasan Council (additional funds) | $175,000 | $175,000 | ||
| House Adjustment | |||||
| 糖心Vlog官方 System | I Hoa Nā Moʻolelo | $179,378 | $179,378 | ||
| Senate Adjustment | |||||
| 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu | 3 positions for Henry Giugni Moving Image Archive | $754,644 | $719,203 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | 1 APT and Equipment for Water Quality Lab at 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College | $125,000 | $125,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | AI-Based Career Pathways Program | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | ||
| TOTAL | $37,895,161 | $38,733,941 | $9,336,480 | $9,830,293 | |
Non-recurring items in red.
On the capital improvement side of the budget, there were a few notable developments. One of the most significant involves student housing improvements at the 惭ā苍辞补 campus. The BOR requested $61.5 million in FY26 and $57 million in FY27 in state-financed General Obligation (GO) Bonds.
The Legislature approved half of that amount through GO Bonds and authorized 糖心Vlog官方 to issue revenue bonds for the remaining portion, which will require new income streams to cover future debt service.
Lawmakers passed a measure allowing 糖心Vlog官方 to issue $30.7 million in revenue bonds in FY26 for student housing improvements. However, this is still less than half of what was requested and for what was appropriated across the biennium in the budget. 糖心Vlog官方 will need to return next session to seek authorization for the remaining balance.
In total, the Board requested $381 million in FY26 and $331.2 million in FY27 to meet critical capital needs systemwide. The Legislature ultimately appropriated $178.5 million for FY26 and $38.5 million for FY27 in GO Bonds.
These figures do not include the portion of student housing funding that will be financed through 糖心Vlog官方-issued revenue bonds.
| Campus | Project Description | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Regents | Legislature | ||||
| FY26 | FY27 | FY26 | FY27 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 System/Mānoa | RIM Projects | $100,000,000 | $100,000,000 | $50,000,000 | |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | *Student Housing Services Improvements | $61,500,000 | $57,000,000 | $30,750,000 | $28,500,000 |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Assessment and Feasibility of Hamilton Library | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Waikīkī Aquarium Improvements | $4,000,000 | $1,702,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Athletics Improvements | $10,000,000 | $10,000,000 | $10,000,000 | |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Holmes Hall | $9,000,000 | $9,000,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | PV Rooftop and Canopies and Various Energy Efficiency Projects | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Mini Master Plan Phase 3-Kuykendall Hall | $5,000,000 | |||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Admin Office and Parking Phase I and II | $9,000,000 | |||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | RIM Projects | $29,625,000 | $22,685,000 | $15,000,000 | |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo | Puakō Marine Education and Research Center, Phase I | $750,000 | |||
| 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu | RIM Projects | $6,900,000 | $5,000,000 | $6,500,000 | |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | Capital Renewal and Deferred Maintenance | $37,500,000 | $25,000,000 | $20,000,000 | |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | Minor CIP | $37,500,000 | $25,000,000 | $20,000,000 | |
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | Kapiʻolani CC-Kauila and Kopiko Renovations for Health Sciences | $34,800,000 | |||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | Honolulu CC-Technology Renovations, Phase 2 | $32,000,000 | |||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College-Heona Modernization | $15,000,000 | |||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College-Hale Modernization | $12,000,000 | |||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | Windward CC–Alakaʻi Building Renovation | $15,000,000 | |||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Waimānalo CTAHR CARES center | $4,000,000 | |||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa | Magoon Research Station | $6,000,000 | |||
| 糖心Vlog官方 System | Demolition of Undersea Laboratory Building (Makai Pier) | $500,000 | |||
| 糖心Vlog官方 System | Project Adjustment Fund | $4,000 | $4,000 | ||
| 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges | Kauaʻi CC-Student Housing and Faculty/Staff Housing | $5,000,000 | $10,000,000 | ||
| TOTAL | $381,025,000 | $331,235,000 | $178,456,000 | $38,504,000 | |
*Legislature also added $30,750,000 in FY26 and $28,500,000 in FY27 in revenue bond appropriation for Student Housing
The University is grateful for the level of support demonstrated from the Legislature and the Governor with the continued investment in the University of Hawaiʻi. Future work remains to collaboratively address the evolving needs of our students, faculty and staff across all ten campuses.
The 糖心Vlog官方 administration is currently reviewing all enacted legislation from multiple angles to evaluate potential impacts and next steps. Of the 322 bills passed this session, 84 are expected to have either a direct or indirect impact on 糖心Vlog官方—ranging from operational and policy considerations to broader institutional concerns—for the university.
Gov. Green has until July 9, 2025, to sign, veto or allow bills to become law without his signature. There are also early indications that a special legislative session may be held later this year to address the loss of federal funding resulting from recent cuts by the Trump administration. I will share updates as more information becomes available.
Mahalo for your time and attention,
Kalbert Young
Vice President for Budget and Finance/Chief Financial Officer