UH Athletics Faces Legislative Questions on Fundraising, NIL, and Sustainability

HONOLULU – The future of University of Hawaiʻi athletics — from fundraising and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) to facilities and financial sustainability — was placed under the microscope Wednesday during a joint informational briefing before the Hawaiʻi State Senate Committees on Ways and Means and Education.

UH Mānoa Athletics Director Matt Elliott and UH President Wendy Hensel addressed lawmakers’ questions by outlining recent fundraising efforts, the growing role of NIL in retaining and attracting student-athletes, and how athletics supports academic opportunity, statewide visibility, and long-term sustainability for the university and the state.

Fundraising, NIL, and Return on Investment

The discussion opened with questions from Senator Kurt Fevella, who pressed Elliott on how much money UH Athletics has raised since his arrival and what role he personally played in those efforts.

Elliott stated that UH Athletics has raised approximately $1.5 million over the past six months, specifically designated for NIL initiatives. Fevella questioned whether the funds justified public investment and reiterated his opposition to taxpayer-backed athlete compensation.

“I donʻt agree paying our athletes a dime to keep them,” Fevella said. “What is the return on the investment? That’s what we need to know.”

Elliott Outlines the Role of UH Athletics

In response, Elliott framed UH Athletics around three core contributions: education, exposure, and economic impact.

He noted that UH Athletics supports roughly 500 student-athletes, more than 200 band members, and 150 student employees, and that student-athletes earned over 150 degrees last year with a cumulative 3.18 GPA.

“We’re creating educational opportunities through athletics,” Elliott said.

He also highlighted the visibility athletics provides for the state.

“2.7 million people watching Hawaiʻi on television during the bowl game is an extraordinary opportunity for us to be seen,” Elliott said, adding that the exposure benefits both the university and Hawaiʻi as a whole.

Elliott said the department also intends to update a previous economic impact study to reflect the current landscape of college athletics.

“We should be driving economic impact for the state,” he said. “That is absolutely something we want to quantify and share.”

“New Money” and Presidential Support

Questions followed regarding whether the $1.5 million raised represented new funds or existing UH Foundation dollars. Elliott stated the funds were new donations raised since July 1, specifically for NIL.

President Hensel stepped in to support Elliott’s performance, emphasizing the timeframe.

“I think anybody that comes into a new position and in six months raises $1.5 million has satisfied my expectations,” Hensel said.

When lawmakers asked whether UH was pursuing large mainland donors or major corporations, Hensel confirmed those conversations are ongoing, but emphasized that success would require a collective effort.

“This is not something one person accomplishes,” she said.

Ching Field and Facility Concerns

Fevella later raised concerns about the condition of Ching Field, noting that the venue was originally intended as a temporary solution and questioning the safety and long-term cost of continued use.

He described witnessing a damaged section of bleachers during a recent visit, prompting concerns about ongoing maintenance expenses.

UH administrators responded that the facility undergoes annual inspections and that only minimal improvements are being made due to the anticipated development of a permanent stadium. Officials said the reported bleacher issue was the first they had heard of such a problem and committed to following up.

Aloha Stadium Negotiations and Revenue Outlook

Senator Donna Mercado Kim also questioned UH’s involvement in the Aloha Stadium redevelopment, asking for greater transparency around existing agreements and future revenue expectations.

She requested a copy of the contract and a report detailing which corporate partners are involved, how revenue would be shared, and what benchmarks exist before UH retains additional revenue.

Mercado Kim then asked whether UH has entered direct negotiations with the Aloha Stadium Authority or the developer regarding UH’s future use of the facility.

UH Mānoa Athletics Director Matt Elliott said he serves as President Wendy Hensel’s designee and has attended authority meetings but confirmed formal negotiations have not yet begun.

“They’ve framed the topics — ticketing, concessions, parking, suites, advertising — but they are not at the point where negotiations are happening yet,” Elliott said.

Elliott noted that UH currently generates approximately $2 to $2.5 million per season at Ching Field through tickets, concessions, and suites before expenses, while revenue projections for a future Aloha Stadium remain dependent on variables such as capacity and pricing.

“I have not projected out what a hypothetical stadium revenue would be yet,” Elliott said, adding that UH could begin that analysis as the project moves forward.

Senator DeCorte Questions Post–Hawaiʻi Bowl Fundraising

The most pointed fundraising critique came from Senator Samantha Decorte, who questioned whether UH capitalized on momentum following the Hawaiʻi Bowl victory.

When asked how much NIL money had been raised since the bowl game, Elliott said he did not have a precise figure.

“If you folks are not taking an aggressive approach to fundraise after a big win like that, it really cautions me to figure out what your priorities are,” Decorte said.

She contrasted Elliott’s responses with the visible fundraising efforts of the football head coach and stressed the importance of immediate, personal outreach to donors after a major win.

“That should have been the day your team got on the phone and called everybody,” Decorte said. “Those are opportunities you don’t get back.”

Elliott responded that the department sent messaging on Christmas Day and has since held multiple in-person meetings with donors and corporate partners.

Financial Context and NIL Realities

Elliott also acknowledged that the Hawaiʻi Bowl was a break-even event and that UH Athletics finished the previous fiscal year approximately $160,000 in the red.

President Hensel addressed the broader NIL debate directly, acknowledging philosophical differences while stressing that NIL is no longer optional in Division I athletics.

She said that if UH hopes to remain competitive in the Mountain West and continue generating benefits for the university and the state, NIL support is now a necessary part of the model.

A Broader Perspective and Looking Ahead

The discussion closed with comments from Senator Glenn Wakai, who praised the $1.5 million raised to date and offered a broader economic perspective.

“Reality is Hawaiʻi is one of 12 states that doesn’t have a Fortune 500 company,” Wakai said, noting the limitations of relying solely on local corporate sponsorships.

He suggested UH’s fundraising opportunities may be strongest internationally, particularly across Asia and the Pacific. Elliott confirmed that UH is working with the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and has international meetings planned.

The Economic Question Still at the Center

As lawmakers continue to evaluate UH’s funding requests, university leaders pointed to past economic impact findings showing that UH athletics activity has generated tens of millions of dollars in local spending, supported hundreds of jobs, and contributed state tax revenue across Hawaiʻi — data UH says it plans to update to reflect today’s college athletics environment.

That updated analysis, along with clearer fundraising benchmarks, is expected to play a key role as the Legislature weighs the future of UH Athletics in the months ahead.