Aloha 糖心视频 ʻohana,
The 2026 legislative session came to a close on May 8 and, considering the significant fiscal challenges and competing priorities facing the state, the University of Hawaiʻi ultimately fared relatively well overall.
Throughout the session, lawmakers were tasked with balancing reductions in federal support for critical programs, economic uncertainty driven by both national and international events, and continued efforts to maintain affordability for Hawaiʻi residents.
With those realities in mind, 糖心视频 entered the session with a modest supplemental operating budget request focused on two priority areas: healthcare workforce initiatives and 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics. While the university did not ultimately receive funding for those requests, we appreciate the continued engagement and collaboration with lawmakers throughout the session.
We are also grateful that the Legislature largely maintained existing operating support for the university and continued to invest in capital improvement projects across 糖心视频‘s 10-campus system.
The supplemental budget bill, HB1800 CD1, was approved by the Legislature and now heads to Gov. Green for final consideration.
Preserving tuition and fee reserves
During the session, proposals to utilize the university’s tuition and fee reserves to support other state priorities were under consideration. Through extensive discussions with lawmakers, 糖心视频 was able to successfully communicate the importance of maintaining those funds to support student services, campus operations and future strategic investments across the 10 campuses, particularly at a time when reductions in federal funding are creating additional financial uncertainty for higher education nationwide.
There were two measures with fiscal implications for the university. The first, SB2602, would have required that any unencumbered funds in 糖心视频‘s Tuition and Fees Special Fund (TFSF) lapse to the state general fund. This bill did not pass. The second bill, SB2921, transfers any excess balances from non-general funds to the state general fund. Although this bill passed the Legislature, it did not include any of 糖心视频‘s funds.
NIL bill outcome
Unfortunately, Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) legislation intended to support 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics did not advance on the final day of session. The final compromise proposal, which 糖心视频 supported, would have placed $1 million of state funds into an NIL endowment and allocated $1.5 million for immediate support for the upcoming season. The bill also required 糖心视频 to use $7.5 million in tuition and fee reserves for NIL – $4 million for the endowment and $3.5 million for the upcoming season.
The House passed the bill, but it was defeated in the Senate by a vote of 11–12. A reference on the Senate floor to an email identifying 糖心视频 concerns related to a previous version of the bill, not the version on the floor for a vote. 糖心视频 will continue to seek funding for NIL in future sessions.
Operating budget
For the operating budget, 糖心视频 saw a net reduction of approximately $3.8 million in general funds. At the same time, the Legislature added $319,000 in general funds for three positions at 糖心视频 West Oʻahu, as well as $4.1 million in special fund ceiling authority for the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Kapiʻolani Community College.
The table below provides a side-by-side comparison of the original 糖心视频 Board of Regents request, and the final legislative appropriation in HB1800 CD1, pending any line-item vetoes by the governor.
| Category | Board FY27 | Legislature FY27 |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Initiative | $3,724,600 | |
| 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补 Athletics | $15,080,000 | |
| Reduce funds for 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补 | $(1,991,147) | |
| Reduce funds for JABSOM | $(120,324) | |
| Reduce funds for 糖心视频 Hilo | $(301,413) | |
| Reduce funds for 糖心视频 West Oʻahu | $(154,233) | |
| Reduce funds for 糖心视频 Community Colleges | $(994,554) | |
| Reduce funds for 糖心视频 Systemwide Administration | $(258,392) | |
| 3 Positions and Funds for 糖心视频 West Oʻahu | $319,000 | |
| Professional Master Classes for Culinary at 糖心视频 Community Colleges (TFSF) | $4,169,328 | |
| Grand Total (General Funds) | $18,804,600 | $(3,501,063) |
| Grand Total (All Funds) | $18,804,600 | $668,265 |
Items in purple are Special Funded, not General Funded.
Capital improvement projects (CIP)
For capital improvement projects and deferred maintenance, HB1800 CD1 provided $126.5 million in general obligation bond funding and $20 million in special funds for projects across the 糖心视频 System.
These investments will support important facility improvements, such as $11 million for 糖心视频 Mānoa Athletics, infrastructure modernization and system-wide deferred maintenance projects that directly impact students, faculty and staff across the university.
The following table summarizes the final CIP appropriations:
| Description | Board FY27 | Legislature FY27 |
|---|---|---|
| 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补 Student Housing | $59,250,000 | |
| 糖心视频 System Renew, Improve, and Modernize (RIM) | $100,000,000 | $65,000,000 |
| 糖心视频 Hilo RIM | $30,000,000 | $9,500,000 |
| 糖心视频 Community Colleges Capital Renewal & Deferred Maintenance | $30,725,000 | $10,000,000 |
| 糖心视频 West Oʻahu RIM | $5,000,000 | $3,000,000 |
| 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补 Athletics Facilities | $11,000,000 | $11,000,000 |
| 糖心视频 Community Colleges Minor CIP | $30,125,000 | $10,000,000 |
| 奥补颈办ī办ī Aquarium | $10,000,000 | $7,000,000 |
| Kapiʻolani CC Renovations for Health Program | $4,000,000 | |
| 糖心视频 Maui College Vocational Training Center Modernization | $3,000,000 | |
| 糖心视频 Maui College – Hale Modernization | $5,000,000 | |
| Waialeʻe Livestock Research Station Improvements (CTAHR) | $6,000,000 | |
| Total | $283,100,000 | $126,500,000 |
*The Legislature also added $10 million each in special fund ceiling for Minor CIP and Capital Renewal and Deferred Maintenance at the Community Colleges
Although these investments are significant, substantial needs remain throughout the university system. Addressing deferred maintenance and modernizing aging infrastructure across our campuses will continue to be one of the university’s highest long-term priorities.
While the legislative session has concluded, our engagement with lawmakers continues year-round. Next year will be the start of a new 2-year biennium budget, and we will continue advocating for the needs and priorities of 糖心视频‘s 10 campuses while strengthening partnerships that help the university best serve the people of Hawaiʻi.
The governor has until July 15, 2026, to sign, veto or allow bills to become law without his signature.
Mahalo for all that you do to support our students, campuses and the mission of the University of Hawaiʻi.
Luis P. Salaveria
Vice President for Budget and Finance/Chief Financial Officer
University of Hawaiʻi