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>> I mean, that certainly was an option given the benefit of hindsight. >> But you don't but how do we move forward then with it? I view it as this may be the one-time pass the athletic department gets for NIL funding, but uh well, Chair Kim has been around the block and uh she was smart uh in the sense of creating an endowment so that she she knows what may happen next year and the year after that it'll be a recurring ask that once you give it, you have to keep giving it. And so um I don't see this becoming an issue moving forward after this year. The NIL request. >> Well, I don't think it's even about NIL. It is about the statement of how the university looks, views the legislature, right? In terms of how do you generate revenue, how do you spend your surplus?
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What is your priorities and your statement of values of what you're going to prioritize, right? I that's what it to me it's a broader issue. I think NIL is is top of mind. We can go into any other issue. We can look at student housing, right? Is that, you know, the amount that you're charging for student housing versus how much, you know, upkeep and maintenance that needs to go into it. I think there was a push from from the university saying they didn't want to float their own bonds. And that really frustrated us because we we're essentially saying raise the rates so it looks nice and we can fund those who can't afford it another way, but the university has been pushing back on the revenue bonds that we've been trying to float. And so to me it's a statement of how you're looking at your finances and how do we move forward right and I think we want the board who really understands all the intricacies and I you know I think you have the qualifications obviously in banking you you know you've done all the athletic stuff but I think we just want some asurances that you will bring that financial accountability and and part of it is political too and how you get some of these things moving but I think you know I I don't know what you what you think about that statement of values and where the university is at currently.
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So, here's what I think. You know, obviously, I wasn't involved in in past decisions or um I wasn't around when the surplus uh was created, but moving forward, we have a fairly new president who's by most accounts gotten off to a good start with the public and the legislature. You're going to get five new regions out of 11. And so, I view this as a a new beginning, if you will. And so, um I'm optimistic that these issues and concerns won't happen next year and beyond. >> Thank you, Chair. >> Before I call on Senator Fukumo, I have to set the record straight. This is not new and this surplus is not new. I've been aware of it for six years, maybe longer. So, it's not just during COVID because I've asked president, former president, why isn't he using this the surplus for promise program?
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Why isn't he using it for other things? And um and they haven't. So, it's not new. Uh I've been aware, this committee, new members been aware, but the border regions have been around and they should be aware because I'm very vocal about these things. Um but nothing have happened. So um yeah, just to to be aware that it's not one time, it's been a carryover year after year. And if you go and check the records, um it's fluctuated from 450 million to 300 million total, not in including the 16% um over so many years. So yeah, it's been there. >> So >> only now it comes to light because um the legislature saw it or the budget committee saw it that we need to balance the budget and here is excess funds and we're taking it from across all of the agencies and that is why it's come to light.
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>> Yeah. >> Just keep the recorded. >> Yeah. you know, in terms of um the uh system, I think in many respects for um the urban Honolulu communities, you know, Monoa in particular, we've seen such a huge influx of additional traffic coming into the region that most of the roadways are inadequate to handle. And so I'm kind of curious to see what your views on the community college system are and how you see you know distribution of um students and uh programs across the 10 campuses as something that you know can actually enhance the role of the university in attracting u more students. Yes, you you and I um talked about this earlier in the week and I agree with you that we should look at the other campuses as as resources to handle the overflow, if you will, at Monoa. West Oahu is a prime example.
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Um it's no secret that it's not being utilized to its capacity. Um and also u it's where it's Senator uh Senator Decort is uh from and that's where our the majority of our students are coming from. They're not coming from town. That's where the younger communities are. So there's a lot of logic in looking at utilizing the other campuses including West Oahu to take the strain off of Monoa. Well, I guess that would also require um the city and state to work closely together because the success of uh utilization of other campuses is probably going to be dependent on the availability of skyline and other kind of master transit opportunities. But I think the the real um challenge is going to be the extent to which the university encourages you know students to be able to take courses from multiple campuses which I think in the long term is going to be a real plus for the system.
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>> I agree with you and and you know in Hawaii we generally we don't like change and there's going to be a lot of push back. In fact, I'm sure people are yelling and screaming at me now for agreeing with you um about moving more uh students and classes to West Oahu, but we have to do it. Um as as you mentioned, um there's been a strain on infrastructure in town and the growth in students is in West Oahu. So, it only makes sense to have more classes out on that side. Well, I think for many communities, you know, Honolulu Community College will actually be a prime location once the um, you know, Dillingham corridor is completed and a lot of technology and advanced manufacturing uh, programs are located at HCC. So I think for all the campuses, you know, it it really would um uh take a different perspective on how the uh system might be able to support students who can then access multiple programs from a variety of different um locations.
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>> That's a good point. And and well, of course, now we have the advantage of hybrid l learning or distance learning. So you can sometimes go to class and sometimes uh you can stay at home or your apartment and learn. And I um I'm glad you brought up the point of Honolulu Community College when the rail is built, when transit orient development takes place around HCC. Um that could be a even more vibrant campus and like you I've been lucky enough to tour that campus and they're doing some amazing things. uh whether it's uh you know training airplane airplane mechanics or the the technology like their 3D printers it's phenomenal uh what Chancellor Kim is doing over there or Lee Lee Karenly sorry Karen >> well I think that's you know pretty much um a lot of the potential for future growth and um development and certainly uh transit oriented development in and around those neighborhoods would be a welcome boost.
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Thank you. >> Let me just add that for a long time now West Aahu and also my colleague here have been pushing that the campuses um we find that um at one time it was one of the fastest growing campus and then it started dwindling and when we visit the campuses the chancellor was not there and so there have been concerns about the leadership and uh so now it's moving back that we have different leadership that is taking it over but I That's really important and the regions have been made aware, past regions have been made aware about the concerns, but nothing was done. Again, there there's a tendency to to just go along with things and not make the changes. Um, so we we've been set back many many years when it comes to Western Oahu and having students on campus. a majority of the students are distant learning um at the campus and that's not bad but again you know I think your full experience comes from being on campus being at the college where you have social interaction and and those kinds of things that is part of the overall experience of college and life right so um I think that the region's got to be more aware of these kinds of things that are going on at the different campuses and that changes need to be advocated for >> um Senator um No, Senator Kani.
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>> Yes. >> Thank you, Chair. Um Keith, thank you for being willing to serve, but I think um as some of my colleagues have pointed out, for us, some of the concerns as we have visited campuses um particularly University of West Oahu um many times we went the chancellor wasn't there. There's no accountability. I don't know how the students feel about that that you know they're not getting maybe the bang for their buck because there's no administrative personnel for them to go to for help. So I think one of the things that I'd like you guys to focus on is to make sure that the people who are supposed to be there on campus touring school hours that they are there to guide the students and and you know answer the questions or fulfill the needs that they may have and this is just for not just today but tomorrow and you know provide the guidance that they need and um I'd like to um just ask that you consider that as you, you know, are confirmed that this is one of your goals that you guys are meeting the needs of the students.
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>> Sure. You you and your colleagues have made that loud and clear. And as I said earlier, we we have a a fairly new president. We're going to have a a new slate of regents. And so I'm committed along with Marie and and the new regions and the returning regions to be more proactive in our dialogue uh with the legislature and other stakeholders. >> Thank you. Nicole. >> Yes. Uh and thank you. I do remember in our conversation we did talk about West Oahu campus um and as it's continuing to grow and leadership is so important, right? And I'm a firm believer in on boots on the ground, right? inerson type learning and just setting that leadership style. Um I I would like to see more resources being poured into uh West Oahu. It's just a little bit more affordable out there. Uh parking I I I don't believe is being charged right now where up at uh Manoy it's about $200 plus dollars.
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So just those little things for students. Um I've noticed that the university also has um a growing number of students that are food insecure. Uh some studies have come out that students are not finding a stable place to live. Uh so I do think that if we can leverage that with offering uh another campus uh and another opportunity, it it will also uh relieve a lot of the traffic um from the students that are living out on West Oahu and then they're driving into Monoa. So um I believe that you have that innovative vision that will be able to kind of branch out. Um, like how you said, nobody likes change, but you know, if it relieves uh taxpayers and students from not having to pay so much, I don't see tuition getting any cheaper. Uh, so it's important that we look at all avenues.
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And, uh, uh, West Aahu is a beautiful campus and they're growing uh, and they have a lot of programs. They're getting a studio. They have a lot of, um, film industry programs that are happening, not to mention the agriculture. And I could go on and on about that campus, but I would like to continue to keep that on the table for you. >> Sure. Of course. >> Thank you, chair. >> I have two two more uh areas that I wanted to bring up and not just for you also for Marita that's sitting and listening. This is our last chance we get to talk with you folks for five years. So, we're taking advantage of it. Um, one of the areas is the CIP priorities. What is the CIP priorities for the university? And I'll give you examples. So we have Sinclair that's been um cost overruns delayed.
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It's still not up. It was supposed to be up last year. Costs have gone up and um I don't see the regions holding um them accountable for these cost overruns. Uh the other area is McCarthy Mall. McCarthy Mall started off being an integrate um uh irrigation project and then so the the person in charge, the vice president in charge decided they were going to improve McCarthy Mall, which is nice to have. But was it our priority? And as a result, it costs overruns. What? And nobody held that accountable. You know, who's being held accountable for those decisions? And uh and it's I can go on and on on all the different projects that's overrun or procurement issues that occurred. Um so I hope that you folks will be looking at those things and there's no excuse because we bring it up in these meetings. I bring it up and so it's not new information and if if the regions are paying attention which they should and there should be a representative from the border regions here at our meetings um because a lot of times bills that are introduced about the university it's sending a message that if we have to introduce bills then something is not being addressed right and I don't we don't want to introduce bills we don't want to tell you guys how to govern but if you're not going to be proactive and and govern the university then we we find ourselves in that awkward position because our constituents contact us.
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Uh the other area is uh on the uh tuitions. I mean not the tuitions, the scholarship. So every year the university has to send in a report to us on the scholarship. And uh it's interesting because we give out millions of dollars in scholarships um or the university gives out uh systemwide for the border regions. They give out $70 million in scholarships and tuition waiverss, $108 million in tuition waiverss and differentials, and another $29 million awarded um for full or partial tuition um to graduates assistants and so forth. But the interesting part about this is the nonresident tuition differentials. So, of the $108 million that is given out to non-resident waiverss and and scholarships, uh, we are told that is offset because we collect out of state tuition, which is fine. We collect the high tuition so that we can give it out. However, the amount of money we're collecting in out ofstate tuition is only 97.5 million and we're giving out 108 million in tuition waiverss.
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that that doesn't jive, right? And I don't know that even the university realized this until we pointed out to them. Something's wrong with this picture because if we're going to take care of people with waiverss, it should be our residents. It should be our our students and and yes, we want out of state, but at the same time, it should balance it. There shouldn't be a deficit there. So, I hope you folks will look at that, okay? because again these are funds going out and is it benefiting our local students and our community. So with that so if there no other questions thank you very much Keith. >> Thank you. >> We appreciate you folks listening. You'll be tested after. No >> thank you. >> Okay we are moving on to um GM and we appreciate your patience. Um, those of you who are waiting for your turn to come up, GM752 and this is submitting for consideration a confirmation to the Early Learning Board gubernatorial nominee Cheryl Kudamat, excuse me, for a term to expire 6:30 2029.
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And the early learning board is established within the department of education for administrative purposes is responsible for setting statewide early learning policy and overseeing the early childhood system from prenatal care to kindergarten entry composed of nine members appointed by the governor. The board directs the executive office of early learning uh and appoints the and evaluates its director provides guidance to improve the quality access and coordination of early learning programs across the state. So with that we have let's see who's here to testify you call our house chair Kim vice chair Kidani members of the committee Yuko Ariiko director of the executive office on early learning thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of nomination of shok kuryama to the early learning board. Miss Kuriamad has been a valuable member of the early learning board. She attends our meetings regularly and actively participates in discussions.
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As a director of a local preschool, her contributions help to ensure that the board's decisions are informed by the practical realities of community-based providers. Her membership also satisfies the statutory requirement that the board include a member with experience as a local provider of an early childhood education and development service. Uh I respectfully request your support of her nomination. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Elaine Yamashita. >> Aloha from Maui. Uh aloha from Maui. Ela Yamashta. I'm a member of the early learning board and I stand on my testimony in support of Cheryl's um renomination. Mahalo. >> Thank you. That is all that we have that signed up to testify. Anyone here wishing to testify for this nominee? If not, we'll have the nominee come forward. Aloha and good afternoon, Chair Kim, Vice Chair Kidani, Senators, Fukunaga, the court, and Hashimoto. I'll try to be brief.
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Um, well, first of all, sorry. I should have made a field trip with some of my preschool kids. I I know next time just one lucky one. More than one. But I really, I must say, if I >> wanted twins, but she had twins. >> I must applaud. Thank you so much for bringing her it. I mean, I love that. I mean, just to see, you know, parents, you know, having their children be involved with their lives. Honestly, that's one of the things that, um, which is why I want to continue to serve on the board. Right now, at our preschool, we have quote unquote the COVID babies. So, it's different. It's different. Um, not just the children, but the parenting. So, the four and 5year-olds were the children that were conceived during CO. So, if you may, please be on the lookout, you know, talk to the dewy, the elementaryaries.
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These children are going on to kindergarten next year. I'm so curious to see how it'll be. But honestly, it's the parenting. And I believe I said this um the last time I was here that it's just the electronics in our lives today. We wish, and that's why I'm so glad and thankful to be a part of the board. So, I can speak up because I see this every day. I see parents who are dropping off their children on their phone. They don't even make an opportunity for to say hi to the teachers or sometimes maybe a goodbye to the kids because they're on their phone having a conversation. That was not how it was obviously when we grew up. It's hard to believe. I don't know if I luck it, but we've had our preschool for about 20 years now. Hard to believe. Hard to believe.
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