Frazier has his wish list

The UH AD seeks funding for capital improvements

THE HOLIDAY gift-giving season is fast approaching and Herman Frazier knows exactly what he would like: a successful $20 million capital-improvement campaign for the University of Hawaii's lower campus.

Private funding is being solicited for the five-year plan that includes refurbishing Cooke Field so it can be used for athletic competitions; air conditioning for both Gyms I and II; a facelift for the Waialae Avenue entrance and the creation of a sports hall of fame to showcase past and present UH athletes.

"We've had favorable response from the private sector so far," Frazier, the UH athletic director, said. "Optimistically, the process could begin as early as next fall."

Frazier said at last July's Board of Regents meeting that upgrading the lower campus facilities would be among the top priorities for his second term as athletic director.

At a UH Athletic Circle of Honor committee meeting Monday, he said revamping the "lower campus" would also mean changing the name of the area, including renaming Lower Campus Road for someone associated with UH athletic achievements. Cooke Field would have field turf installed and become an all-purpose field that could be used for soccer and intramurals.

The plan calls for the current athletic department building to be given over completely to the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department. The HPER and intramural programs currently share the three-story facility with the athletic department.

The decades-old "temporary" classrooms, which house the ROTC, dance and other programs, would be demolished to make way for a new athletic department building. The new building would be four stories, but could expand to seven stories if the UH administration agrees to be part of a cooperative venture. In that case, state and federal funds would be sought to add the additional floors.

"Nobody would be displaced," Frazier said.

Currently, the UH Athletic Circle of Honor is a row of plaques on the inner concourse of the Stan Sheriff Center. A new athletic hall of champions would recognize various championships and top athletes from all sports.

"We want to showcase and tell the great history of Hawaii athletics," Frazier said.