Edging closer toward University of Hawaii autonomy, the Board of Regents has approved the establishment of a UH Office of Capital Improvements reporting to the president. New UH office to oversee
capital improvement plansStar-Bulletin staff
The office, to be phased in as funding is available, will allow the university to control its capital improvement projects, including planning, design and construction of facilities.
Managing the office will be a professional staff formed by reassigning filled and vacant positions and new positions authorized by the Legislature.
In other action at a meeting at UH-Manoa, the regents:
>> Elected Bert Kobayashi to chair the board next year, the last of his eight years on the board. Maui regent Everett Dowling was elected vice chair.
>> Approved a Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Marine Biology to start in the fall in UH-Manoa's College of Natural Sciences. It will involve the college's biology programs, Marine Option Program, and disciplines from other colleges and departments on campus.
>> Authorized the administration to enter into a lease agreement with Geo International Explorer, Inc., to develop a U.S.-China Center at UH-Hilo.
>> Accepted 160 gifts, grants and contracts totaling $30.3 million between May 16 and June 15, up from 136 awards totaling $21.4 million for that period last year. A total of 1,535 awards worth $237.7 million were received for the fiscal year.
Starting new terms this month as UH regents were Myron Yamasato of Kamuela, on the Big Island, replacing Billy Bergin, whose term ended June 30; and Michael Hartley, replacing Sharon Weiner, now a member of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Yamasato has been with Waikoloa Land Co. more than 20 years and is its vice president for finance. A certified public accountant, he previously was consultant to the Hawaii Economic Development Council and with the Touche Ross and Co. accounting firm.
Hartley is president and chief executive officer of The Hartley Foundation, a nonprofit charitable foundation. He was co-founder of Cheap Tickets, Inc., sold last year to Cendant Corp. He was previously an executive and consultant in the airline industry.
University of Hawaii
