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SR 160

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT'S USE AND MANAGEMENT OF ITS FUNDS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Henry Aquino and 3 co-sponsors

Hawaii legislature requests state auditor examine University of Hawaii-Manoa athletics department's financial management and fund usage practices.

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD1).
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Bill Summary · SR 160

Legislative bill overview

SR 160 is a resolution requesting the Hawaii State Auditor's Office to conduct a comprehensive audit of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics Department's financial management, fund usage, and stewardship of public and private resources. The resolution has been adopted and directs an independent examination of how the athletics department allocates and manages its budget.

Why is this important

University athletics departments handle millions in revenue from tuition allocations, state funding, donations, and media contracts, making financial accountability crucial to stakeholders. An audit can identify inefficiencies, compliance issues, or mismanagement that may affect student-athletes, other university programs, or taxpayers who fund the institution. This is particularly relevant given ongoing national scrutiny of college athletics spending and revenue distribution.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope ambiguity: The resolution doesn't specify whether the audit should examine only UH-Manoa football and basketball (revenue sports) or all athletic programs, which affects audit costs and timeline
  • Resource allocation: An independent audit requires auditor office resources; critics may question whether this is the best use of limited state audit capacity versus other potential university or state agency audits
  • Competitive sensitivity: Detailed disclosure of athletics spending could expose UH's competitive positioning in recruiting and operations compared to rival programs, potentially disadvantaging the university

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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