HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Five prominent Hawaii donors and organizations are making a $5 million commitment to the University of Hawaii at Mānoa Athletics Department through the University of Hawaii Foundation to support name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities for student-athletes.

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The commitment will provide $1 million annually over the next five years for NIL support, helping UH Mānoa retain local talent, recruit high-level student-athletes and provide equitable, Title IX-compliant opportunities across sports in an increasingly competitive Division I environment.

The contributors, each committing $200,000 annually for five years, are Bank of Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, Matson, and longtime UH supporters and community leaders Jack Tsui and Walter Dods.

“This extraordinary commitment reflects something that has always made Hawaiʻi special: people who deeply believe in UH and understand the important role athletics plays in bringing our community together,” said UH Mānoa Director of Athletics Matt Elliott. “College athletics has changed, and our objective is to adapt in a way that reflects the values of this university and our state.”

Watch the full announcement here:

NIL race intensifies across Division I

As NIL compensation has become a standard part of Division I athletics nationwide, university leaders say UH Mānoa needs about $5 million annually in NIL support to remain competitive in the Mountain West Conference and on the national stage.

UH Mānoa will officially join the Mountain West as a full member on July 1.

UH leaders pointed to recent athletics highlights that brought statewide visibility, including a men’s volleyball national championship, men’s basketball’s return to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big West title, and football’s Hawaii Bowl win over Cal before a sold-out crowd at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex and a national television audience that peaked at 3 million viewers.

Leaders cite statewide impact, economic benefit

University leaders said those moments of shared pride underscore athletics’ broader value for Hawaiʻi, including economic impact.

A 2015 study by the UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business, based on a $35 million athletics budget at the time, found UH Athletics generated $66 million in direct spending, produced $128 million in statewide business sales, generated about $7 million in tax revenue, and supported more than 860 jobs across Hawaiʻi. An updated study assessing the department’s current contribution is expected by the end of August.

UH officials also highlighted the educational role athletics plays, with nearly 500 student-athletes participating in UH Mānoa programs and more than 170 degrees earned by student-athletes last year.

Donors: Hawaii must adapt

Donors said the changing college athletics landscape requires broader support from the private sector, community, and, eventually, the state if Hawaii wants to keep local student-athletes competing for UH.

Jim Polk, president and CEO of Bank of Hawaiʻi, said the commitment builds on the bank’s longstanding backing of the university.

“Bank of Hawaiʻi has proudly supported UH Athletics for many years because we believe in the important role it plays in developing student leaders and bringing our communities together,” Polk said. “This commitment builds on that longstanding partnership and helps ensure UH student-athletes have the resources to succeed in a changing collegiate athletics environment.”

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Bob Harrison, chairman, president and CEO of First Hawaiian Bank, said the program represents Hawaiʻi beyond wins and losses.

“Athletics is an important part of the university experience, creating opportunities for student-athletes while helping foster pride, engagement and visibility for the university,” Harrison said.

Matt Cox, chairman and CEO of Matson, said a competitive NIL program is now essential to keep top local athletes in Hawaiʻi.

“Today, that requires establishing a strong NIL foundation that will help UH attract and retain top local talent, and we need to start now,” Cox said.

Tsui said the private sector has a role in helping UH remain competitive.

“My wife Frances and I are honored to participate in the fundraising project for NIL,” Tsui said. “We hope that our commitment will encourage other donors, large and small, UH supporters, business and community leaders to stand up and be counted so that UH can continue to be competitive and thrive.”

Dods, a former First Hawaiian Bank CEO and longtime philanthropic supporter of the university, said NIL investment is already a reality across college sports.

“Every school we compete against is investing in NIL, and if we want Hawaiʻi teams to remain competitive and our student-athletes to stay home, then we — the state, the private sector and the broader community — need to step up in some way,” Dods said.

UH leaders: A foundation, not the finish line

UH President Wendy Hensel said the $5 million commitment provides an important starting point, while acknowledging broader support will be needed to sustain long-term success.

“We are deeply grateful to Bank of Hawaiʻi, First Hawaiian Bank, Matson, Jack Tsui and Walter Dods for stepping forward with this extraordinary commitment to our student-athletes and the future of UH Mānoa athletics,” Hensel said.

Elliott said UH Mānoa athletics plans to launch a new giving society later this year to recognize individuals and organizations supporting student-athletes and the department’s long-term future.

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