Posted on: Thursday, March 15, 2001
UH chief-to-be gets a Hilo earful
By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
HILO, Hawai'i — Big Islanders wasted no time last night telling University of Hawai'i president-designate Evan Dobelle about their wants and needs.
Residents told Dobelle they expect more from UH and that they believe the school has short-changed Hawai'i County for too long.
Councilwoman Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd said many Big Islanders were nervous about the prospects of expanding West O'ahu College before basic infrastructure needs at UH-Hilo have been met.
Sociologist Thom Curtis, now at UHH but formerly a teacher at the West Hawai'i branch, asked what commitment Dobelle will have to higher education in fast growing West Hawai'i. He called "a tragedy" the fact there were 500 students studying in four-year programs in Kona before operations there were shifted to the community college system.
Dobelle, who did not comment on the proposals directly, revealed he had made an unannounced visit to the Big Island while he was being considered for the UH job.
Dobelle, his wife and their son were greeted by a Hawaiian chant by members of the College of Hawaiian Language and received gifts of Vulcan sports memorabilia from student body president Chris Rasay.
Mayor Harry Kim said the university should transfer both the College of Tropical Agriculture and the Institute for Astronomy to Hilo, noting most of the state's agriculture is on the Big Island and all of the astronomy viewing is done on Mauna Kea.
Big Island Mayor Harry Kim wants both agriculture and astronomy elements transferred to Hilo.
