UH seeks $50 million for West O'ahu site
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer
If the 2003 Legislature earmarks $50 million in new money for the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu, construction can move forward on the recently approved 500-acre permanent site — bypassing the interim site completely, according to West O'ahu chancellor Bill Pearman.
"If we had a commitment of $50 million we could begin (construction) on the permanent site," said Pearman, who has completed a strategic plan showing exactly how West O'ahu plans to expand in the first and second years at a new site. Completion of a first building in the $628 million project could come in three to four years, he said.
"The interim is just a backup in case the funding doesn't become available," Pearman said. "My preference is to get enough funding for the permanent site and increase in increments over the years."
But if the Legislature allots $30 million to $40 million in the next biennium, then the interim site would more likely be the one used first, he said.
Last week the UH Board of Regents approved two new sites for a West O'ahu campus — a 16-acre interim site in the heart of Kapolei and a 500-acre parcel on the outskirts next to Kapolei Golf Course for a long-range campus in the fastest-growing part of O'ahu.
The decision, coming after 26 years of offering classes in temporary buildings on the Leeward Community College campus, means that dreams of expanding UH-West O'ahu into a true four-year campus are beginning to become reality.
Since the regents' approval, Sen. Cal Kawamoto, D-19th (Waipahu, Pearl City), pledged to introduce a bill in the next session to appropriate $200 million in general obligation bonds to begin construction on the 500-acre parcel.
The last Legislature gave UH $8 million for planning and design for West O'ahu. "We are using that to move forward, UH building coordinator Allan Ah San said.
Department of Education statistics show 41 schools with 37,672 students in the Leeward School District, compared to 42 schools with 33,277 students in the Honolulu District. Add the 41 schools in the Central School District, and that amounts to a pool of 71,421 students in that geographic region from which to pull students.
While the community cheered selection of the large site, it has expressed disapproval at the downtown acreage, expressing fear of increased traffic congestion and concern that it may delay work at the permanent spot.
Pearman said even if the 16-acre site is used first, it's unlikely it would be more than three stories high. "I don't envision any of these 10-story towers," he said.
Existing height stipulations on the acreage between the state and county buildings where the 16 acres are allow the building to go as high as 10 stories.
No matter which site is built on first, according to the strategic plan, there are plans to launch a freshman class of 400 in the first year the new campus is open.
At present there are no general education curriculum for the first two years of studies at the West O'ahu campus based at LCC; those entering West O'ahu already have their basics. The campus only accepts juniors and seniors, with an average student age of 33.
In the second year at the new site, a sophomore class would be added.
"Right now our projections are about 400 in the first year and 800 new students in the second year, with about 1,000 students coming over (from the existing campus)," Pearman said.
He also said some academic program expansions are envisioned, with a math and science division joining the three current divisions: humanities, social sciences and professional studies. Business administration and public administration would be included in professional studies.
But with a freshman class envisioned at the new site, general education classes will also have to be added, Pearman said.
The academic planning committee is also looking at immediate new offerings, including an Information and Computer Science Program. At Manoa, the ICS major has more than 800 students, Pearman said. "They can't really serve any more, so they're looking at another place to put it."
Additionally, there's interest in offering graduate programs in business administration and education, the latter especially for teachers who want to go back and get something beyond their basic certification, he said.
Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.
