Sultan and Jim On's names will still go to the Senate floor for a vote by the full body, along with names of the four who were approved by the committee, including businesswoman Catherine "Kitty" Lagareta, businessman Alvin Tanaka, law student Trent Kakuda and retired professor Byron W. Bender.

Committee members found fault with the highly political activities of Jim On, who served as Lingle's campaign attorney, and with Sultan's seeming lack of knowledge about key university issues, including a recent audit.

"The University of Hawai'i is poised to do many important things and we want the best people," said Sen. Norman Sakamoto, committee chairman. "These people don't reach our standards."

Nonetheless it was a close 4-3 vote, with those supporting the nominees calling their credentials in accounting and finance the kind of skills UH needs. However, even supporters said they reserved the right to vote against the two nominees on the floor.

It was unclear what day the vote will be scheduled.