Among UH students, the primary concern today was how well the transition team would maintain university operations. Mel Hayashi, president of the Associated Students of the University of Hawai'i, said he was "surprised" by the news.

"We knew the Board of Regents was going to be reviewing President Dobelle's performance evaluation, but I had no idea they were going to be firing him.

"We're concerned about possible repercussions about this. I haven't contacted too many of the (ASUH) senators, but those I have spoken to have expressed that we need to keep going the way we've been going... we want to make sure that students don't get buried under this."

Caucus 'shocked'

Representing the students from all UH campuses, Kawika Baker, who chairs the UH Student Caucus, said he was "shocked" by the decision to fire a president who had been "supportive" of student interests.

Dobelle increased the budget for the caucus, which is elected by student government bodies from each campus, to enable the group to meet monthly and discuss student concerns, Baker said.

Baker also said he's upset that students were left out of Dobelle's evaluation process.

"Students were not asked to come to the table," he said. "If an evaluation of the president is going on, students should have an opportunity to express how they feel. We don't feel that was adequately done."

Trouble was evident

Susan Sanger, president of the Graduate Student Organization, returned home from a trip last night to find the big news flagged in her e-mail account. She described as "tacky" the decision to make the announcement while Dobelle is traveling, but added that the signs of trouble have been evident for a long time.

"This is a shock... but the biggest shock is that this didn't happen a lot sooner," Sanger said, citing campus criticism over Dobelle's tapping Mainland people for top-paid administrative positions.

"And there were quite a lot of questions surrounding how he was spending," she said. "There have been questions not answered and maybe not been asked."

'Sense of purpose'

Jon Osorio, incoming director of the Center for Hawaiian Studies, said Dobelle "helped us lay a strong base for our future."

He asked the regents "to develop a sense of purpose that evaluates itself above politics and really does what's right for this place.

"We will be carefully watching the biennium budget, " said Osorio. "You have a responsibility to meet the needs of the native people ... if you want peace in Hawai'i."

Trisha Kehaulani Watson, a Ph.D student at Manoa, said Dobelle represented hope, not just for Native Hawaiians but for all students.

"I challenge you to show cause. I don't think you have it.

"It seems to me the only people bringing ridicule to this university is this board."

Kenji Rasmussen, vice chair of the student caucus, said that Dobelle never turned down a meeting with student leaders on campus, "which is a big difference from (former president Kenneth) Mortimer who didn't want to speak with students at all."

Student leader Kris Kaupalolo said that the students' relationship with new interim president David McClain "has been good and we hope that continues."

Mainland reactions

Reactions are starting to come in from the Mainland, as well, although many observers are waiting to hear the reason for Dobelle's dismissal.

"Obviously, the news is getting around," said Rama Sudhakar, spokeswoman for Trinity College, where Dobelle last served as president. "We're unaware of the reasons, so we're completely in the dark.