Posted on: Saturday, June 25, 2005

EDITORIAL
Delay on UH projects should not last long

University of Hawai'i regents have acted with reasonable and understandable caution in moving forward on two major development projects for the university system.

They have postponed, at least for a month, any decision on a public/private partnership to build a new four-year campus at West O'ahu and to build and rehabilitate student housing on the Manoa campus.

Considering the innovative nature of the two projects — private developers would put up the money for the work in exchange for various forms of concessions — it is sensible that the regents use careful due diligence.

But the delay should only be for purposes of ensuring these projects are of the best quality and would provide the best deal for the university.

Clearly the current dorm situation at Manoa is beyond inadequate and must be addressed.

And current and prospective University of Hawai'i students from Leeward have already waited far too long for a new campus on their side of the island.

It is time to get moving on both these projects.

The UH administration has come up with an innovative way to see the work get done. Once they are satisfied that all is in order, the regents should get enthusiastically on board and help make these projects happen.