The idea for the latter is to share infrastructure with Hiluhilu, as well as occupy some buildings on the Hiluhilu site until the campus is ready for occupancy.

Early estimates for both projects total around $100 million.

The new campuses would double the number of students now being served. The university center for West Hawai'i in Kona currently is in a small, leased space in a Kealakekua shopping center.

Regents urged that the proposals be carefully evaluated because the university is venturing into new territory — public/private partnerships in which a private developer would bear most of the costs.

"The selection committee is a critical first step," said regent Alvin Tanaka, referring to the panel Freitas still has to choose to evaluate proposals.

Tanaka emphasized that Freitas should seek expertise that may not be available on his campus to assist in the evaluation. Regents had just postponed for a month two other public/private partnership deals — one for student housing at Manoa, another for Phase I of UH-West O'ahu in Kapolei — asking for more due diligence on the part of the administration.

"We're really going into new territory and we want to make sure these relationships are set up properly," said regent vice-chairwoman Kitty Lagareta.

In other business, the board approved a refinement in the way the community college system operates by authorizing the new position of vice president for community colleges.

Kapi'olani Community College Chancellor John Morton is expected to be named next month to the new position in an interim capacity. He would report to the UH president and be responsible for coalescing management of the seven sister schools within the larger 10-campus system. Senior academic dean Leon Richards is expected to become acting chancellor at KCC.

The management refinement was necessary to meet concerns voiced by the colleges' accreditors and to provide better lines of access to the top for the community colleges, according to UH interim President David McClain.

In additional action, the board voted to retain an executive search firm to help find a new president.

"We're hoping by June of next year we will have identified a candidate (for the presidency)," said outgoing board chairwoman Patricia Lee.