House Standing Committee on Higher Education

Okay. Good afternoon, everyone. Now convening the House Committee on Higher Education. It is Wednesday, February 11, 2026. 2:35pm we are not at the state capitol. We are here at beautiful Bachman Hall. Want to thank President Hensel for allowing us use of this facility.

Want to thank the coaches, student athletes, administrators that are here for us to be to provide Testimony on our one bill today, House Bill 2384 relating to student athlete compensation. So before we get into the testimony, I just want to say how meaningful it is for me personally to be here as an alum of the university.

You know, this school really shaped who I ended up being, becoming. It's a very special place to me, also being the representative from Manoa as well. And I do not take lightly the opportunity to be here in this capacity. We intentionally chose to hold this hearing on campus.

You know, when the Legislature considers policy that directly affects student athletes and the future of UH athletics, it's important that we not have that conversation at a distance. NIL is not abstract. It affects real students, their decisions, their opportunities, and their ability to represent Hawaii at the highest level.

So being here allows us to hear directly from those most impacted, from leadership, navigating a rapidly changing landscape, and from the young men and women who wear that H proudly across their chest. As we know, college athletics has changed nationally through court decisions, media agreements and conference restructuring. This model is evolving quickly.

The question before us is not whether change is happening, it is how Hawaii responds. Before we respond, we listen. So again, mahalo to everyone for being here today and for providing your feedback on the one bill before us.

Before we begin, President Hensel, would you like to just say a few words and thank you again for allowing us to be here.

Aloha.

Aloha.

More appropriately, thank you for making the drive over to the University of Hawaii and the campus. It means a lot to us that you would take the time to show up physically, physically in our space and allow the conversation to take forward, to move forward today.

You know, I've said this before, but I think it's worth saying again. It doesn't just affect the student athletes behind me, although they will be some of the loudest voices you hear today because they are the most important to us. It also affects the state.

Much of what we do affects the economy and has ripple effects and multiplier effects that support many people across our state.

We think the, the spirit and the pride in the state of Hawaii, given that this is the only D1 program in the state, also is something really significant in A time when it is difficult to create community, and so many of us are on our phones and using AI.

So appreciate that you see the holistic picture here as you consider the bill and have. And again, just the fact that you came here today to be with us speaks volumes about your dedication and thoughtfulness. So, on behalf of all of us of the university, thank you so much for being here.

Thank you, President Hensel. And with that, we will begin the hearing. Up first, we have Matt Elliott, UH athletics Director, testifying in support.

Good afternoon, Chair Garrett, Vice Chair Amato, Members of the Committee, my name is Matt Elliott. I'm the Director of athletics here at the University of Hawaii, and we are here to speak in support of HB 2384. As President Hensel started.

I also want to express my gratitude to you for being here today and creating this environment for us and our student athletes and our coaches to share their opinions on what's going on in college athletics. In this bill, those are the most important voices, and I want to get to them as quickly as possible.

But I also do want to say I stand here with just enormous pride and that our student athletes are participating in this process, that they are using their voices to share with you what it means to be a college student athlete today.

Because as you said, Chair Garrett, it has changed significantly, and this landscape has evolved so much. And the reality is, is that even as soon as. As recently as July 1st of this past year, we are now in a space where NIL is different.

It's something that we can do within the institution, we can control it within the state. And that means that we have an ability to shape a program that does best suit our student athletes and best suits what is right for all of the people who live here.

So we support this bill for a number of reasons, but just the idea that the Legislature has come together and put together this framework that says we care about education of student athletes who are participating in nil, we care about managing agents the right way so that student athletes are protected, we care about reporting requirements, so we're very transparent and.

And how NIL is managed in this state. Those elements of this bill make a lot of sense for us to be extremely successful as an athletics Department, as a program.

We also need funding, and we are here to commit to you that we are working as hard as we possibly can in the private sector to go out and generate those funds, but that we also have made this budget ask for nil specifically for $5 million to be able to support these programs, because Those are the dollars that will allow us to continue to create outstanding programs and allow student athletes to stay here and succeed.

And that is what we want to accompl for this university and for the entire state. I am here and will be present to answer all of your questions but would like to be able to pass it on to the rest of the people. Thank you so much.

Sure. Thank you. AD Coach Beaman told me they have practice at 3pm today so we're going to take her up next with her two athletes. Coach, if you don't mind coming up. Can't be late to your own practice.

You cannot. Thank you, I appreciate that. And also apologize for the casual attire but we are running down to the stand Sheriff after this. So aloha and thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of House Bill 2384. My name is Laura Beeman and I am the head coach of the University of Hawaii Wahinee basketball team.

I was not born in Hawaii, but I call it home. I have spent 14 amazing years as the head coach of the Rainbow Wahine basketball program. I must say it has been and is one of the greatest honors of my life.

That feeling is not due to the success we have had over the past 14 years on the court. It is because of the impact the community has had on me and me and our program on the community. The Aloha spirit is a living breathing emotion. You want to be a part of it and share it with others.

You want to share this aloha by representing the community, the university and the state with pride. You feel a sense of responsibility to give back. You want to see the university, the student athletes served and the keiki that aspire to wear the H across their chest have amazing success.

We are the pro sports program for the entire state. The pride of the community feels when they watch our teams play is absolutely indescribable when we win. The emotion and humility knowing our impact is beyond words. Our programs make people happy. The stories of the student athletes make people happy. I truly believe we give people hope.

We give people something to believe in. Sports in General changes people's lives. Whether it is providing an opportunity for education or merely creating happiness by being a fan. Nothing unites people like sports. As we venture into a different era of collegiate athletics, remaining transformative in nature does not need to change.

At the University of Hawaii, our athletics Department will hold fast to the core values that shaping our student athletes lives is and will always be the number one goal. Hawaii has always been different.

It is time for the university to lead in the area where college sports can remain a positive and impactful influence on our student athletes and our community. Let people see and feel why Aloha. Excuse me? Feel what aloha is and why Hawaii is a place to come home and call home. I support HB2384.

Mahalo again for this opportunity to testify.

Thank you, coach. Did your players want to come testify? Okay, no pressure. Jovi.

Aloha. My name is Jovi, and I play point guard for the Wahine basketball team. Mahalo for the opportunity to testify in favor of House Bill 2384. Growing up in Hawaii, UH athletics has always meant more than just sports to me. It represents my home, the Polynesian culture and the community.

Being able to play in front of family and represent this state as a Hawaiian athlete is an opportunity I'm very grateful for. I'm constantly reminded that I belong to something bigger than the game when I see familiar faces or hear a big chihu in the crowd. My journey hasn't been easy, especially after two ACL injuries.

But those moments showed me just how powerful this community is. There were times when I felt discouraged and unsure, but the love and support I received from everybody carried me through. People reached out with prayers and messages and aloha, reminding me that I wasn't alone in my recovery.

That meant everything to me because it's why I chose UH because it felt like family. And that choice has changed my life. The community support motivates me and my team every day to keep pushing, keep believing, and representing Hawaii with heart.

I'm forever grateful to UH and the community of Hawaii for standing by me through my hardest moments. I know what you all give to us as student athletes is more than just emotional support, and I just wanted to share that. It is meaningful to us on a daily basis.

When we know that you all have our back and invest in our journey. It gives us confidence as young women and as athletes who want to deliver championships for our state.

I support HB 2384 because it provides opportunities for college athletes like me, a local girl from Hawaii, to grow and learn about responsibility, teamwork, accountability, commitment, and most importantly, giving back to the community that gave me so much. Mahalo.

Thank you, Jovi. Adjust the microphone.

Hi, everyone, and thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony today in Support of House Bill 2384. My name is Rhetoria Tamilo, and I play center on the Wahine basketball team. The reason I chose UH is because it feels like home.

I knew it was the place for me when I came on my recruiting visit because my values felt like they were important here, too. Respect, humility, genuine care for people and culture. It doesn't feel like I left home, and it still feels like home.

Being part of a winning program and wanting to uphold a legacy matters to me. And I've taken a lot of lessons from my freshman year.

I've put a lot more attention on my nutrition and taking care of my body because I know that I have to be the best for my teammates, coaches, and to deliver for this community that has taken me in with open arms.

When I first got to Hawaii, we had a few events where boosters, community leaders, and others met me before I had even played a game here. At first, I was overwhelmed by it, the attention, and them knowing who I was before I had even stepped on court.

I wasn't always comfortable speaking in these rooms and feeling the spotlight, but the support of this community and feeling safe to tell my story and to share my experiences has meant the world to me. The continued support you guys give us makes this all very incredibly meaningful to us.

I support HB 2384 because it helps college athletics in Hawaii change with the new world and and keeps Hawaii relevant on the national stage, where we can continue to contend for championships. Thank you for your time.

Thank you for being here. Now you guys can make it to practice on time. Thank you, coach. We'll do this by sport is Coach Timmy. Oh, Coach Robin. Okay, you popped up, so you're up next.

Give me.

A little bit. Good afternoon, guys. Okay, let's go. Wait. Oh, she was tall. Okay. Aloha. And thank you for this opportunity to share my testimony with you today. My name is Robin Amo, and I am the head coach of the University of Hawaii women's volleyball team. Can you guys hear me?

I was born and raised on Oahu, surrounded by volleyball. I began playing in the gym with adults age 7. At age 7 and by age 10, after joining Klits club, I fell in love with the game. Volleyball taught me far more than how to compete.

Under my coach, Mr. Okamoto, I learned humility, discipline, and a never quit mindset. My family wasn't wealthy and college wasn't financially realistic for us, but volleyball opened doors for me to attend college. After graduating from McKinley High School, without the opportunity to excel in volleyball, My life would have definitely gone a different direction. Sorry.

This. I always get emotional with this. Okay. I had chances to attend colleges in the mainland, but leaving Hawaii was never truly an option. I grew up watching Wahine volleyball and choosing to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa meant representing my home, my culture, and my community.

Being part of a program bigger than myself taught me leadership, accountability, and responsibility to give back. That foundation led me to compete as an Olympian in three Olympic Games. Sydney in 2000, Greece in 2004, and Beijing in 2008. Served as team captain for 2004 and 2008, and later played professionally around the world.

Because of this opportunity that the University of Hawaii volleyball program granted me, I have been inducted into the USA hall of Fame, the Hawaii Sports hall of Fame, and the University Hawaii Sports Circle of Honor. And I am truly humbled and grateful. That is why I support HB 2384.

College athletics is different now, and we need to make sure we can continue to be competitive in order to offer the same opportunities that I receive to our future generations.

Thank you. Okay, thank you, coach. Are any of your players here today? Okay, folks, want to come up next? Hey, there.

Hello. My name is Victoria Leyva, and I'm a defensive specialist on the Wahine volleyball team. Thank you so much for the opportunity to testify in Favor of House Bill 2384. Coming from a border town in Texas that is not highly recruited from, I did not know what to expect when my collegiate recruiting journey began.

However, through persistence in travel tournaments, I was able to gain that exposure and ultimately receive offers. At my last club tournament, Hawaii came into the picture, and now I find myself 3,000 miles away from home. The legacy and competitive spirit of UH's athletic programs first drew me here.

However, in two years as a student athlete, I have gained far more than skill or knowledge about my sport. I have learned about life. The relationships I've built at UH have shown me that this university is defined not only by its history of excellence and competitive spirit, but but by the values it instills in each of us.

Here, I've learned what it means to work with discipline and humility, to move with purpose, and to take pride in all I do. After all, wearing this uniform means representing not only the University of Hawaii, but the state itself, its history, its people, and the aloha spirit that shapes everything we do.

That meaning became clearer through my experiences in the community. Every conversation on the island made it clear that UH athletics is more than competition. It is connection. As student athletes, we are both role models and underdogs, reminders that no matter where you came from, you deserve a place on the big stage.

I have seen this connection firsthand, the way a child's eyes light up when we teach them about our sport to watching Kupuna Smile as they talk story and about the game they watched the night before, including the unwavering support from fans who show up. Sorry. Through every high and low at UH athletics and community are not separate.

They are one standing together always. Since arriving in Hawaii, I have been welcomed with open arms by people who believe in us and support our programs unconditionally. I carry deep gratitude for them because of the support. I have been given opportunities to invest in my education, my sport and my future.

As I look forward to continuing my journey here, I hope to continue to give back in every way I can so that UH can continue to thrive and continue to offer opportunities to kids like me.

After all, UH took a chance on a girl from a small town in Texas and in doing so gave me a place that truly feels like home. I Support House Bill 2384 because of the changing landscape in collegiate athletics.

With House Bill 2384, we can offer opportunities to student athletes at Hawaii who can represent the islands and experience the unique culture that comes with being a Wahine volleyball player. Thank you again for this opportunity.

Thank you, Victoria.

Aloha. And thank you for your time today. My name is Shaloy Reed and I am an outside hitter on the Wahine volleyball team. My experience here at UH has been nothing but the best. Of course, as every student athlete does go through struggles and toughness, the university diversity and athletics always prepares us for the next play.

Being here at UH gives a sense of pride. We've created a family not just within our sport, but with everyone. Having so many supporters that truly believe in us and root for our success is something that you can't find anywhere else. As our motto says, our team, Hawaii's team, we are more than just a sport.

We are an influence. We are a team. We are a family. Establishing the values and pillars of what it means to be a BO is such a blessing. Why I chose UH was more than just coming to play volleyball. As a local girl from the small town of Laie, there's so much pride that comes along with it.

There really is no place like home. Being able to give back to the community and state that gave me everything is worth so much. Representing our people and our culture is something to be thankful for. Having amazing coaches that help support, raise and push us is something you just can't pass off. As a student athlete.

We have that platform to be someone that the next generation can look up to. We can make a difference through our actions, our playing and our service. And what better way to give back to the people and the state than to represent what we stand for?

I support HB2384 because it will help us continue to compete for championships, mentor aspiring young local Keiki and make a difference in the community we live in. Thank you.

Thank you, Chalet. Any other Wahine volleyball players? One more.

Good afternoon. Thank you so much for the opportunity to testify before you today. My name is Talia and I'm an outside heater for the University of Hawaii, the volleyball team. Being a student athlete at the University of Hawaii has been one of the most meaningful parts of my college experience.

I chose UH not only for athletics, but for the strong sense of community and pride that surrounds the program. Representing Hawaii comes with a responsibility to give back. And through UH athletics, I had opportunities to connect with local youth and serve as a role model in ways that reach beyond the court. Name, image and likeness.

Opportunities are an important way for student athletes and the UH athletics to continue growing. NIO allow us to develop professionally, build partnerships and bring greater visibility to our teams while still prioritizing academics and our responsibilities to university.

As the world of college athletics evolves, thoughtful support for NIL can help UH attract opportunities, expand its exposure, and strengthen the connection between student athletes and the community that supports us. I appreciate the Legislature's athletics and. Sorry. I appreciate the consideration for how NIL can possibly shape the future of UH athletics.

I support HB 2384 because it will allow the program to compete at the national level and offer opportunities for athletes like me to experience being part of a community that embraces the Aloha spirit. Thank you.

Thank you, Tully. Up next, Coach Timmy.

Thank you, House representatives, being here today. And more importantly, thank you for housing this session, for coming here to our home and being a part of this and being. Being here to just listen.

It's truly an honor to be standing in front of you guys, but also to be one of the coaches that coach these student athletes as you get to hear their testimonies on why House Bill 2384 is so important.

And in recruiting, retaining, building a sense of culture, you know, from the football standpoint, you know, all our values really come from what, you know, our Hawaiian culture. Values are made respect, respect for the land, respect for the people, respect for our school, respect for ourselves.

And so in recruiting those type of players and retaining those type of players, this bill right here is so important to us as you're going to hear more stories and the reason why, you know, more than ever as our Momentum here at the University of Hawaii has started to climb and.

And move in the direction under our leadership of President Wendy and ASTEC Director Matt Elliott. Why, at this crucial time, this bill is so important for us to continue our success. And so thank you guys so much for being here and much mahalo.

Thank you, coach. And you have a few players here as well.

Okay, bring this up a little bit. Talofa. My name is Dean Brisky. I'm an offensive lineman here at the University of Hawaii. First off, just want to start off with appreciating you guys for this opportunity to testify the House Bill 2384. So I am from American Samoa and a senior here at the University of Hawaii.

Coach Timmy and his staff took a chance on the kid from Samoa knowing that many of us, like many of us, lack. Sorry. Many of us lack proper training, technique, mechanics, even football knowledge. Back in Samoa, it's just really slow and we don't have that much resources. But coaches here still take chances on us.

So really appreciate that they still believed in me and trusted the developmental process, something that many schools nowadays aren't willing to do anymore. A lot of programs rely on money transfers or highly related recruits. And with years of experience, for us, that's never been the case.

Our coaches believe in each and every player and invest everything they have into our growth, not just as athletes, but as men. Where I'm from, resources are not as available. So being resourceful, making the most of what we have, and being grateful for every opportunity is how I was raised.

That mindset is exactly what this team represents and what Coach Timmy Chang has built in this program. Despite limited resources, he has made so much happen, not just for this program, but for Hawaii athletics and the entire university. With the way NIL is now, teams can be fragile. Players come and go.

But the family, unity, loyalty and culture built here by our coaches instills something deeper in those. To those who choose to stay, this island is very special. It brings people together and it is filled with love.

I've had opportunities from powerful schools offering large amounts of money, but I've chose to stay because of what has been built here. A team rooted in faith. Not just faith in each other and our community, but faith in God. Hawaii is an expensive place to live.

And when other schools offer money that can change the lives of players. Not just players, but their families who live back home, it becomes incredibly hard to say no. Because at that point, it's no longer just about you.

But with the guidance of these coaches, the foundation already in place and the adding blessing of the support, the possibilities for the Hawaii football can become very truly special. I believe this program is only scratching the surface.

And with the right backing, what Hawaii can achieve will be something great, not just on the field, but for the people, the culture, and the future generations to come. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. God bless.

Thank you, Dean. Up next, QB1.

How you guys doing? Thank you for the opportunity to test fire here today on behalf of House Bill 2384. My name is Mike Alijado, play quarterback for the football team.

And just to start choosing here, the University of Hawaii, the football program, it wasn't hard for me because I grew up here and you know, growing up here, as much as everybody, a lot of people in here did, it teaches you a lot and a lot of values and a lot of morals and, you know, a lot of those are, you know, respect, loyalty and love.

And you know, you get taught all of those things. So being able to represent this state and being able to put the H on the chest, I, I fully understand how much pride that gets thrown into that because of I was able to grow up and, you know, watch all the glory days of these, the universities.

So being able to do that, it's. It's just amazing. And it's a blessing and it's an opportunity. What this university has been able to offer for us. When you talk about college athletics as a landscape right now, you know, I think the biggest thing you can build right now is a culture.

And that's what the University of Hawaii has been able to do, especially with the support of President Hensel and new athletic Director, Mr. Elliott. I think the culture here is being able to grow and it's getting solidified.

We have people in the building that are, that want to be here, that want to be successful and, you know, that are taking the extra steps to become better than the, better than the competition. And being able to do that, being able to be a part of that, it's truly amazing.

Like a lot of the fellow athletes have said, being able to see smiles on the faces of the public, of little kids, of grandmas or just anybody, just because of what we're able to do for them and to represent them as a state, it's a blessing because one football, it's almost like the brand of the university, just because of how much national attention it gets and being able to put our name out there, it's.

It's amazing and it's a, It's a beautiful opportunity for us and just going to our coaches. I think all of the coaches here have definitely poured their heart out into their teams and into what we're trying to build, especially Coach Chang, what he's able to do for us and the belief that he shows in us.

It's the type of belief that kind of changes a person, that kind of grows a person as. As a player. So being able to play for him is so much easier.

And going to the builds house build 2384, I fully support it because, you know, as a player, you see the land, the landscape changing and seeing how much it affects everybody in it now.

But staying here, especially with my teammates and especially everybody who chose to stay here, like Dean that just talked, it's not hard for us because we're able to play for our brothers. That relationship has been built, the chemistry has been built, and it's not hard for us to say no.

But we understand that the college landscape is changing. So, you know, we appreciate you guys. Thank you guys for your support and all the backing, and we really look forward to going out there and representing you guys. Thank you, guys.

All right. Thank you. Micah, got some fans in the house there. Any other Members of the football team want to come testify? Coach, you're going to make them. Okay? Got it. Guys, want to flip a coin? Elijah, Ben, who's going to go first?

Hello. Good afternoon. My name is Elijah Iquez. I was born and raised here on Oahu. I'm a junior here. I play infield for the baseball team. And, you know, the reason I came here, wanted to play here at Manoa, is because this place is just different. This place is special.

And, you know, I've had the opportunity to go around the world, around the US and, you know, just play at different places, and there really is no other place that gives me the same feeling as stepping on the field here at home. And being a student athlete here. You. Know, means so much to me.

You know, I'm representing so much more than just myself, you know, going up here, you know, representing, you know, my high school, my family, my grandparents and, you know, really this whole state.

And, you know, coming to these games here, when I was a little kid, it was just, you know, just in awe, seeing these, the future stars just playing on the field and, you know, hopefully one day being able to be one of those guys on the field and just really grateful and thankful to have the opportunity to be here and continue to live out those opportunities.

I guess part of that was wanting to become a leader, become a role model of the community and the younger generations. Being able to come here has given me incredible opportunities. Like I said, being able to just play the game I love around, around the world, really.

And, you know, just little things like meeting fans, meeting people, little kids, and, you know, just hearing how they really do just look up to us and, you know, they're in awe of how, you know, we play the game and, you know, how just things like that, it's, You know, it's just a. It's a different feeling.

It's hard to describe, honestly, put those feelings into words. And, you know, being a student athlete allows me to just do things I've always dreamt of doing. You know, I get to do things like just make my family proud, become a better person, become a better player, and ultimately just be a rainbow warrior.

That means a lot to, you know, these student athletes. And like I said, we're representing a lot. And I feel like over these past three years, being a student athlete here, it's hard to, like, build a culture here, you know, with the new transfer portal and nil, things like that.

See a lot of my, you know, teammates who pretty much family, you know, they're here for a year and they're leaving, and it's hard for us to, you know, build a winning legacy, build a winning team, and, you know, that's what the goal is.

You know, we want guys to stay and continue to get better and, you know, build this bond and connection between each other so, you know, we can become, you know, the best program out there, the best program in the nation.

And, you know, that's the ultimate goal that we're trying to do is just we want to be the best. And you know, that's why we're all here today in support of this House Bill 2384, because, you know, ultimately we want to win. We want to, you know, make everyone here proud. And yeah, that's pretty much it.

Thank you guys. Thank you for allowing me to be here in front of you guys giving me this opportunity.

Thank you. Elijah, Ben, good luck this Friday with the season opener against Gonzaga.

Aloha, everyone. My name is Ben Zogunamal. I'm a fifth year graduate or graduate guy from here. This is my fourth year in the program and I'm a utility man. I'm here today to talk about the impact the University of Hawaii has had on me throughout my last four years.

I've learned how to become a better student athlete, but most importantly, how to be a person with a greater purpose than just themselves. When I first set foot on campus In August of 2023, I didn't know what to expect. A program with a new coach and a non successful record in recent history definitely wasn't the easiest decision.

After reflecting, it was the best decision I made easily. Being a student athlete here at UH is not treated as any other athlete in the country. We represent a state and we are Hawaii's professional team. With that being said, it comes with a great responsibility to make an impact on our community as well.

When I think about the greatest thing I've been able to do at uh, it isn't a baseball moment. It's the privilege of impacting my community and being the best example for our Keiki. UH athletics has given me a chance to live out a childhood dream as I once was.

Just like the Keiki who aspired to be in the Kelly green and orange. I support HB 2384 because it will help us to continue to pay what we have and what we have learned. Forward to Hawaii's KK community. Thank you for your time and go Bos.

All right.

Thank you, Ben. Members, please note that we do have testimony from a few other coaches. Unfortunately, there are. They're on the road right now with their teams. Coach Charlie Wade with the men's volleyball program as well as a few of his players. Coach Gano with the men's Basketball team.

Again, testimony from some of his athletes, but they're also on the road. Is there anyone else, any other student athletes in the room wishing to testify? Okay, seeing none, we'll continue on with our other registered testifiers. Mike Yosua. Testifying in support.

Chair Members of the Committee, Mike Yosua in support of HB 2384. Man, I'm really glad I came in person today. It was awesome to hear from these student athletes. It was almost 25 years ago. I was in the same position as they were playing football here at University of Hawaii.

And it really is, you know, to the chair's words, this place is very meaningful and shaped the person I am today. I just, I submitted my written testimony. I just wanted to make a couple other comments from, from two different perspectives. As a former student athlete, you know, things have changed quite a bit.

Back in the day, we couldn't even accept a cheeseburger without getting an NCAA violation. Now they have this tremendous opportunity to earn a little bit of extra money to supplement their scholarships or financial aid that they get to be able to help make ends meet.

You know, again, back, back when Coach Chang and I played, we got about $600 a month for our scholarship check. My rent was $900 a month.

We had like five guys living in a two bedroom apartment trying to cobble together whatever Simon or SPAM or whatever we could to make, to make ends meet when we weren't getting the training table. So this really is a game changer. But I think NIL is not just a nice have anymore. It's a must have.

And to be able to Fund this, to be able to provide the financial support these student athletes need to stay home and play for the University of Hawaii is critical for us. So I wholeheartedly support the contribution of NIL for the University of Hawaii.

Now from another perspective, I also represent many student athletes at Power4Schools and negotiating NIL deals. I've seen multimillion dollar deals, I've negotiated them. I've also seen what can happen when you don't have a good representative. There's a lot of unscrupulous representatives out there trying to steal money from these kids and take advantage of them.

There's also the rules and regulations, both of Hawaii state national rules laws that they have to comply with that they need to be educated about. One thing that really sticks out in my mind is these kids get maybe a, a big check, $50,000 and they think, wow, I'm rich.

They don't realize that probably close to half of that they need to pay in taxes and self employment taxes and income taxes. And so there needs to be some sort of education to help these kids understand when you get that money in, make sure you do the right things with it.

Don't spend it all in one place and then not have enough money to pay your taxes. Because the IRS is coming after student athletes, whether they realize it or not, so wholeheartedly in support of HB2384, both from appropriation standpoint, but also from a regulation standpoint. And happy to answer any questions if you have them. Thank you.

Okay, thank you, Mike. It. Do we have anyone on via Zoom? The Attorney General. Okay. Deputy ag Are you on?

Yes. Can you see me and hear me?

Yes, we see you. Go ahead.

Okay. Good afternoon, Chair Garrett. Chair, Amato Members. Vice Chair Amato, Members of the Committee. The Department of the Attorney General just wants to request that you indicate that this is a law of statewide concern. Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much, Deputy AG. Anyone else, via Zoom? None. Okay. That is all that we have registered to testify. Is there anyone else in the room wishing to do so? Please step up.

Good afternoon, Chair and the Members of the Committee. My name is Guy Yamamoto. I played men's golf here at the University of Hawaii from 1983 to 1985. And before I get started, I'd like to congratulate all the student athletes that were here today. Very well spoken, their thoughts very precise, and well thought of. So congratulations on that.

Coming out of high school, I was not a highly recruited golfer. And in my last two years of eligibility, the University of Hawaii took a chance and gave me an opportunity to play golf on the golf team. And that opportunity has shaped and changed my life forever. Gave me a good education.

I have a degree in Business Administration. It gave me the opportunity to compete nationally. I had not been well traveled, so I got to travel throughout the United States with the golf team. It helped me grow a lot, personally and professionally. Today I'm the General manager at the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club.

Although I did not pursue a career as a touring golf professional, my time at the University of Hawaii gave me the confidence to pursue a playing career as a competitive amateur.

Over the years, I've been able to win two Manoa Cups, a state amateur stroke play championship, and in 1994, I won the United States Amateur Public Links Championship. So being a national champion, it gave me the opportunity to play in the 1995 Masters tournament in Augusta, Georgia.

And I think till today, I'm probably the only UH alumni that has been able to play in the Masters. So hopefully there, there's a lot of good golfers on the team right now and hopefully they'll be able to follow in my footsteps. Um, I've been inducted into the Hawaii Golf hall of Fame.

But for a student that grew up on Kauai, the opportunities that University of Hawaii has given me were life changing. You know, college athletics, the landscape has changed drastically over the last few years. And from my time to now, it's so different.

But the opportunity for these young people to play in a sport and to compete and grow and for future athletes to have that same opportunity. I hope we can all support HB2384. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, guy. Anyone else in the room wishing to testify, please just identify yourself, please.

For the record, My name is Cole Phillips. Thank you guys for the time. So before I start, I wanted to just clarify that I'm not a student athlete. I was never a student athlete, as you could probably tell. 5'10" 170 on a good day. But at least that was my excuse before Micah came around.

But anyways, I just wanted to show support for HB to 2384 because growing up, I was fortunate enough to experience the Colt bread in June Jones era of Hawaii football. Sorry, coach Timmy, a little bit too young to be there for your time.

But believe it or not, that co Brandon team had a big impact on me, younger me, because seeing Hawaii on a national stage gave me a sense of pride, it gave me a sense of hope, a sense of possibility. And I saw the football team this year kind of reignite that same excitement for the state.

And you know, I've been to many of the home games across all sports. I've seen like, in a time of polarization, how these teams can unite people to cheer for the same players and to feel proud to be from the same place. So ultimately that's why I'm here.

And I saw there was this opportunity, I thought I could come and support and say that, yeah, I support Hawaii athletics, you know, and yeah, I don't know athletics. It's more than a game. I've learned that it has potential to remind people of Hawaii that we could do a lot when we come together. That's it.

Thank you. Thanks for being here. I know Rep. Kila is a big fan of yours on social media. Anyone else in the room wishing to testify? Okay. Seeing NAN Members will now move into questions. Any questions, just remember to press the button on your microphone. Little red light will appear. Yes, Rep. La Chica Is it on?

Hello. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you, Chair, for holding this hearing here and thank you to everybody for taking the time to testify on this measure. Really do appreciate hearing directly from you and your experience.

I think it really paints a larger picture of the challenges and as well as the opportunities that we could do with this legislation. My first question, my set of questions is maybe for Director Elliot. Please come up. Hello. Good afternoon. Good to see you. Thanks. Thank you. So I think I know the Committee.

My voice is just booming. But the Committee understands the. The loss of opportunity should we not have a formal structure in place or the lack of funding? But to your knowledge, among our.

Can you paint us a picture of the reality that we're facing among our Mountain West peers, which among them have a structured NIL program in place? Then how often does it come up when it comes to these official visits that NIL is brought up? And I think that's my first. First set of questions.

Sure. No, thank you. Great question. For us to be able to paint the bigger picture. And the reality is this is now the new normal. You heard a few people say it earlier, but even at the Mountain West, you probably see nationally the stories at other schools.

But in the Mountain West, every single school has committed to an NIL budget. Every single school is using NIL as part of its package to retain and recruit student athletes. And the reality is that these conversations are happening in the official visit process as well.

So transfer students, high school students, this is, as you try to think about, what are you selling to a possible recruit or to a student who's already here. NIL is one piece of it.

But what's amazing about this place, and I think what all of these student athletes articulated so well, is that is not at all the only thing that matters.

We believe as an institution that it is so vital for us to have students who want to stay here, be a part of this community, get their degrees, and, you know, some of the alumni who are here as well, talking about what it meant for their whole lives.

So we are talking about what does it mean to be a part of a community as an athlete, but also the whole. The broader community of Hawaii overall. So the money is a piece of it.

But getting a degree at this institution, feeling the support from the fans and representing this place, is an enormous reason why so many student athletes want to be here as well.

And, I mean, if you can weigh this, like, part of, like, when you come to, like, the negotiating table, like, how much would you weigh this? You know, like, whether or not. We have a program like in place in comparison to our competitors that are also recruiting.

Yeah, we're trying, you know, our goal right now is to try to benchmark as much as possible for us to understand what are the resources available at peer institutions.

That's why we're focusing on the Mountain West, Big west, the group of six schools that are out there in the country, and figure out what is a fair budget, what is something that we think will allow us to retain our roster.

I think one of our student athletes mentioned it's frustrating and it's disappointing when a teammate who you love and you've built that connection with and you know, is part of the future is going to leave. And that's certainly going to happen. And we understand that.

And when that that's the best thing for that student and their family, we support them in that decision as well. But a much better outcome, again, is if our students want to stay, can stay. We can provide the nil resources in a competitive way, earn their degrees and be part of this culture. That's the best part.

Final question, Chair. Do we have the data, like, what the turnover rate is that's, you know, due to, like, you know, nil in terms of potentially, like, athletes that we turn over and lose?

Yeah, I think that we could get that in terms of the. Our specific school. We do see that, you know, the numbers of students going into the portal is widely reported in the thousands every year of student athletes who are making those choices.

But it would be easy for us to just get that to you about how many have transferred out each year. That's within our databases.

Thank you, Director. Thank you, Chair.

Yep. Thank you. Reptila.

AD I have a question. I think this is the first legislative session across the country. This issue has come forth before the legislatures. Is that correct?

Yeah, I think other schools, I've seen in other states that athletics directors or administrators are talking about nil. But to do what we're doing right now, this feels like we're doing something special.

So for other legislatures across the states in the country, how are they potentially supporting mechanisms or legislation like this or not?

Yeah, and there's a wide range of strategies. And I think building this Bill 2384, putting the protections in to our state law is, you see that that is happening across the country. So those elements of education and reporting, Title IX compliance, that is something that we're seeing is critical in a lot of places.

The way that we're seeing in terms of the financial support is really a wide variety of Outcomes. For example, there are schools, or, sorry, there are states that are looking at the tax implications of whether or not student athlete income should be taxable in the state itself.

Or for example, looking at whether the donors who are submitting dollars for nil purposes, whether there should be tax rules that adjust that. But what you're seeing most commonly in terms of the way to support these NIL programs is really the direct support from the institution and the state to be able to meet these budgetary requirements.

And for many, many schools, they're either running in a break even budget or they're losing money. But the state and the university are still committing up to $20 million per year for nil purposes.

So what we're saying is we still will do our absolute job to make sure we run a balanced budget, but we think with a State's investment of $5 million for nil, we can build the program at least in this first year in a viable way and then be able to manage our budget as well.

And I think you're going to see that very consistently across the country.

One more, and just for clarification, private schools are participating in NIL programs as well via their different schools.

That's right. Private schools and public schools are both, they both have the same standards right now. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Brett Maroc.

Smarter than I am. So first, I gotta, I gotta be honest, a little bit biased here. Uh, has been my football team since I was a baby and growing up in Waianae. This is my professional team. Same colors as my other professional team, the Eagles.

But so with that being said, you, you touched on it a little earlier when you came up the first time. I absolutely support the idea. We got to keep the kids home, we got to keep the players we have here. We don't need Micah going to some other team. We need to keep the Hammers home.

But I don't think your, your ask is enough. Can you elaborate? And I'm not offering more, but what I want to do is I want you to elaborate more on your private funding and sourcing. What's your plans for going after private funding?

Yeah, and that's what we're doing right now. And I 100% agree with you. This is trying to find all of the resources that are available to make this program viable.

So that's what we are doing for this academic and this fiscal year as we are out in the community, trying to raise money both domestically and internationally, working with corporate sponsors who can provide nil deals to our student athletes as well.

So we've got a target for this year, just in the private sector to raise $3 million on our own for nil programs. And. And we're beyond the halfway point in doing that right now. And we will continue to pursue that. That won't stop next year. We will continue to do that as well.

So the state funding allows us to have some certainty and stability around an NIL program so that we can make promises to these student athletes that we know we will fulfill and then we will try to raise on top of that as well. So it's just a really good kickstart. Exactly. Yes. Perfect. Thank you.

Just a few questions for you, ad. Yes. Can you explain where things currently stand with the media rights deal that you're negotiating?

Sure. So, as of last week, the Mountain West completed their conference wide media rights deal, which has three National TV partners and then a fourth element to that TV deal which essentially says there's going to be a Mountain West app.

So the games that are not on national TV on Fox or CBS will be available across the country on that app. But what we are also allowed to do, and we have done extraordinarily well here in Hawaii over the years, is have a local TV rights deal. So everybody's familiar with our partnership with Spectrum.

That's where we have football games that are not on national tv, but men's and women's volleyball games, baseball games, soccer games, softball games, even this weekend, our basketball games. We have exposure to really high quality broadcasts of our games that everybody here who's in our state can see. So.

So we are now in that process of renegotiating or not. We're not renegotiating yet. I misspoke. I'm sorry. We are in the stage of requesting proposals to have a local media rights deal that will supplement and complement that national deal for the next six years. And that is ongoing.

And we hope to wrap that up in the next couple months.

And the hope is that that contract will provide some additional revenue to Fund things like nil.

It can absolutely provide additional revenue. We will get a distribution, a media rights distribution from the conference and. And then any local rights that we negotiate will be just for us, our institution.

Thank you. Let's see. I know the nil, the 5 million ask gets a lot of the attention, but can you talk about some of the other requests you have to improve the facilities on the lower campus?

Yeah. So we have a $7.3 million CIP request for this year as well. There are really two main items in that request. One is to continue to improve and upgrade the Stan Sheriff Center. That is a vital location for us on this campus.

Again, to be able to bring in such the volume of fans and supporters that we have for wahine volleyball, men's volleyball, wahine basketball, and men's basketball. That arena gets a lot of use. It gets used by our entire community.

We also have other events in it, and we've got to keep that at standard so that it continues to be able to serve this community for a long time. And then the second piece of, of that, the second major piece of that is what we were just talking about, this broadcast opportunity.

The Mountain west is expecting that we will put as many of our games as we can and in a lot of our sports, all of our games, either on stream or on television.

So we need to create a broadcast studio to be able to have that capacity so that you can see our women's water polo games and our soccer games and really get the whole spectrum of, uh, sports available in soccer, deliverable way. Probably a lot of that on streaming, but we gotta be able to do that ourselves.

And our goal is to partner with these awesome resources on campus, current students who are in communication schools and professors here to help train the next generation of the people who work in those fields as well.

Okay, thank you. Just switching gears. I know we've had success recruiting students from student athletes from abroad, international locales. Are international students eligible for nil funding direct payments from the university?

They are, yes. Same rules apply for the direct payments. Same rules apply for international and domestic students.

Okay, thank you. And just getting into the weeds a little bit on the Bill. One of the differences between the House approach and the Senate approach is whether to disclose the exact value of these contracts that the university enters into.

Can you explain why it helps to keep that information in the aggregate versus listing every player and how much money they're receiving in their contract?

I think there are two elements to it. First, these are still students, and there's a lot of privacy laws that apply to students and all of the things they do within the institutional setting. So I would prefer strongly a bill where we are not disclosing individual student data about the deals that they are in.

I think that's appropriate. And if you look across the country, that is absolutely what is the standard and the expectation side. Second, there is a competitive element to this as well.

The more we talk about how much we're spending on our rosters, it gives information to the other teams in the Mountain West and the competitive space that we're in.

And as coaches who are in this room can explain to you and tell you every little bit of information that could be used against us or manipulated in a way that a coach is saying, oh, that school doesn't invest in NIL because this is all they got. You don't want to go there.

We want to silence that and limit that as much as possible. So the broader disclosures to say what we're doing with public dollars. Absolutely believe in that and support that. But we'd like to protect the privacy of student athletes at the same time.

Thank you. Yes. Question? No. Any other questions Members? Okay. Seeing none. We're just going to take a short recess and wait for a track down Rep. Kila hen we'll go into the vote. Recess.

Okay. Reconvening the House Committee on Higher Education. We're going to go right into decision making.

But before doing so, I just want to again thank our hosts here at the University of Hawaii. Want to especially thank all the student athletes who came to testify. Being an alum, very proud of how eloquent and how well they represented the university. I know the coaches are very proud as well as the broader community.

So thanks to the student athletes who talked about the impact that this Bill will have on them. So with that, Members, the chair's recommendation is to pass this Bill as an HD1.

As we heard from the Deputy Attorney General, we are going to add a section specifying that this is a statewide concern to address the issue with, uh, autonomy. We will also. Give me one second here at a defective date of 713000 to facilitate further discussion. We will keep the appropriation blank and let that process play out.

And we'll also have some technical, non substantive changes for the purposes of consistency, clarity and style. Members, any discussion? Yes, Vice Chair.

Thank you, coach. I mean, Chair. I just want to say, you know, I really support life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for everyone, especially our students. You know, let's really help them make money as well as protect their intellectual rights, their personal. It's important.

HB2384 will help our athletic program remain competitive in this evolving field of collegiate. Athletics, as well as create the lasting. Opportunities for our students that they really deserve going forward. Thank you, Chair, for this opportunity.

Very well said. Thank you, Vice Chair. Any other comments? Yes, Reptila. I'm going to be voting to support the measure and I want to acknowledge that as probably the youngest Member on the Committee. I played a season of collegiate football and I remember feeling that at the time that our likeness was really. College sports is a business.

And to see how much the landscape has evolved. But acknowledging too, that I think there are concerns from the public of how money is spent both at the university level or programs like this. But I compare the university to the same way. Public transit. It's never supposed to be a revenue generator.

It's supposed to be a way of life and the being of life supporting network. And I say that because I think A.D. Elliott has shared. The student athletes going to our workforce, they stay in Hawaii. The students here, they contribute to this economy.

And when we can find a pathway forward to support our higher education system, we are asking for more stronger workforce. And it's coming out of this university. I would be remiss to not acknowledge that the partnership that the university athletics has played in this interim with schools on the west side.

When we got to bring students from Nanakuli to the campus, it was not just their first time out of Nanakuli, it was their first time to any collegiate campus, a football game. And to see their eyes light up. I remember being that age and wanting to play for the home team.

So I acknowledge that there's probably a lot more challenges that we have to face statewide. But in the same way that we're challenging and having to deal with every problem in the state, we can still deal with this as well.

So I want to thank you for authoring the Bill as well and the protections that come with it.

Thank you, Rep. Kila. And I gotta say, green looks really good on you. Yes, please.

Well, thank you, Chair, for organizing this. And I appreciate being on campus today with all of you. Thank you to the student athletes who testified and the coaches and advocates, I. Strongly support this measure. As a former student athlete, myself as well at usc. Not, uh. And we won't hold it again. Fight on.

But, you know, I also feel that. Listening to, like, Mike Yosua's testimony and Robin Amo's testimony and just hearing about how it was back in the day when we all played sports. I was on the rowing team at usc. And just the changing landscape of athletics, which is constantly brought up today, athletics is really different.

College athletics is really different than it was back then. Being at USC at the time, we had to attend mandatory NCAA compliance meetings. Mike was right when you couldn't even take a cheeseburger basically without being reprimanded or having some sort of consequence.

And so I was also there at the time when Reggie Bush received the Heisman Trophy in 2005 and then got his Heisman Trophy reinstated because of the changing landscape of college football and nil deals in April 2024, when he got it reinstated. So, you know, I think that just seeing the progress of college athletics is so amazing.

And so, being a former student athlete, I really do appreciate this Bill. So thank you.

Okay, thank you, Members. Any other discussion? Yes, Replica.

Thank you, Chair. I will not say I am a student athlete because I am not. Although I very much support all of them and all of you, I still be supporting this measure. So thank you again to Chair for putting this forward and holding the hearing here. Like everybody expressed, this is the reality we're already dealing with.

This is currently how the market is operating. And so if we fail to structure this, if we fail to invest in it, then we're failing, you know, the institution. We're failing our athletes, and we're already investing in them and investing in their future.

So this really is an opportunity for us to make that statement, to be able to prioritize this as a value for the state. It's not just an investment into their future and their ability to stay here in Hawaii, but it's an investment locally, too.

It's an opportunity for us to diversify economically, allow our local businesses to participate and allow us to remain competitive and then bring more visitors here. In that sense. And so thank you again. And thank you again to all the student athletes who came here today to thank, testify, and support.

Okay, thank you. Any other comments?

Okay.

All right, with that again, Members. Okay. All right, so with that, Members, again, the recommendation of the chair is to pass this out as. As an HD1 vice chair for the vote, please.

Thank you, Chair. Okay, Members, we. We are voting on HB 2384. Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. [Roll Call] Thank you, Chair. Your recommendation is adopted.

Okay. And with that, we are going to adjourn this hearing. Aloha from Majestic Manoa. Take care, everyone.