Latest news with #UniversityofHawai'i
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former UCLA AD expects Elliott to thrive at UH
The University of Hawai'i Board of Regents will meet on Monday, June 16, to vote on the approval of Matt Elliott as the next athletics director for the Rainbow Warriors. Elliott, most recently with the Hawai'i Community Foundation, spent 13 years in athletic administration at UCLA, including as chief strategy officer. He played a key role in leading the Bruins into the Big Ten Conference. According to former UCLA athletics director Dan Guerrero, Elliott is well prepared to thrive in his new role at UH. 'Well, it became very obvious the first time I met Matt that he had something special,' Guerrero said. 'Over the course of 10 years that he was with me, he proved that he was one of the finest administrators that I've had the ability to work with.' Guerrero, who was inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) 2021 Hall of Fame class, noted that Elliott's path into athletics administration was unconventional. 'When I first met him, he was a very successful attorney working for Ropes & Gray out of Boston in their sports practice,' Guerrero said. 'He was working with agents, writing contracts, doing compliance and infractions issues, all those kinds of things. But he wanted to work on a campus, to be involved with student-athletes. For him to leave a prestigious law firm and a great salary to essentially walk into an entry-level compliance role at a major university took a huge leap of faith. We sort of bet on each other, and it all turned out exactly as I thought it would. He'll be special for Hawai'i.' Guerrero believes Elliott's nontraditional background is a particular strength in today's rapidly evolving college athletics landscape. 'For him to bring experiences from outside the traditional world of college athletics adds value,' Guerrero said. 'In the 10 years he was at UCLA, he was among the very best. He knows how to win. He's been around it, working with national championship coaches and student-athletes. But he also knows the other parts of the business, the parts that can make or break you. 'I put him in charge of all our risk management. It was a natural fit with his background, and the policies and protocols he implemented saved us many times. He brings that perspective while also managing budgets, working with coaches and student-athletes, and building relationships both internally and externally.' Looking ahead to Elliott's transition to Hawai'i, Guerrero acknowledged the unique challenges of running a Division I program in the islands. 'Obviously, the geographic situation creates an innate challenge for any athletics program there,' Guerrero said. 'It takes a village, no one does this in a vacuum. You have to build authentic relationships to get the support you need. That requires hard work, really busting your tail to make inroads with the right people. 'One of Matt's strengths is in governmental relations. At UCLA, he was my point person on that. He often testified to the state legislature on my behalf. He understands that politics play a big part in being successful on any campus, but especially in Hawai'i, where everyone is invested in the welfare of the university and the athletics department. Matt can navigate those waters successfully.' Elliott was selected by UH president Wendy Hensel to be the next athletics director. If approved by the Board of Regents on Monday, he will officially take over the role. Stay with KHON2 Sports, on-air and online, for continuing coverage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Lawmakers pass sweeping new tax that will impact anyone visiting Hawai'i: 'The visitor industry will struggle if we do not take action now'
Your next trip to one of the United States' most popular tourist destinations may cost a few dollars more. But for conservationists, climate scientists, or others who care about our planet's future, that's excellent news. In late May, The Guardian reported that Hawai'i Gov. Josh Green signed Senate Bill 1396, which establishes the country's first "Green Fee." The proceeds will be used to combat changes happening across the state because of a shifting, warming climate. The fee is actually a 0.75% increase to the tax charge on hotel rooms and vacation rentals — about $3 extra on a $400 per night stay. The tax will also, for the first time, apply to cruise ships that dock in Hawai'i. Both changes take effect next year, and officials expect the fee to generate roughly $100 million per year. "As an island chain, Hawai'i cannot wait for the next disaster to hit before taking action," Green said in a release. "We must build resiliency now, and the Green Fee will provide the necessary financing to ensure resources are available for our future." Hawai'i made frequent headlines in 2023 for the deadly wildfires that devastated much of Maui, and less than a year later, another fire put hundreds of homes at risk in Kauai. Supporters of the new tax say the Green Fee will put Hawai'i in a better position to deal with any extreme weather events that happen in the future. But the money is also expected to be used toward projects such as protecting native plants, forests, and wildlife, replenishing sand on eroding beaches, and enhancing the state's climate resilience. As an example of the impact of climate inaction, University of Hawai'i researchers have said that the sea level in Honolulu's Waikiki neighborhood is expected to rise by nearly 6 feet by 2100 without mitigation efforts. Several hotel and tourism groups in Hawai'i supported the bill, saying these improvements will also make vacations better for the millions of tourists who visit each year. "The visitor industry will struggle if we do not take action now," said state Rep. Adrian Tam, D-Waikiki, the chair of the House tourism committee. "There will be nothing left for them to showcase to the rest of the world if our beaches are decimated, wildfires have taken over our towns, and hikes left unmanaged." Should the government be paying us to upgrade our homes? Definitely Depends on how much it costs Depends on what it's for No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thanatharn selected as new UH softball head coach
The University of Hawai'i has ushered in a new era in Rainbow Wahine softball, naming Panita Thanatharn as its next head coach, the school announced Wednesday, four weeks after the conclusion of the 2025 season. Thanatharn, a Long Beach State alumna, spent the past 14 seasons on staff with the 49ers, including the last nine as associate head coach. During her tenure, she helped lead LBSU to four Big West Conference championships and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. She now takes the reins from legendary head coach Bob Coolen, who retired after 34 seasons at UH. Coolen leaves behind a storied legacy that includes more than 1,100 career wins, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, and a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2010. Among the finalists for the position was longtime UH assistant coach Dee Wisneski. Key returnees for the 2026 season include standout players Milan Ah Yat and Carys Murakami, serving as a strong foundation as Thanatharn begins her tenure. This story will be updated as more information and reaction. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Bows season ends in 2-1 loss to Cal Poly in Big West Tournament
After surviving three elimination games in a six-day stretch, the University of Hawai'i baseball team's inspiring postseason run came to an end on Saturday with a 2-1 loss to Cal Poly in the Big West Tournament semifinal. Needing two wins to force a championship game on Sunday, the Rainbow Warriors entered Saturday's contest with their backs against the wall once again, and struck first. Ben Zeigler-Namoa delivered an RBI double in the opening frame to give UH an early 1-0 lead. Starter Freddy Rodriguez was sharp, holding the Mustangs hitless through three innings. But Cal Poly broke through in the fourth, scoring two runs to take a 2-1 lead. Rodriguez went a season-long six innings, allowing just four hits in a solid outing. Hawai'i threatened late, putting runners on second and third with two outs in the ninth, but was unable to deliver one last moment of Mānoa magic. Cal Poly reliever Josh Morano held firm, tossing 6.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, scattering five hits with two strikeouts to secure the win. Barring an extremely unlikely at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament on Monday, the loss ends the Rainbow Warriors' season at 35-21, marking the second consecutive year Hawai'i has reached 35 or more wins, a feat not accomplished in back-to-back seasons since 1992. While the season ends short of a title, it signals progress for head coach Rich Hill and his program. Hawai'i played meaningful baseball in May, reaching the conference semifinals in a competitive Big West Tournament, a significant step forward for a resurgent team. For more coverage, stay with KHON2 Sports on-air and online. To see all of the Big West Tournament scores, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kolten Wong officially retires in Hawaii as he enters UH Circle of Honor
The University of Hawai'i celebrated its 2025 Circle of Honor class on Sunday during the annual Green and White Celebration, officially inducting five new members, including one of the most iconic names in Rainbow Warrior baseball history. Former UH All-American and 11-year MLB veteran Kolten Wong was among the honorees, using the occasion to officially announce his retirement from professional baseball, capping a career that saw him become a two-time Gold Glove Award winner and one of the most respected athletes to come out of the islands. 'There's no other place to do this,' Wong said at Sunday's UH Sports Circle of Honor ceremony. 'Being here, being back where it all started—where the dream was created, couldn't be a better place. I played the game for these people, lived the game for these people. It's far more than baseball. It's about playing for your family, giving everything you have to get to this point.' Wong, 34, finishes his MLB career with a .256 batting average, 86 home runs, 511 runs scored, 120 stolen bases, and 973 hits, just 27 shy of 1,000. He last played in 2023 with the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting four home runs over 87 games. Drafted in the first round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, Wong spent eight seasons in St. Louis (2013–2020), followed by stints with the Milwaukee Brewers (2021–22), Mariners, and Dodgers. He earned Gold Glove honors in back-to-back seasons in 2019 and 2020. During his remarks, Wong emphasized the importance of representing Hawai'i and inspiring the next generation. 'Being able to stay at home and put that 'Hawai'i' on your chest means you're playing not just for yourself, but for your family and the entire state,' he said. 'It doesn't matter where you go—what matters is how hard you work.' Wong and his family are in the process of relocating to O'ahu, where he plans to remain involved in the game through coaching and training the next wave of local talent. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
