Sheriff feared for his job, Donovan’s in concert mess

Links to UH documents

Factfinders’ report of Stevie Wonder Concert

Letter of support from legislators

July 16 letter from Donovan’s lawyer

Aug. 11 UH Memo to Jim Donovan

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After the planned Stevie Wonder concert began to unravel, Stan Sheriff Center Manager Rich Sheriff said he feared he and athletic director Jim Donovan would lose their jobs.

"Needless to say the president and the chair of the board of regents are furious," Sheriff wrote in an email, according to a 57-page report from a University of Hawaii-commissioned investigator.

"It will be a miracle if Jim and I still have a job by Friday," Sheriff wrote on July 9, the day before UH announced the cancellation of the planned Aug. 18 concert.

The name of the email’s recipient is redacted in the report UH gave to the news media Wednesday night.

Sheriff and Donovan were placed on paid indefinite administrative leave two days later.

The report said, "Sheriff was the point person for UH with respect to the planned concert."

The name of the person who "presented the concert idea to Sheriff" is redacted. But the report says, "Sheriff secured approval of the idea from" Donovan, and Sheriff "oversaw and managed the formation and execution of the agreement between UH and" a redacted party.

The report said, "Based upon the available records, there were more than 300 emails sent or received by Sheriff regarding the concert."

The report also concludes, "Donovan approved the concert, assisted in the development of some of the agreement terms and had an opportunity to review the agreement. Otherwise, Donovan had little involvement and provided little oversight. Donovan was not copied on the emails regarding the transfer of funds from UH’s account and was out of state when the transfer occurred."

UH Report on Stevie Wonder concert