State Sen. Donna Mercado Kim said she has sent University of Hawaii Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple a letter asking him to “clarify” some of the statements he made to the Senate Special Committee on Accountability.

In reviewing Apple’s Oct. 2 testimony, Kim said she is interested in Apple’s claim that “43 of 44 coaches” sent him a letter thanking him for removing Jim Donovan as athletic director.

During the hearing Apple said, “in the interest of transparency, I’ll say something. I received a couple of weeks later (after Donovan’s removal) a letter from 43 of 44 coaches saying thank you for the leadership we have.”

Kim (D, Kalihi Valley-Halawa) said the committee is in the process of preparing its report for the Senate and is asking Apple to “please, specifically, point out where the letter states that coaches remarked ‘thank you for the leadership we have.’”

She sent the letter Monday. 

Meanwhile, Apple sent an email Monday to the “Manoa ohana” stating in part, “I am here to advocate for the students, faculty, staff and alumni of Manoa. My commitment is to you.” He asked for feedback on UH-Manoa’s future and said people may contact him at tatapple5@gmail.com.