Two weeks on the job as chancellor at the University of Hawaii’s West Oahu campus, Rockne Freitas said he plans to look into an NCAA Division II athletic future for the school.
Freitas said he intends to send out exploratory letters of interest to the NCAA and PacWest Conference next week.
UH Regent Tom Shigemoto said he wasn’t aware of the plans but added, "knowing Rockne, it wouldn’t surprise me."
Freitas said he will discuss the possibilities with students, faculty and his administration team but doesn’t envision a football team and would like to see a lineup of sports that meets the interests of the community while matching offerings at sister school UH Hilo. He said the first step would be an intramural program.
The possibility was warmly greeted at UH Hilo, the only state-supported institution on the Division II level.
"We would welcome the addition," said Vulcans athletic director Dexter Irvin. "At Hilo, we don’t get on a bus to go play our opponents, so being able to play another school while we’re on Oahu would be a good thing."
The 13-member PacWest includes UH Hilo, Hawaii Pacific, Chaminade and Brigham Young-Hawaii.
Irvin, who oversaw Dixie State’s move to Division II and membership in the PacWest, said the process can take three to five years.
The biggest hurdles, officials said, would be facilities and financing. "In view of the fact that they have their permanent campus, I believe this is the right time to have that discussion," said State Rep. K. Mark Takai (D, Newtown-Pearl City). "As we are well aware with the UH-Manoa budget situation, we need to go into this with eyes wide open."
UH Hilo operated 12 sports on a $3.4 million budget in 2012, $2.8 million of which was paid directly by the school, according to a Board of Regents report. It said the average budget for Division II programs is $3.6 million.
"If there’s going to be an athletic program out there, goodness knows Rockne’s the one who will figure out how," said UH President M.R.C. Greenwood.
West Oahu’s nickname?
"It is the ‘pueo’ — the wise Owls," Freitas said.
