Senate Reduces University of Hawaii Budget Request by Millions

The University of Hawaii is facing significant budget uncertainty as state lawmakers work to reconcile major differences between House and Senate funding proposals for the university system’s 2026 fiscal year. While the university requested nearly $38 million in additional funding to support programs such as nursing, cancer center debt service, information security, and athletics, the Senate has proposed allocating only $5 million, compared to the House’s $31 million appropriation. The Senate’s plan would also eliminate over 100 positions and excludes additional athletic funding included by the House. UH officials, including Chief Financial Officer Kalbert Young, have expressed concern over a pattern of the Senate reducing what the university says it needs, despite past legislative support and the university's historically self-governing autonomy. The discrepancies in funding priorities raise concerns about UH’s ability to maintain key services and programs, and the final budget will be determined through conference committee negotiations before the legislature adjourns in early May.