University of Hawaii secures $1M endowment and media windfall for student-athletes
The University of Hawaii (UH) is set to benefit from new financial agreements and a newly approved endowment fund for student-athletes. A joint Senate committee has given the green light to a measure establishing a name, image, and likeness (NIL) endowment, while UH's athletic department secures increased revenue from media rights and conference changes.
These developments follow recent shifts in the Mountain West Conference, which will now distribute additional funds to its members, including UH.
The endowment fund, designed to support UH's student-athletes, will draw interest from contributions by both the state and the university. While the measure does not specify a minimum starting amount or individual payouts, UH athletic director Matt Elliott proposed an initial $1 million contribution from each side. Further funding is expected to come from ongoing fundraising efforts.
The proposal gained full support, passing unanimously through both the Committee on Education and the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism. The fund aims to provide long-term financial backing for athletes without requiring immediate large-scale investment.
Meanwhile, UH's athletic department will see a significant boost in revenue. Under a new Mountain West agreement, the university will now receive an equal share of the conference's national TV deals—estimated at around $3.5 million per team. Additionally, UH will retain all revenue from local TV rights and no longer cover travel costs for visiting Mountain West teams.
The conference itself has also gained financially. Five schools—Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and later Utah State—left for the Pac-12 in 2025/26, resulting in $65 million in poaching and exit fees. These funds will be split equally among remaining Mountain West members, including UH. The university will further benefit from North Dakota State's $12 million entry fee, receiving a portion of that sum as well.
The approved endowment fund will rely on interest from state and university contributions to support UH's student-athletes over time. With increased media revenue and no further travel subsidies, the athletic department's finances are set to improve.
The Mountain West's redistribution of exit fees and new membership payments will also provide UH with additional funds in the coming years.
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