UH Athletics Seeks State Funding for NIL Program

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is pushing the Hawaiʻi state legislature to support its athletics program, including a $5 million annual fund dedicated to NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) opportunities for student-athletes.

UH Athletics asked lawmakers for roughly $5 million per year to establish an institutional NIL fund that would help the school:

Recruit top talent
Retain current student-athletes
Offer competitive NIL compensation under the new NCAA settlement framework

This proposal happened in a hearing before state higher education committees, with UH leaders and coaches presenting their case.

UH officials argue that NIL is now a standard part of college athletics, used not just for recruiting but also for keeping players enrolled and competitive, especially as other schools increase their own NIL budgets.

Coaches emphasized that competitive offers have already affected roster decisions, with one coach noting players’ NIL market value influencing choices on where they want to play.

This funding push comes as UH also seeks broader legislative support for athletics, including operating and capital improvements beyond NIL.

Whether lawmakers will approve the NIL-specific funding is still under discussion, but the proposal highlights how crucial NIL resources have become for college programs, especially those outside power conferences.

Do you think state funding for athletic NIL programs is a necessary investment to keep schools competitive, or should NIL compensation be handled entirely through private fundraising and external sponsorships?

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