Hawaii Revised Statutes

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 26-11 (2026)

University of Hawaii

✓ current as of July 2026

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§26-11 University of Hawaii. (a) The University of Hawaii shall be headed by an executive board to be known as the board of regents.

The board shall consist of eleven members. At least one member shall be a University of Hawaii student at the time of the initial appointment. The governor shall reduce the terms of those initially appointed to each seat on the board of regents to provide, as far as practicable, for the expiration of three terms each year; provided that the term of the student member shall not be reduced.

The members, except for the student member, shall represent and reside in the specified geographic areas as follows:

(1) Two members from the county of Hawaii;

(2) Two members from the county of Maui;

(3) One member from the county of Kauai; and

(4) Five members from the city and county of Honolulu.

The board shall have the power, in accordance with the Hawaii constitution and with law, to formulate policy and to exercise control over the university through its executive officer, the president of the university. The board shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the internal organization and management of the university.

(b) The board of regents shall appoint and may remove an executive officer to be known as the president of the University of Hawaii.

The University of Hawaii as heretofore constituted as a body corporate is continued as the University of Hawaii established by this chapter. [L Sp 1959 2d, c 1, §17; am imp HB 253 (1964) and election Nov 3, 1964; Supp, §14A-16; HRS §26-11; am L 1971, c 143, §1; am L 1979, c 86, §3; am L 1996, c 266, §1; am L 1997, c 342, §1; am L 2007, c 56, §3; am L Sp 2008, c 9, §2; am L 2019, c 172, §2]

Attorney General Opinions

The university is a constitutionally independent corporation and not an administrative or executive agency; the president need not satisfy the three-year residence requirement. Att. Gen. Op. 61-84.

Cited regarding regents' authority to delegate limited investment authority to external investment managers. Att. Gen. Op. 78-1.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases, 1975–2008 · leading case: Mottl v. Miyahira, 23 P.3d 716 (Haw. 2001).

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Mottl v. Miyahira, 23 P.3d 716 (Haw. 2001). · cites it 4× “[11] Pursuant to article X, section 5 of the Hawai`i Constitution, the University of Hawai`i is headed by a board of regents, which is appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.”

Abramson v. Bd. of Regents, Univ. of Hawaii, 548 P.2d 253 (Haw. 1976). · cites it 8× “Of course, the inaction by the Board is readily explained by the trial court's finding, which appears from the record to be undisputed, that in 1971 the President made no recommendations to the Board of Regents concerning Plaintiff's application and did not forward the…”

Hanabusa v. Lingle, 198 P.3d 604 (Haw. 2008). · cites it 2× “Section 3 of Act 56 amended HRS § 26-11 (1993) (Executive and Administrative Departments, University of Hawaii) by increasing the membership of the BOR from twelve to fifteen members and with a specified number of members representing different geographic areas.”

Nelson v. Miwa, 546 P.2d 1005 (Haw. 1976). · cites it 2× “K, § 5 and HRS § 26-11, and to prescribe the terms of service of the faculty, HRS § 304-11.”

Coray v. Koga, 542 P.2d 1272 (Haw. 1975). “HRS § 11-41 (Board of registration); § 26-11 (Board of Regents of University of Hawaii); § 356-5 (Hawaii Housing Authority).”

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