If our own Universities here in Hawaii don’t hire the top executive positions with local people, what chance do local people have. Local people here have struggled to attain a higher education since plantation days. There has been a huge growth in every culture to break away and create opportunities to get an education and move ahead economically. Like every culture here in Hawaii, there are those that wish to live a simpler life, yet there are those that venture out to seek greener pastures or a greater calling. Local Hawaii talent from locals here struggle, to get their fair shot sometimes.
The odds decrease for opportunities as the locals move further from Hawaii. However, there are some great truly inspiring stories of local Hawaii people making a difference on the mainland and around the world. However, how can a state run institution of higher learning, paid by taxes of hard working Hawaii people be denied the top positions of our institutions? Look at the track record. These executives we hire to these top positions have not really impressed us with their experience.
We have qualified local individuals within our University system with the experience and education to do a bang up job. But the University system has built in protective ways to ensure we hire mainland executives. How and why this is? If no one gives opportunities, how is one going to get the required experience? The University of Hawaii system is not a private institution. It could and should change this process. There were 80 applicants to the UHH Athletic Directors Position, many of which were from our community. Now they want to extend the deadline to look for that magic income magnet of a person. Now the income of the UHH position is not on par with most major universities AD positions. There is a red flag that needs to go up, if someone with vast experience is attracted to such a salary. You are not going to get a top notch AD who is happy and content to take over a stumbling economic athletic program.
Why the delay? Perhaps they have already stereotyped who they want? Someone who has connections with the Chancellor, or delaying this will be economically advantageous to the interim AD? Bottom line the applications are in, the deadline is past, now time to choose the best applicant. Hopefully they will see the best suited person should be someone of local origin, someone who knows the community of Hawaii.
The new AD should have a grasp of sports in Hawaii, the local economy, someone who is going to stay here and makes a life here. Not someone who is going to try to see if they like it here.
Hawaii has made great strides since the plantation oppression days. However, our University system still and will not hire a local for their top positions, this discrimination must be overcome. If Barack Obama can make it to the presidency, surely there are more qualified local applicants abound.
The odds decrease for opportunities as the locals move further from Hawaii. However, there are some great truly inspiring stories of local Hawaii people making a difference on the mainland and around the world. However, how can a state run institution of higher learning, paid by taxes of hard working Hawaii people be denied the top positions of our institutions? Look at the track record. These executives we hire to these top positions have not really impressed us with their experience.
We have qualified local individuals within our University system with the experience and education to do a bang up job. But the University system has built in protective ways to ensure we hire mainland executives. How and why this is? If no one gives opportunities, how is one going to get the required experience? The University of Hawaii system is not a private institution. It could and should change this process. There were 80 applicants to the UHH Athletic Directors Position, many of which were from our community. Now they want to extend the deadline to look for that magic income magnet of a person. Now the income of the UHH position is not on par with most major universities AD positions. There is a red flag that needs to go up, if someone with vast experience is attracted to such a salary. You are not going to get a top notch AD who is happy and content to take over a stumbling economic athletic program.
Why the delay? Perhaps they have already stereotyped who they want? Someone who has connections with the Chancellor, or delaying this will be economically advantageous to the interim AD? Bottom line the applications are in, the deadline is past, now time to choose the best applicant. Hopefully they will see the best suited person should be someone of local origin, someone who knows the community of Hawaii.
The new AD should have a grasp of sports in Hawaii, the local economy, someone who is going to stay here and makes a life here. Not someone who is going to try to see if they like it here.
Hawaii has made great strides since the plantation oppression days. However, our University system still and will not hire a local for their top positions, this discrimination must be overcome. If Barack Obama can make it to the presidency, surely there are more qualified local applicants abound.
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