The Sugar Bowl List (or most of it) was released

HA Note: "Before going public yesterday with a list of people identified as the University of Hawai'i's official travel party to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, the school blacked out 45 of the 550 names. The release, and the estimate of $1.9 million in expenses for the game, came in response to a request filed by The Honolulu Advertiser March 13 under the state's open records law, the Uniform Information Practices Act."

HA Note: "The list was delivered to The Advertiser shortly before 4 p.m., and just after the newspaper filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court to obtain Sugar Bowl travel records."

About the lawsuit that was filed by HA attorney Jeff Portnoy, UH spokesman Gregg Takayama said he:
"was informed this morning by attorneys for the University of Hawai'i that the documents would be released this afternoon. So, we don't understand why the lawsuit was filed by Mr. Portnoy." (HA)

About why the lawsuit was filed, Portnoy said:
"After having been informed this morning that some list — with redactions — would be provided to the newspaper in the early afternoon, we waited until after 3:30 to see what might be on the list. When no list was provided as represented, the lawsuit was filed. More importantly, even if the list provided had been made available prior to the filing of the lawsuit, the lawsuit would still have been filed because the list failed to comply with the legal requirements as it contained unwarranted redactions and did not explain whether anyone was able to have their name removed from the list as a result of any repayment to the university. Moreover, providing the list more than two and a half months after it was required to be produced is, in itself, a violation. Finally, The Advertiser has spent significant sums on attorney's fees, which would not have been required had the list been produced in March or even as late as last week." (HA)

HA Note "UH told 20 to 25 staff members and others on Tuesday that they could have the option to keep their names off the list and from being made public by paying for what their charges would be, an action the state's Office of Information Practices quickly said Thursday was not allowed."

Takayama said that the HGEA employees and their family members were redacted because:
"disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." (HA)

HA Note: "Under NCAA rules, players were allowed to take spouses and children, as were coaches. Some UH athletic department staffers were offered the opportunity to take a spouse and up to two children. At least five children of UH staff members were on the list, and department sources said some others who were said to have made the trip did not appear on the list. Then-athletic director Herman Frazier's long-time fiancee, Caroline Beal, was on the list. UH paid an average of $341 per person in per diem and incidentals."

HA Note: "The names of six regents whom UH paid Sugar Bowl expenses for were also released yesterday. A total of $18,030 in Sugar Bowl-related costs was incurred by the six as of May 1, but $9,963 was paid back to the school, according to UH. Costs included airfare, hotel, tickets and gifts. Regent Michael Dahilig was listed as taking his brother and a friend on the trip. He paid back $2,777 of $5,285 in costs. UH footed the bill for Dahilig's costs and a $125 ticket for his brother, according to UH. Regents Ramon de la Pena and Marlene Hapai were listed as having costs paid for themselves and spouses ($3,834), but both reimbursed the school for their spouses' costs. Regent James Haynes II reimbursed UH the total cost for himself and his spouse ($3,934). Regent Jane Tatibouet ($795) and Chairman Allan Landon ($350) incurred partial costs for themselves and spouses. Landon reimbursed the school for the total amount, while Tatibouet did not make any reimbursement, UH said."

HSB Note: "UH's total expenses for its participation in the Bowl Championship Series game were projected at $1.94 million. The school's Sugar Bowl payment is projected at $4.39 million for net revenues of $2.49 million."

HSB Note: "Of the 45 people on the redacted Sugar Bowl list, 43 were in the athletic department. The other two were in the band, including the band director."

HSB Note: "The names of 45 members of the Hawaii Government Employees Association were blacked out on the list due to a request from the union, which contended the disclosure would constitute "a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." Most of the names fell under "UH Manoa and Athletics Department Staff," with two under the band."

About blacking out the 45 names, Carl Clapp said:
"This was done on the advice of our legal counsel. We have released what amounts to our official party. We've made that available as best we can." (HSB)

About the 6 people who paid back UH for their trip and are not on the list, Takayama said:
"They decided to pay their own personal expenses for the trip, and it is not considered a state expense. The list that was made available today includes only those for whom the state paid their way. So they were not on the list." (HSB)

About releasing the list now instead of the first week of June, Takayama said:
"She wanted to try to clear the air at this point." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The list was drawn up under the direction of former athletic director Herman Frazier, who was fired later in January. Current athletic director Jim Donovan was hired in March.

Happy that the list of names was released, JD said:
"I'm glad we're releasing this information. We're a public entity, and so we need to be transparent and provide the information. This was an issue that existed before I came on board and needs to be taken care of." (HSB)

HSB Note: "According to "Travel Guidelines" provided by UH, the school offered to pay for immediate family members (spouses and children) of coaches, players, full-time trainers and equipment managers. The Warriors' roster included 111 players, and the student-athlete and staff list was made of 178 people. Also making the trip were 263 band members, 21 cheerleaders and Rainbow Dancers, 82 athletic department staff members and six from the UH system, including President David McClain. UH paid $753,645 for three charter flights and another $46,381 for domestic air travel. Housing the travel party at the New Orleans Marriott cost $250,467, and the school distributed $187,591 in per diems and incidentals. The school spent $39,761 on player gifts (aloha shirts and iPod Touch personal Internet and multimedia devices), and coaches were paid $137,968 in bonuses. According to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia spent about $2.2 million for a travel party of 745 for the game."