Contract dispute between JJ and UH is settled

HA Note: "Under the agreement, which was announced in a joint statement released yesterday, the June Jones Foundation has donated $100,010 to Na Lei O'iwi Scholarship Fund in the name of the late Kanalu Young. What's more, an anonymous donor has contributed $100,000 to UH. That donation may "be used at the discretion of UH Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw," according to the release."

JJ's spokesman John De Fries said that the anonymous donor is a:
"part-time Hawai'i resident." (HA)

HA Note: "The University of Hawai'i Foundation, which processes gifts made to the school, received the donations totaling $200,010 Nov. 20, De Fries said."

HA Note: "De Fries said scheduling conflicts kept both sides from crafting a settlement announcement until yesterday."

HA Note: "De Fries, UH president David McClain and mediator Clyde Matsui worked out an arrangement in which a settlement would benefit a scholarship fund assisting students pursuing degrees in Hawaiian Studies or Hawaiian Language. Young, who was a professor in UH's Hawaiian Studies program, also served as an adviser to Jones."

About the donation honoring Dr. Young (who passed away a few months ago), JJ said:
"Our foundation's monetary gift in memory of Dr. Kanalu Young honors the life and legacy of a great Hawaiian man." (HA)

"Our foundation's monetary gift in memory of Dr. Kanalu Young honors the life and legacy of a great Hawaiian man. For me, Kanalu will always be remembered as the 'Warrior Elder of the Ha'a'; UH's pregame ritual that ignites and unifies the spirit of all UH Warriors, on the field and throughout the state of Hawaii. Hawaii is my home; therefore as I look beyond our past achievements in football, maintaining a healthy relationship with UH and sustaining productive contributions to our island communities will always be important to me. On Christmas Eve, Beat Notre Dame!" (HSB)

Glad that the issue has been settled, JD said:
"I'm glad this is behind us for everyone's sake. I personally wish nothing but the best for June at SMU." (HA)

About the settlement, mediator Clyde Matsui said:
"This was done based on mutual respect. It ends on a handshake. There will be no release (of liability), no settlement agreement. ... They trust each other." (HSB)

About future donations by JJ's Foundation, Matsui said:
"There are other nice components to come. I wish I could talk. ... I gotta clam up, but I'm so happy inside." (HSB)

About how JJ will continue to support UH, John De Fries said:
"Everyone thought that his (Jones') relationship with UH had ended. As it turned out, his relationship with UH was changing as opposed to ending. He should have an ongoing relationship with them." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The Star-Bulletin reported in August that an agreement had been reached to settle the contract dispute for $200,000. Matsui and De Fries said the final settlement was hung up, in part, over the details of where the money should go."

About how JJ wrote a letter to him on 9/22 asking that De Fries be allowed to negotiate for him without lawyers involved, Matsui said:
"John stepped in and started looking for a more pono way of settling the case, rather than just money." (HSB)

About how he spoke directly to UH President David McClain over several weeks, De Fries said:
"I understood what was meaningful to June, and as it turned out it was meaningful to the university as well." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Another factor that led to the deal was the death in September of Kanalu Young, another friend who helped put together the Hawaiian ha'a ritual that UH players perform before games. Last month, the June Jones Foundation donated $100,010 to the Na Lei O'iwi Scholarship Fund in memory of Young. The fund supports students pursuing degrees in Hawaiian Studies or Hawaiian Language. An anonymous donor also contributed $100,000 to be used at the discretion of UH-Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw."

About the settlement, McClain said:
"The university is pleased to be able to move forward with this matter resolved. June Jones has contributed much to the UH-Manoa football program and our community, and this resolution lays the foundation for our continuing relationship." (HSB)