History

Founded in 1967 under the leadership of the late Governor John A. Burns, ‘Ahahui Koa Ānuenue is the University of Hawai‘i’s official athletic fundraising organization.

Its goal is to provide the financial aid necessary to initiate and maintain a top-level program for the University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and its student-athletes.

In 1972, Governor John A. Burns established ‘Ahahui Koa Ānuenue (AKA) as a not-for-profit organization to receive tax-deductible contributions for the benefit of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s Athletic Department.

For the next thirty years, AKA successfully provided donations to the UHM Athletic Department, primarily for scholarships. Over the years, AKA members also helped to build a dormitory, Hale Ānuenue, as well as grow annual financial contributions from $600,000 to $1,000,000.

In 2002, the AKA Board was reconstituted and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Athletic Department and the UH Foundation. Under the direction of this new MOU, AKA would have sole control over the sale of season tickets and parking for all sports for the University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa, add a development officer to assist in major gift fundraising, act as the umbrella organization for the athletic booster groups, and have the UH Foundation manage all funds raised by AKA.

In 2003, as a result of the MOU and under the leadership of President Bert T. Kobayashi, Jr., and Athletic Director Herman Frazier, the scope and role of AKA evolved into more of a comprehensive fundraising arm of UHAD. Through this new dedication, AKA restructured its preferred seating program and raised its annual average funds raised for UHAD to $1.8 million from 2003 to 2006. While the primary objective was increasing scholarship funding, it began to expand to program support and a facilities improvement initiative as well. The Board’s commitment to taking a proactive approach in evaluating all scholarship funding, program funding, and facilities renovation is an effort to create the most efficient, successful fundraising organization possible to benefit the Athletic Department, the University, and the community.

The ‘Ahahui Koa Ānuenue Chairpersons

M.L. Randolph
Arthur D. Woolaway
James S. Burns
Bert T. Kobayashi, Jr. (2003-2005)
Don Murphy (2005-2007)

What’s the goal?

The UH Athletics Department is constantly in need of private financial support for our teams to remain competitive and strive for the next level. Its goal is to become as self-sufficient as possible. Ticket sales, major gifts and booster programs all assist the Athletics Department in keeping up with mainland rivals and recruiting top student-athletes in Hawai‘i and elsewhere.