The University of Hawaii Board of Regents is in talks with a candidate to temporarily replace outgoing President M.R.C. Greenwood but isn’t ready to make the person’s name public.

"We’re focusing on a candidate. We need to do some more vetting, due diligence, and we expect to have an announcement pretty soon," said regent John Holzman, who had been leading the presidential search effort before being elected board chairman at a regents meeting Thursday.

The board might convene a special meeting July 30 to vote on the interim appointment, Holzman said.

"Of course, if we had such a meeting, the candidate’s name would be known beforehand," he added.

Holzman nominated regent Carl Carlson to take over as chairman of the selection committee.

Earlier, Holzman had said the interim search committee would focus on candidates already in the university system to help ensure a smooth transition when Greenwood leaves at the end of August.

Longtime community colleges executive John Morton is said to be the leading candidate for the temporary post, while veteran UH administrator Linda Johnsrud is said to be in the running for the permanent job.

Morton has been a vice president overseeing UH’s seven community college campuses since 2005. Johnsrud has been executive vice president for academic affairs/provost since 2005.

Holzman said UH will be soliciting bids for a national or local executive search firm to help regents with finding a permanent candidate.

The group — which has said it wants a candidate with strong Hawaii ties — will also request proposals from search consultants. A budget for those contracts hasn’t been determined.

Regents also voted unanimously to approve a $24,470 monthly salary for Greenwood to join the faculty at the John A. Burns School of Medicine after one year of unpaid leave.

That would amount to a nearly $294,000 annual salary, making her the highest-paid professor at the medical school, but she may end up working in six-month increments, in which case she would be paid monthly.

Holzman said Greenwood — an internationally recognized expert in nutrition, obesity and diabetes — has agreed to focus on establishing a diabetes and obesity center.

He described her as "one of the most renowned and distinguished scientists in the field."

"In my own perspective, I think it’s important for this state to be able to retain a scientist, manager and a leader of her caliber to help this effort," he said.

Regent Chuck Gee added, "I think we are getting a bargain."