By Mary Vorsino
mvorsino@staradvertiser.com
Rockne Freitas has been tapped to lead the University of Hawaii at West Oahu as the campus prepares to boost enrollment and expand facilities in coming years.
Freitas’ appointment as chancellor by UH President M.R.C. Greenwood still must be approved by the UH Board of Regents, which will take it up at a meeting Thursday in Hilo.
The pick has been met with support from legislators, who said Freitas has the credentials and know-how to handle the big challenges ahead for UH-West Oahu.
“Mr. Freitas brings a wealth of experience to the position,” said state Rep. Sharon Har (D, Royal Kunia-Makakilo-Kapolei).
She said there’s a lot yet to accomplish at UH-West Oahu, and she’s confident Freitas is up to the challenge.
Freitas, well known in UH circles, is UH vice president for student affairs and university relations.
Freitas also served as chancellor of Hawaii Community College for six years and, more recently, was acting athletic director from July 13 to Jan. 13 before Ben Jay assumed the position.
Freitas had no comment Thursday.
The University of Hawaii also did not comment on the selection, beyond saying it would be discussed by the regents Thursday at UH-Hilo.
Freitas is being considered for a three-year appointment that would begin May 1.
His annual salary would be $226,128 — $15,128 more than his predecessor’s.
Gene Awakuni, who has been chancellor at West Oahu since March 2005, retires in early July.
UH is recommending that the regents give Awakuni the title of chancellor emeritus and approve his reassignment to “senior adviser to the president” from May 1 until his retirement date.
State Sen. Will Espero (D, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) said if approved, Freitas will need to work quickly to come up with a plan for tackling the big growth UH-West Oahu is expecting to see in coming years.
The school has about 2,000 students, double the total in 2005.
And by 2015, enrollment at UH-West Oahu is expected to top 3,000, the upper end of what its current facilities can accommodate.
Espero said he believes Freitas will provide stability to UH-West Oahu as it looks to expand.
“From what I know of Rockne, he will be a good choice to serve as chancellor of West Oahu,” he said.
The $175 million UH-West Oahu campus in Kapolei opened in August after two years of construction.
Officials have already expressed concerns over UH-West Oahu’s capital and operating budgets, which they say might not keep pace with enrollment.
Freitas assumed his current position in July 2010, overseeing student affairs policies, university communication efforts and special projects, including initiatives at West Oahu.
Freitas, 67, previously served as vice president and executive director of the Ke Ali‘i Pauahi Foundation and was vice president of Kamehameha Schools.
Freitas has also held other UH posts, including vice president for university relations and associate athletic director for UH-Manoa.
According to a biography on the UH website, Freitas holds doctoral and master’s degrees in education from UH-Manoa and a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Oregon State University.
He is a former NFL player and coach, and served as an Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee from 1982 to 1986.
