(Source: University of Hawaii)It seems the honeymoon in Hawaii is over, and it's ended in divorce. Evan Dobelle, the University of Hawaii's president since 2001, was fired by the university's board of Regents "for cause." That phrase is significant because it means Dobelle must forego his potential $2.3 million severance package.



According to the Chronicle of Higher Education (here, for subscribers), not long after Dobelle arrived to great fanfare---from Trinity College in Hartford, where he reinvigorated that campus and the city---university officials began to question his actions. Supposed wrongdoings included shady spending, most notably a lavish refurbishment of the president's house, and his hiring of former colleagues for high-paying university positions.

Board chairwoman Pat Lee issued this statement to the Associated Press: "Sadly, we have come to the realization that the president no longer has our trust, and there is no longer a unity of purpose between the board and the president, or a clear recognition of his integrity, character and commitment."

What's more, Dobelle formally endorsed a Democratic gubernatorial candidate who lost; the Republican governor has since appointed adversaries to the university's board. You'd think someone with his background (he was a city mayor) would understand the dangers of betting on a political horse, especially given the governor's power to appoint his bosses.

In any case, Mr. Dobelle is out, and presumably his high-ranking cronies will follow. I wonder, though, if he'll stick around. His appointment carried full tenure, as is common, but will he want to stay on campus under those circumstances? And could his tenure be revoked if the "for cause" details reveal moral turpitude? We'll see....