It was quite the celebration at the University of Hawaii’s Ed Wong Room last week.

Bank of Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, Matson shipping company, Jack Tsui and Walter Dods Jr. collectively donated $1 million this year — $5 million over the next five years — to the UH athletic department’s name-image-likeness fund to compensate student-athletes.

UH administrators and coaches were delighted to receive the pledge.

And lawmakers, who declined to contribute state money to UH’s NIL fund last month, were able to bask in the residual success of the private sector putting down the substantial ante. It was as if lawmakers signed the group birthday card without putting money in the envelope.

And yet …

There still is more money that needs to be raised. In part to the House vs. NCAA settlement, in part to all Division I football programs committed to compensating players, UH needs $5 million to cover NIL payments for the 2026-27 academic year. The breakdown is this: $2.5 million to football, $1 million to men’s basketball, $500,000 apiece to men’s volleyball, Rainbow Wahine volleyball and women’s basketball. UH also has set up NIL accounts for its 16 other sports. As athletic director Matt Elliott noted, UH has a 20% start toward its 2026-27 commitment.

This summer, there are several fundraisers set to benefit the football program, including a golf tournament, a gathering at Ruby Tuesday’s, and a ballroom gala. Local entrepreneur Michael Kawazoe and former UH quarterback Elroy Chong are among several prominent donors who have helped UH’s NIL efforts.

Of course, UH could have benefited greatly if a legislative request for $5 million had been granted during the recently completed session. That amount equated to 0.025% of the state’s annual budget. Appearing to be sympathetic to the situation, lawmakers proposed establishing an endowment fund — state and UH each contribute the same amount — with the school eventually drawing off the interest. If UH had $1 million to $5 million to contribute, it wouldn’t have needed to make the request.

In the end, UH received zippo.

And that’s the right of lawmakers, who are in charge of deciding the best way to spend money collected from taxpayers. Of course, there probably are more deserving recipients than defensive ends or off guards. But the UH-requested $5 million was not redirected to first responders, fourth grade teachers, UH professors or DMV clerks, either. With collective bargaining, tax implications and seniority priorities, the state can’t just award additional compensation to those deemed more worthy than student-athletes. There are processes that need to be addressed and established. And who would get the money? And would they also be willing to go for an endowment where each side kicks in money? Oh, wait, that’s a 401(k).

During debates about UH’s NIL request, a state senator said his constituents were opposed to compensating players beyond a scholarship. While the sentiment might be true, there apparently has never been a state-sponsored survey on whether tax money should be used to contribute to NIL funds. (Then again, there has not been a poll on whether Kailua and Waianae residents favor paying, for example, for projects in Moanalua Gardens, Mililani Mauka or Ewa Beach.)

And if the will of the people were the final say, then casinos should be built in Hawaii. According to the 2018 Eadington Lecture Series, one in 10 citizens of Hawaii visit Las Vegas every year, presumably for gambling. Or BTS concerts.

Dods and Tsui spurred the recent donation because of their understanding of the college-sports landscape. This isn’t 2010. Mostly every football player now gets paid, even for their avatar in video games. Walk-ons are fed. High school seniors have “advisers.” Transfers have agents. Players now sign contracts instead of letters of intent.

Dods has said he is hopeful more will contribute, maybe even the public sector.

“I know those people,” Dods said. “They’re under a lot of pressure. They’re pulled back and forth. I don’t want to get into the whole he-said, she-said stuff. But I feel by doing this, they can find they can be part of this, and come back in. My message is: ‘Hey, brother, there’s room for all of us. Let’s all help out.’ That was my subtle thinking.”

It is UH’s hope the next time the hat is passed around, there might be some state contributions.