The University of Hawaii's appearance at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans may have been bittersweet in more ways than just a tough loss.
It cost the university about two million dollars to send an estimated 500 people to the game, including 300 band members and just over 100 players. But were all expenses justified?
A call for a state audit of the athletic department by lawmakers is uncovering new questions. Lawmakers are asking for the state auditor to perform a management and financial audit of the UH athletic department for the years 2003 through 2007.
Thursday, UH officials were on the hot seat -- answering questions about the use of state monies during Sugar Bowl week.
"What is the process on who gets to go to the Sugar Bowl that the University of Hawaii picks up the tab for, whether it's airfare, lodging and all of that," asked Representative James Tokioka.
"If you were going you had a working capacity," said Associate Athletic Director Carl Clapp.
"From my understanding there were trainers and doctors who left off that list," said Representative Tokioka.
Lawmakers wanted to know how many people with UH ties received expense paid trips to New Orleans.
"I can confirm that spouses and children of certain employees did attend the trip to the Sugar Bowl, I can also confirm that there were some staff members that were not brought on the trip under the policy that was put in place by Herman Frazier," said new UH Athletic Director Jim Donovan.
"It wouldn't be right to take these people away from their families during the holiday season and make them work and leave the families at home," said university chief financial officer Howard Todo.
Lawmakers say some trainers and team doctors paid out of their own pockets.
"That would have been fine if spouses and children had to do the same which it wasn't he case," said Tokioka.
"I definitely believe that in terms of transparency that providing the names of everyone paid for by university dollars -- where its sugar bowl pay or what not they are all considered university dollars -- should be disclosed," said Representative Mark Takai.
The university says a state audit is unnecessary because UH is audited by an independent firm each year. Lawmakers say this very example proves otherwise.
"The question is who does the public trust -- internal within or our auditor," said Representative Mike Magaoay.
"All I can do is really apologize to the legislature and the members of the higher ed -committee for the evasiveness and lack of trans in some of the financial answers that your received," answered Donovan.
The university will receive an estimated d four million dollars for its Sugar Bowl appearance -- the net proceeds after expenses will be about two-point-five million.