HONOLULU -- University of Hawaii President Evan Dobelle announced Wednesday he rejected the two designs created by a Maryland company for $82,000 that drew public criticism.

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Dobelle appeared at the UH Alumni Association luncheon. The biggest applause came when he told the crowd that he has decided to reject the new logos.

One design is called the wave the other spectrum.

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They have not been well received by the community, and students at UH mounted a campaign to stop them.

"I've listened carefully and have made a decision that it does not make the common sense test to go forward with either one of these two logos," Dobelle said.

He said about 60 percent of the people responding during the public comment period don't like either of the two logos. He said he doesn't like them either, calling them "a little jarring."

The University will ask the Maryland company to submit a different design. Dobelle rejected the idea of using a local company to design a logo.

"You know the local thing is, is kind of interesting to me. We are a long way from everybody else. We don't have these conversations in California or Massachusetts or in Florida," he said.

Dobelle was dismissive when it was suggested that the UH Art Department might come up with something as good for much less than $82,000.

"Have you ever thought that maybe you could open it up to your arts and graphics arts students have a contest and pay them a thousand bucks?" KITV 4 News reporter Dick Allgire asked. "It seems to me they could come up with something as good as an "H" with a wave in it."

"Or we could do that with the journalism students and ask them to do your job. The fact is this is a professional business," Dobelle said.

We talked with UH fine arts students who dislike the now rejected logos and feel they could do better.

"Do you think students could come up with something as good as that?" Allgire asked students.

"Probably better to be honest with you. It doesn't represent the University of Hawaii at all," art student Heidi Hempstead said.

"I think its kind of ridiculous to go outside of our university to represent our own identity," UH student Carol Hostetter said.

Even though they are going back to the drawing board, Dobelle said he doesn't plan on spending any more money. The Board of Regents with Dobelle's recommendation will ultimately make the decision.

Here's a look at the logos that were proposed.

Wave style:

Spectrum style:

Current logos:
Sports:

Academic:

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