HONOLULU -- The new University of Hawaii president will not be moving into College Hill when she starts her new job in August. Instead, she will get a $5,000 housing allowance each month.

The historic Manoa home comes with the job. It is close to campus and is a historic venue to entertain.

Delayed construction is why MRC Greenwood won't be moving in anytime soon.

Current President David McClain moved out earlier this year, anticipating renovation work would start so the home would be ready to welcome a new occupant.

"College Hill, as you may know, is under repair right now. We think it may be some months. So, there is a housing allowance to put Dr. Greenwood in appropriate housing accommodations," UH Board of Regents Chairman Allan Landon said.

There is no sign of any construction at the house. The university said it awarded a contract, but a losing bidder filed a protest and the work is now hung up on red tape.

"It's unfortunate the university, wasn't organized to have College Hill in place, done in time. But, this is a chronic problem with UH in general. Every job I'm familiar with has run into problems," UH geologist Michael Garcia said.

Garcia said he is not bothered that taxpayers will have to shell out $5,000 a month for Greenwood to rent a proper home to entertain as part of her job, but others are.

"As an alumnus of the university I have a great deal of interest in what goes on there," Sen. Sam Slom said.

Slom said he would have preferred the board delay a decision on a new administrator, among other things.

"The salaries and allotments could have been adjusted particularly during these times," Slom said.

Eight years ago, the university spent $1.2 million to renovate the president's home. The money went for a new roof, wallpaper, landscaping and lighting. There were also improvements to a guest cottage and a Victorian green house.

This past December regents approved spending another $700,000.

The port cochere is one of the things on the repair list. There's also some problem with the lanai. This is a historic home, and the problems are said to be structural.

"I don't think that housing allowance was a deal breaker for our next UH president, and based on what I have heard about her, I think she would have been willing to take a look at that, and maybe there is time to do that," Slom said.

Prior to 2001, the last time College Hill had been renovated was in the 1960s.