The first phase of the University of Hawai'i at West O'ahu's new Kapolei campus will still be ready to go by the fall 2010 semester despite uncertainty about a pending land deal, Chancellor Gene Awakuni said this morning.

Awakuni confirmed that there is uncertainty about a deal to sell approximately 298 acres of the campus to Hunt Building Corp. for $100.1 million.

If anything, he said, the first phase may need to be downsized. But he stressed that the university still has a $35 million legislative appropriation for the campus and that another $20 million is expected to be obtained through the sale of revenue bonds.

Awakuni said Hunt first approached him in July about renegotiating the deal.

Asked if Hunt is seeking to lower the sales price, the amount of land involved, or both, Awakuni said he could not comment.