The state's Office of Information Practices said it has asked the University of Hawai'i to explain why the school has so far refused to release the list of people who made up the official traveling party to the Sugar Bowl.

An OIP spokesman declined further comment.

The question comes a day after UH held what a spokesman described as an "informational" meeting with staffers who attended the Jan. 1 game in New Orleans. At the meeting, 20 or more staffers were told they could have their names taken off the list prior to release if they reimbursed the school for the trip.

As many as 600, including players and band members, may have made up the UH traveling party, although the school has yet to announce a figure. Athletic department officials have estimated approximately $2 million was spent but have yet to provide an accounting despite requests filed under the Freedom of Information Act. The Advertiser has asked OIP to assist in expediting release of the list.

Gregg Takayama, spokesman for the Manoa Chancellor's Office, said Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw has taken the stances based upon advice of the university general counsel, which held a meeting with administrators Tuesday.

Takayama said the university, which has so far maintained the list is "not finalized" according to the counsel's office, would be releasing the list early next month. Staffers Tuesday were told, according to Takayama, that if they wanted their names removed from that list they should reimburse the school "ASAP" but "probably in the next week to 10 days they need to" make the payment.

Takayama said "20 to 30" people had family members attending the game as part of the UH travel party. He would not say what the costs were or how many had indicated they would reimburse the school.

Gov. Linda Lingle and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann attended the Sugar Bowl, but not as guests of UH, their spokesmen said.

Lingle paid for the trip out of her budget while two staffers, Lenny Klompus, senior advisor for communications, and wife Marcia, Lingle's director of scheduling, paid their own way, according to Russell Pang.

Hannemann and wife Gail paid their own expenses, according to Bill Brennan.

The Advertiser has repeatedly asked UH since January to provide a list of the composition of its traveling party and filed a request under Freedom of Information Act in March.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which filed similar requests regarding UH's Sugar Bowl opponent Georgia, received information concerning a 745-member Bulldog traveling party and $2.2 million in expenses, all of which were detailed in a May 6 story.