When All-State defensive lineman Aaron Faumui initially declared an intention last week to sign with the University of Hawaii football team it seemed an answer to the Rainbow Warriors’ urgent prayers.

After a hemorrhage of talent in recent recruiting classes and, more immediately, the out-bound transfer of a handful of notable players already in the program, here was something — and somebody — to celebrate. Somebody coveted by marquee schools who could become a much-needed difference maker in play and perception.

But Wednesday when the Kapolei High star chose, upon deep reflection, to instead bind himself to Virginia on the first day of the spring semester signing period, it merely underlined the ’Bows’ woes.

UH did sign five local players, including the Saint Louis School passing combination of quarterback Chevan Cordeiro and receiver Jonah Panoke. And they have added a raft of junior college transfers, many intended to restock the offensive and defensive lines.

But the loss of Faumui is what became the topic of conversation Wednesday because it was both stinging and part of a widening trend.

It isn’t just the well-heeled Power-5 schools, marquee programs such as USC and Washington, that are taking their measure here. Now it is far-flung Virginia with its former BYU coaching staff shopping at the bulk rate in UH’s back yard with three recruits — Faumui, as well as Kahuku linemen Samson Reed and Micah Mariteragi.

Even some of UH’s Mountain West brethren, Boise State, San Diego State and Utah State, continue to take players out of here.

All of which is part of what has contributed to a streak of seven seasons without a winning record, the longest in the program’s Division I history.

It is too easy and knee-jerk reflexive to write off the loss of Faumui and the recently announced departures of two-year starting quarterback Dru Brown, Dylan Collie, the leading receiver last season, promising offensive lineman Brandon Kipper and versatile defensive back Keala Santiago by saying, as some have, “well, if they don’t want to be here…”

More purposeful is the question: Why aren’t they coming in the first place — or, for those who have, why aren’t they bothering to stick around?

By their actions, the players are doing what they view as best for their careers, as you would expect. Somewhere in that calculation they have judged UH as coming up short against the competition, whether it be facilities, support, prospects for winning, coaching turnover or some combination.

After leaving UH where he played in 11 games as a true freshman and was deemed to have a big future, and then committing to Oregon State, Kipper told his hometown newspaper, the Idaho Statesman, his goal is to someday be a first round NFL Draft pick.

Whether that is realistic remains to be seen, but it is apparently what drives him and he said, “If that’s my goal, I have to put myself in the situation where I have the support and the tools I need to achieve that goal. While I love the people here (at Hawaii) and I love the relationships I’ve gotten, I don’t feel like it’s a good situation or a program that, right now, is fit to help me get there.”

Kipper also told the paper, “That’s a hard choice to make, but you have to do some things for yourself sometimes. You have to bet on yourself.”

The question, now, after events of the past couple of months and underlined Wednesday, is how can UH turn around some of the the odds more in its favor?

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.