On the final January Sunday in 2012, running back Steven Lakalaka turned down football offers from Pac-12 schools to join coach Norm Chow’s first University of Hawaii recruiting class.

"I have no regrets," said Lakalaka, a 2012 Punahou School graduate. "Home is where it’s at. I wanted to put Hawaii back on the map and start winning games."

Injuries, inconsistency and self-inflicted mistakes — as well as a challenging schedule in which five of the past seven games were on the mainland — contributed to the Warriors’ records of 2-6 overall, 0-4 in the Mountain West Conference, and zip-for-five on the road. The Warriors need to win their final five regular-season games to avoid their fifth losing season in a row.

"Don’t give up," Lakalaka said of the team mantra. "Losing and getting back up test our character. This is going to prepare us for life. We’re going to remember this for the rest of our life."

The Warriors lost to Big Ten powers Ohio State and Wisconsin, and MWC division leaders San Diego State and Boise State. But they also imploded in road games against New Mexico and Nevada the past two Saturdays.

Of the 22 projected starters in training camp, 14 have missed games because of injuries or other circumstances. Quarterback Max Wittek has played despite injuries to both knees and a foot. Three players have competed with broken hands or wrists. Left tackle Ben Clarke has not practiced this season because of a foot injury. Running back Paul Harris has suffered concussion-like symptoms twice and is playing on two sprained ankles. Against Nevada, Lakalaka was pulled in the second half because of hamstring issues. Long snapper Brian Hittner retired because of a spinal bruise.

Inside linebacker Julian Gener said the Warriors are trying to mute the criticism from social media.

"I can’t listen to that stuff," Gener said. "Once you start getting involved in that, you can’t play football. It’s tough. The outside people gotta know that everyone’s trying out here. It’s not like we’re not trying, like we’re attempting to lose games. That’s what people don’t understand. They don’t understand what’s going on every single play. They just see the outcome of games. We just have to go back to work on Monday and finish out the season 7-6."

For the Warriors, the immediate goals are to heal and cease self-inflicted mistakes.

"I feel for Norm," said Tom Mason, who was hired in February as the Warriors’ third defensive coordinator in four years. "I mean, shoot, he brought me in to put a defense on the field, and we’ve got to learn to stop people. That’s what’s hard about this business. You’re on the hot seat, and you don’t have time to get everything straightened out. It takes time to get everything straightened out. Shoot, this is one of those things."