Three years after the University of Hawaii athletic department took over control of its apparel and merchandising with plans to turn a $500,000-a-year profit, operation will return to the UH bookstores.

UH announced the change Thursday as it prepares to close its last off-campus store May 31 at Ward Centre.

Under the Rainbowtique and, later, H-Zone brands, athletic logo merchandise had been sold at UH-run outlets in Waikiki, Ward Centre, downtown and in a brief, temporary location at Windward Mall.

The Fort Street location closed in 2012, and in 2014 the UH Board of Regents granted the athletic department the rights to assume control from campus services as well as close the Waikiki store and move into a new, larger location at Ward Centre.

But projections of the $500,000 annual profits never materialized and the effort was losing as much as $40,000, according to a February 2016 report to the regents. Athletic director David Matlin told the board, “Moving to another physical location is likely to result in even larger losses.”

Team performance, especially by the football team in 2014 and ’15, was cited as a contributing factor.

Losses were eventually trimmed and the enterprise turned a $21,000 profit, but Matlin told regents earlier this year that he couldn’t justify continued operation and planned to close the 1,465-square foot Ward Centre location when its lease expired in June.

“We are pleased to be partnering with the bookstore and offering our fans the convenience of additional locations where they can purchase merchandise in support of their favorite teams and UH athletics,” Joel Matsunaga, associate athletics director for external affairs, said in a release.

Merchandise will be available at UH bookstore locations on nine campuses in addition to the Stan Sheriff Center, Les Murakami Stadium and online (www.H-Zoneonline.com).

Bookstore proceeds benefit UH, the school said.