Honolulu Star-Advertiser is reporting that the Unviersity of Hawaii is being courted to join the Mountain West Conference as a football-only member.

Negotiations started today between the two parties.

Hawaii, currently the longest-tenured WAC team, is predicted to join the Big West Conference in all other sports. The Warriors were part of the Big West until joining the WAC in 1979.

The Big West recently lifted a self-imposed moratorium on conference expansion.

The Warriors would probably be admitted to the MWC in time for the 2012-13 season. Hawaii would most likely offer travel subsidies for teams traveling to Honolulu.