If you believe in first impressions, then Ka’imi Fairbairn probably wasn’t an early-on pick to someday win the Lou Groza Award symbolic of being college football’s most outstanding kicker.

But if you prize dogged persistence and a painstaking dedication to a craft, then Fairbairn’s lei-bedecked place at the podium at the annual televised awards show at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta on Thursday was hardly surprising.

From the disappointment of having three extra-point attempts blocked in his freshman debut, including the first two, Fairnbairn went on to achieve a remarkable standard for consistency this season and win the prestigious Groza Award and earn All-America honors as a senior.

“Toward the end of your career you always look back at the beginning, and I looked at (the debut) as a learning experience,” Fairbairn said in a telephone interview Friday. “You have to learn to take what comes at you.”

For him that August day at the Rose Bowl in 2012 it was having three of five extra-point attempts blocked in UCLA’s 49-24 victory over Rice.

By the fourth quarter, the Bruins were going for two points.

But Fairbairn was resilient and determined and did not miss another extra point in 54 attempts that season. In four years as the Bruins’ place-kicker he made good on 206 of 211 extra points.

“It is, for sure, not the way you want to start out your college career and, for some kids, that could (impact) them for a long time, but not Ka’imi,” said Eric Hannum, his long-time kicking coach at Punahou.

“That’s just Ka’imi, he’s a remarkable story in perseverance,” Hannum said. “That’s why he is the perfect kicker: He is always looking forward, not back. He’s humble, yet confident and very competitive.”

This year he made good on a remarkable 41 consecutive field goals from 35 yards and in. At one point he connected on 19 consecutive field goals. Overall, he made 20 of 23 field goals, with the only misses coming from 50, 49 and 47 yards. He made good on all 44 extra-point attempts.

His 60-yard field goal against California in October was the longest in college football this season and set a Pac-12 record for a conference game.

Fairbairn said, “It has always been a goal of mine to win (the Groza Award), I think every kicker has it. But you don’t get there without a lot of hard work and persistence.”

In a moving acceptance speech, Fairbairn said it was not his journey alone. Quoting Sir Isaac Newton, Fairbairn said it was accomplished, “… because I stand on the shoulders of giants,” and proceeded to thank his family, long snapper, holder, teammates and coaches, both at UCLA and Punahou.

“It is because of the efforts of a great deal of others that I stand here today,” Fairbairn said. “These people are the foundation who have enabled me to succeed.”

Fairbairn also said, “To my home state of Hawaii, mahalo nui loa for your unwavering support. I will always remember where I came from.”

And, of course, how far he had to go as a kicker to pick up the position’s individual richest prize.

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