Miracle Helekahi poses with HMSA President Robert Hiam and keynote speaker Kealoha. Brien Ing | SL

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"Our town is small, so helping out our kupunas - our elders - is a way to give back to our town," said Helekahi, a year-round athlete in volleyball, basketball, soccer, paddling and softball. Courtesy of HMSA

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Miracle Helekahi, Zachary Pezzillo and Kyle Nakatsuka were named distinguished recipients of the HMSA Kaimana Awards scholarship at a luncheon Saturday at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.

The three were selected among 22 students from around the state honored for not just for their participation in athletics, but for their excellence in academics and community service. Each of the 22 winners were awarded $2000 scholarships. Each of the three distinguished winners were given an additional $1000.

This is part one of three mini-profiles on each of the distinguished recipients.

Helekahi, a graduate of Hana High and Elementary on Maui, lives up to her name.

"Our town is small, so helping out our kupunas - our elders - is a way to give back to our town," said Helekahi, a year-round athlete in volleyball, basketball, soccer, paddling and softball.

She shares stories in her small community through hula. The pain from swollen feet from hours of practice is a tribute to the kupuna, whom she said endured a variety of adversity. The sufferings kupuna endured - "decimated by introduced diseases, had their lands forcibly taken away, were punished for speaking their language, and forbidden practice of their culture - helped temper her own personal hardship. She was homeless, living under a 20-foot by 20-foot tent with 12 other relatives on a family property, from when she was fourth grade until last year.

"I lived in a tent for many years," she said. "It was difficult for me. We put up a tent and made it like a house."

Her home situation forced her to grow up fast. But it taught her independence, responsibility and, of course, helping others. She provided help at the Dialysis Center Thrift Shop and Hana Youth Center, and tutored keiki at Kamehameha Preschool.

Helekahi plans to study culinary arts to come a pasty chef. She wants to return to Hana to open her owns bakery and call it "Miracles Happen."

And her name does have special significance.

"My dad had cancer and they had only two of my brothers and they were supposed to have only that much," Helekahi said. "And then my third brother came out, Joshua - they named him Joshua because he fought the battle of Jericho. The doctors told my mom that that was their family right there. Then she got pregnant with me and I was their first girl."