To the kids at Liholiho, Majam’s a super big deal

It was the greatest season in University of Hawaii softball history, and to that point 2010 was the most eventful year in Kelly Majam’s life. UH went to the College World Series, with Majam, the team’s star freshman centerfielder, breaking home run records and receiving national acclaim.

And then, a few weeks later, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Today, as a senior, Majam is healthy and happy and thriving on the field and off. She’s a few weeks away from graduation and marriage to Josh Elms and — she hopes — a second trip to Oklahoma City with the Rainbow Wahine.

She is still recognized around town at times, but things have normalized in the years since she appeared on the ESPYs and in the space of a couple of weeks got 300 Facebook friend requests, some from people she didn’t know.

Most important, after successful surgery and steady rehab there are no remaining signs of cancer.

She now considers herself a regular student who happens to play softball, mostly going through her days on campus relatively unnoticed.

But about a mile up the road from Manoa there’s a place where Majam says she’s "a rock star," a place where most of the people are vaguely aware of what Majam achieved and what she survived three years ago.

That’s understandable. Some of the children at Liholiho Elementary School were only 3 or 4 years old in 2010.

They know her as Coach Kelly, and "they adore her," according to UH softball coach Bob Coolen.

That seems to be the universal sentiment at Liholiho, where Majam is student teaching as one of the final steps toward her physical education degree.

"All the kids love her," said teacher Lori Shimizu.

"She’s fun and she’s funny sometimes," said fifth-grader Jay Zena. "She’s never mean and she teaches us interesting games. She gives good instructions."

Colleen Kagawa, a fifth-grader who likes to play baseball and basketball, knows that Majam is a college athlete and considers her a "role model."

Majam’s time at Liholiho has confirmed her decision to make teaching children her career, after wherever softball might take her.

"It’s great, even through the rough spots," she said. "Because they still love you the next day."

IT WAS Majam’s mentor Tom Holden’s idea to have an organized night where Liholiho shows up in force for one of Majam’s games. It will be this Friday, and around 350 students, family and staff will fill the right-field side of Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium when UH plays Western Kentucky in its first game of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational.

"It’s extremely exciting and I’m honored that they would have a night at the park for me," she said. "It’s a perfect night for it because we’re not playing a doubleheader and we’re not playing at 8."

Holden, the retired Punahou athletic director who is now a P.E. teacher at Liholiho, said he’s not surprised so many from the school have committed to attend the event.

"Kelly’s made an impact and probably a forever connection here," he said. "She’s the real deal as a person and a teacher."

AFTER A slow start, Majam is batting .324 with a team-leading four home runs and .489 on-base percentage for the 8-4 Rainbow Wahine. She said she is the most fit she’s been since the cancer diagnosis and recovery.

"I still always have to be careful with things, but I am feeling a lot stronger and energized, the most of the past couple years," Majam said. "It’s a blessing. My cancer has given me a platform to try to help others."

She said a goal this year is to return to the College World Series. It is for the entire team, especially fellow seniors Jessica Iwata and Kaia Parnaby, who were also freshmen in 2010.

Majam is the key, Coolen said.

"If Kelly’s ever down, the team is down," he said. "If Kelly’s up, the team’s up. Everyone follows her lead."

Tonight they start a long homestand. In a couple of days, the Rainbow Wahine begin their version of March Madness: 21 games in 30 days, including a stretch of games on 10 consecutive days. Coolen is confident his senior leader is up for the grind.

"She’s done a nice job of finding the right balance," he said. "She’s now doing something she’s passionate about (at Liholiho) and that energy transfers and she’s here every day at softball. Her passion isn’t about being looked upon as an icon, but with their emotions as children about her being there at the school."

And Friday, they’ll be there for her in the bleachers.

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Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.