Jet-lagged from a long flight back from Washington and mobbed, rock-star style, by a throng of Honolulu's most prominent citizens, Maya Soetoro-Ng, sister of President Obama, took her place among her fellow Martin Luther King Jr. Award recipients last night at the Pacific Club and thanked the people of Ha-wai'i for working "to change the climate and tenor for politics in this country."

Soetoro-Ng was one of four recipients of the second annual award, which is given by the Hawai'i Friends of Civil Rights. Also honored were longtime civil rights activist Kat Brady, University of Hawai'i head basketball coach Bob Nash, and the African American Lawyers Association of Hawai'i.

After a mad week of inaugural activities, the La Pietra history teacher arrived back at Honolulu International Airport as the fete was getting under way. She made it to the party in time to greet her fellow awardees and thank the 400 guests who eagerly awaited her appearance.

Emcee Emme Tomimbang read a speech prepared by Soetoro-Ng that expressed her humility in receiving the award (Soetoro-Ng instead accepted it on behalf of Obama) and her excitement at the dawn of her brother's administration.

"I feel genuinely blessed to be a part of this nation and to have witnessed the country stretching and growing during the week of inauguration, and how everyone expressed great pride in who they are and what they can do collectively," Soetoro-Ng wrote. "I think that this sense of possibility is at the heart of every civil rights movement — and we have it. We have captured an unyielding energy and unleashed it amidst ourselves. We've got real momentum going now."

Soetoro-Ng later said she was glad to be home after the "beautiful week" that saw her brother take office.

"I was moved to tears on more than one occasion not only because of my brother and what he has accomplished but because of all of the people around, and all the people in Hawai'i, and all of the hard work and support and emotion that went into this journey that culminated in this inauguration," she said.

Soetoro dismissed reports that she and her family will soon be moving to Washington as "rumors" and also laughingly rebuffed speculation that she herself might one day seek political office.

"Oh no!" she said. "But thank you for your confidence."

Brady, who has spent decades fighting for the humane treatment and rehabilitation of former convicts, gender equity, Native Hawaiian rights and responsible stewardship of the environment, used her time at the microphone to renew her call for justice on all fronts.

"We cannot have peace without justice," said Brady, a devotee of King's teachings. "And until we have justice for Native Hawaiians, we will never have peace in Hawai'i."

Nash said he was "totally surprised" by the award.

As a member of the legend- ary Fabulous Five UH basketball squad in the 1970s, Nash helped a teenage Obama, a family friend, reconcile his African-American identity with his Hawai'i surroundings. As a longtime coach at UH he has emphasized diversity and community service.

"When you get into this profession, you do it to help people," Nash said. "I guess someone was watching."

The African American Lawyers Association was established in 1986 in response to a controversy in which a local judge made derogatory racial remarks. In the years since, the group has taken on a number of civil rights and racial discrimination issues, while providing scholarships to students interested in law and social justice.

"This is very special for us, because there have been a lot of issues that have needed to be addressed, and we're very grateful to be recognized for doing so," said retired First Circuit Judge Sandra Simms, a past president of the organization.