It wasn't her birthday or anniversary, and the goodbye cake was for somebody else, but yesterday, for no reason other than sheer appreciation, deputy prosecutor Thalia Murphy was honored by her colleagues.

"Thank you for being a warrior on the side of justice and for fighting the good fight," Detective David Do said. And then he broke into an impersonation of a cartoon crime fighter.

It was a lighthearted moment for a group of professionals who daily see the worst of humanity and the saddest of children. To hear them tell it, Murphy is a real-life superhero, balancing tender compassion for the victims and bulldog prosecution of the perpetrators.

Murphy dabbed away tears as Child Welfare Services investigators, Honolulu Police Department sex crimes detectives and other members of the Sex Assault Investigator Team at the Children's Justice Center shared stories about her.

There was the time a 4-year-old had to testify in court. She was so little, when she sat in the witness box, the jury couldn't see her face.

Murphy told a detective to run across the street from the courthouse to Restaurant Row and grab a barstool from one of the businesses. Go show them your badge, she instructed. The detective came back with the stool and it worked. The jury could see the child's face as she told her story. Murphy won that case.

Murphy has been with the city prosecutor's office for 21 years and, for the past 17 years, has focused almost exclusively on sex assault cases against children.

"I think there's a reason why God made you as tall as you are," said one colleague. Murphy is 5 feet 10. "It's so that you can be a beacon for the children, a voice for those who have no voice."

Given the opportunity to talk about herself, Murphy instead seized the opportunity for a little public education.

Parents can't be too careful, she said.

"Just because somebody isn't on the (sex offender) registry doesn't mean they're safe. There are unconvicted sex offenders all around your kids. It is the most underreported crime."

In trying to think of some significant gift to mark the occasion, the group avoided the usual koa bowl or wall hanging and instead asked a kumu for a Hawaiian name for Thalia Murphy, this protector of children.

The name came easily:

Kamana'olana onalani

Hope of the heavens

On days when discouragement creeps in, Murphy says she looks to the children she helps for inspiration.

"Basically, I can get a hug from a kid and that will last me a month. ... They say, 'Thank you for believing me.' "

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.