Five Hawai'i residents have been recognized as everyday heroes, people who do extraordinary things for others as part of the annual Jefferson Award for Public Service.

The winners are John Henry Felix, Paula Kekahuna, Dr. John Magauran, Margarette Pang and Kawai "Sunny" Young.

The awards are designed to encourage and honor individuals for their dedication to the community through volunteerism. The awards, sponsored by The Honolulu Advertiser and KGMB-9, is supported in communities across the country. They will be recognized at a luncheon April 16. One person will be selected to represent the state at a national ceremony in Washington, D.C., in June. Last year, the five honorees were Ivalee Sinclair, Chuck "Doc" Burrows, Wesley Fong, Brian Kajiyama and Ozella Mabson.

The awards were founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Sen. Robert Taft Jr. and Sam Beard. It has become the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for public and community service.