KAHAKU EMULATES HER ONE-TIME IDOL : CANYON FRESHMAN REMINISCENT OF BUSTOS.

Byline: Dave Desmond Daily News Staff Writer

Justina Kahaku remembers vividly that spring day two years ago when as a 12-year-old she sat in the Canyon High School bleachers and watched the best softball player she had ever seen.

Of course, as one of the Santa Clarita Valley's best ever, Crystl Bustos had that kind of impact on a lot of people.

She was an All-Southern Section shortstop and the Most Valuable Player of the Foothill League. She turned the 1995 Daily News All-Star Game into her own private showcase.

``I told my parents I wanted to be just like her some day,'' said Kahaku, now 14 and a freshman at Canyon.

Kahaku may be well on her way.

As the Cowboys' starting shortstop, she already is drawing comparisons to her one-time idol at a similar stage in her development.

``That is very flattering,'' said Kahaku, who was batting over .400 entering the week. ``It makes me want to practice even harder.''

Still two years away from eligibility for a driver's license, Kahaku is quickly establishing herself as perhaps the athlete who will steer Canyon toward Foothill League prominence.

In her first year of organized volleyball, she gained co-MVP honors on the school's freshman team.

During the winter, Kahaku worked her way up the ladder to earn a mid-season spot on the varsity basketball roster.

And now the softball spotlight.

Since setting foot on the Canyon campus in September, her talents have been in such demand that she has had to put off a dentist's appointment for several months.

``She's a very special athlete,'' coach Charlie Briere said. ``It didn't take long to recognize that.''

As good as Kahaku has been at shortstop, she may eventually become a catcher, a position she has played much of her life.

Junior Hillary Shaw, a returning starter, currently occupies the position, so Briere decided to move Kahaku to shortstop and switch returning shortstop Karly Andrade, a senior, to second base.

Andrade is anything but bitter about being displaced by a freshman.

``I think she's great,'' Andrade said. ``She puts her heart into everything and always looks like she's having fun. That makes her a positive role model for everyone.''

Alemany coach Dudley Rooney liked what he saw when his team faced Kahaku and Canyon earlier this week.

``She's probably one of the top two shortstops we've seen this year,'' he said. ``I'm sure she's going to be a real good player for them in the years to come.''

In an early-season game against Hoover High School, Briere gave Kahaku a chance to play her natural position behind the plate, perhaps taking a peek into the future.

``One girl tried stealing on her,'' Briere said. ``The ball was waiting for her at second base. It was like `Ho-hum.'''

Canyon entered Thursday's game against Crescenta Valley 4-6, but if the pressure of a sub-.500 record and the lofty individual expectations are weighing on Kahaku, it hasn't showed in her play.

``Of course I get nervous,'' she said. ``But you just have to smile through it.

``My philosophy has always been that smilers never lose and frowners never never win.''

Maybe, somewhere in the Canyon bleachers, another 12-year-old is paying attention.