It is not a sport that loves you back.

There is no reciprocity, not like surfing, where there is yin to the yang, a give and take that completes the whole.

No, boxing often feels like unrequited love. A one-sided affair, constantly chasing the unattainable, always asking, "Why?"

And then the bell rings.

"Boxing is humbling," professional boxer Eileen "The Hawaiian Mongoose" Kuwaye Olszewski said. "It’s almost like having a crush on someone who won’t even look at you. You want to like them even more.

"It’s not a sport that loves you back easily. It’s something you have to love. It’s tough but, once you do it, you love it."

Olszewski stopped by Kakaako Boxing Club earlier this week with her husband, retired undefeated kickboxer Matthew. Eileen, a three-time Golden Gloves champion before turning pro, met several members of Team Hawaii who recently returned from the USA Boxing national championships.

Two have the potential to be among the first female boxers in the Olympics. Women’s boxing makes its debut next year in London and "it’s long overdue," said Olszewski, a Kaimuki High graduate now living in New York. "I think it’s awesome and it would be great to have a Hawaii fighter among the first.

"But the girls aren’t doing it for money or popularity. They do it because they love it."

"I can’t explain it," said Team Hawaii’s Lisa Ha. "It’s a challenge. It’s exciting.

"Training for me … I don’t take it day-by-day. I take it hour-by-hour. I don’t know how I do it, but I want to."

Ha works three jobs and is trying to get her master’s degree. She’s a medical assistant, a bartender and a cocktail waitress.

The 26-year-old also is a rising star in the female amateur boxing ranks. A year after transitioning from kickboxing to boxing, and with just five bouts prior to last month’s nationals, Ha took the bronze in the 106 weight class.

It was a very good showing in Colorado Springs, Colo., for Team Hawaii. In addition to Ha’s bronze, her Kawano Boxing Club teammate Haley Pasion overcame illness to win the gold at 119, and Boston Salmon (152, unattached) and Kalae McShane (123, Five-O BC) advanced to the quarterfinals before losing their respective bouts.

"Surprised? We were hoping for the best," said coach Stu Okamura, who trained Pasion and Ha. "It is tough competition at the nationals and the girls trained very, very hard.

"The females at the national level are awesome. And they’ll be in the Olympics for the first time (2012). It’s cool and only fair they have women’s boxing."

Making it to the London Games is a goal, but the opportunities are limited, with just three weight classes for women — 112, 132, 165. Ha would have to come up a class and Pasion go down one.

Pasion, ranked No. 1 nationally at 119, likely will fight at 112 at next month’s Ringside World Championships in Kansas City, Mo. Ha, No. 3 at 106, likely will join Pasion at 112 at the last chance tournament in October. (The women’s Olympic trials are early next year).

"To be one of the first women Olympic boxers would be cool," said the 18-year-old Pasion, a great granddaughter of legendary trainer Al Silva. "Winning at the nationals was very exciting. I was nervous, couldn’t believe I won. It was intense."

That describes Pasion’s training life as well. She takes an early bus from Aiea to Okamura’s home in Kalihi, then the pair drive to Roosevelt High for a 90-minute run on the track. Pasion continues on with Okamura, whose construction company she works for, and after an 8- to 10-hour work day, the two come to the gym for a training session that lasts up to 2 hours.

"Right now it’s just boxing for me," said Pasion, who will attend Leeward Community College in the fall. "I’m happy to have Lisa to push me. She’s a great fighter and we push each other."

They have the respect of their male teammates.

"We see how hard they train," 18-year-old McShane said. "They fight like men. There is no difference."

McShane, whose father, Shane, had a long amateur career in Hawaii, said he is eying the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Salmon, a student at UNLV, said he plans to turn pro after graduating from college.

"Boxing goes in cycles," Okamura said. "I hope it’s making a comeback in Hawaii."

The next amateur smoker is July 23 at Palolo Gym. Bouts start at 6 p.m.

On the Net:

» amateurboxingofhawaii.com