Anyone who thinks Little League baseball is just kid stuff wasn't watching yesterday's heart-stopping World Series championship game.

West O'ahu's thrilling extra-innings victory displayed a combination of talent and never-say-die determination that would do credit to adult professional athletes.

These young players from 'Ewa Beach have brought honor to all of Hawai'i.

Yesterday's scoreboard delivered the final line in the story of their amazing run for the World Series title.

But the important thing goes beyond the scores: It was the impressive sampling of aloha the West O'ahu team brought to the Mainland.

Off the field, the team's hosts in Pennsylvania reveled in the warmth of a lu'au, adapted for the setting but full of bona fide Islands spirit.

Many families made significant sacrifices to be there for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In some cases, generous friends and relatives made their travel possible.

Talk about the aloha spirit.

Hawai'i loves to see its sons — its young sons, especially — achieve on the national stage.

Everyone who gave us that pleasure deserves thanks: the coaches, the parents and other supporters and, of course, the players themselves.

Great job, boys. In showing the world what Hawai'i can do, you hit a home run with the hometown crowd.