After a two-year absence, Hawai'i will be making a return trip to the Little League World Series.

Waipi'o defeated Paseo Verde of Henderson, Nev., 4-3, today to win the Little League Majors (ages 11 and 12) West Regional at San Bernardino, Calif.

Waipi'o will be the first Hawai'i team to reach the World Series since West O'ahu won the championship in 2005.

Waipi'o faces Shelton National (Conn.), the New England champion, in the World Series opener Friday in Williamsport, Pa. The game will be televised at noon Hawai'ii time on ESPN2. Other teams in Hawai'i's pool are Citrus Park of Tampa, Fla., and Canyon Lake of Rapid City, S.D.

This age group is considered the oldest in youth baseball. It was first developed in 1939, held in 1947 and televised in 1953. Other leagues — such as Cal Ripken and PONY — have since held their own World Series. Besides this Waipio team, two other Hawaii teams already have advanced to a youth baseball World Series. Pearl City is playing in the 15- to 16-year-old age group World Series at Bangor, Maine, and Hilo is in the 13-14 age group World Series at Taylor, Mich.

Waipi'o used the long ball to win — two home runs by Pikai Winchester — and did it despite being out-hit, 5-4, and a 14 strikeout performance by Paseo Verde's Michael Blasko.

Waipi'o took a 3-0 lead in the first. Boy Donahue singled up the middle, went to second on a wild pitch and to third on a fielder's choice by starting pitcher Khade Paris. He scored when the ball got away from the Paseo Verde catcher. Caleb Duhay walked then Pikai Winchester hit a two-run homer to left field.

Nevada threatened in the second inning. It loaded the bases with two outs on three straight walks, but Paris got Michael Blasko to ground out to short to end the inning.

Paris left the game in the top of the third with one out when he seemed to indicate arm problems. He struck out six, walked five and gave up no hits, but left with a runner on third. Tanner Tokunaga replaced Paris and gave up back-to-back home runs to James Anderson and Griffin Kelly to tie the game at 3.

But Tokunaga was solid after that, shutting out Paseo Verde the rest of the way, striking out five.

Waipi'o snuffed out another rally in the fourth, when with men on second and third and two outs, second baseman Kainoa Fong went to his left to field a grounder and twisted around to throw out the runner to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, Winchester hit his second homer of the game, again to left field, to give Waipio a 4-3 lead.

Tokunaga got the side out in the top of the sixth and the celebration began.

Seven players played in the West Regional last season. Coach Timo Donahue, a police detective, has taken a Waipi'o team to three consecutive regionals.

West O'ahu Little League from 'Ewa Beach won Hawai'i's only Little League World Series, defeating Curacao, 7-6, in the 2005 title game. It was the most recent appearance by a Hawai'i team. A team from Waipi'o reached the World Series in 2002.

A Hawai'i team has reached the World Series 10 times since 1958, according to Little League.

Waipi'o is 4-1, Paseo Verde 4-1.