PEARL CITY — Three players from the Little League World Series champion team from Waipi'o will be honored at their school tomorrow in a celebration so big and special that Highlands Intermediate principal Amy Martinson wouldn't even hint at what's to come.

"It's going to be a surprise, a real big surprise," she said yesterday as students honored the boys on the school's marquee:

"Congrats Matt, Jedd, Khade LLWS Champs!" the letters spelled out in honor of Matthew Yap, Jedd Andrade and Khade Paris.

The team of 12- and 13-year-olds returned to O'ahu last night as several of their schools prepared to welcome them home — not even sure whether the boys would show up at school today.

With weeks of games leading up to the championship series in South Williamsport, Pa., principals and administrators also weren't certain whether their student athletes had spent even a day at school this year.

"I don't think it's an issue," Martinson said. "They've been going, going, going. But they have to make up the work they've missed."

Department of Education guidelines essentially allow public school principals to decide what athletic or academic activities constitute an excused absence, said DOE spokeswoman Sandy Goya.

At private St. Joseph school in Waipahu, home-run hitter Iolana Akau's missing schoolwork was being discussed yesterday.

"That is something we will be addressing with the teachers," vice principal Petra Ozoa said.

Akau, Waipi'o's starting catcher, suffered a hairline fracture in his left arm when he got hit with a fastball during his first at-bat of the team's World Series opener on Aug. 15. He came back in the championship game against Mexico to make a spectacular diving catch from right field to end the fifth inning.

St. Joseph will be focusing on Iolana's on-field heroics rather than his academics, possibly as early as today when the school will hold an assembly in his honor, Ozoa said.

At Holy Family Catholic Academy near Hickam Air Force Base, the entire school of 600 preschool through eighth-grade students will turn out tomorrow for third baseman Pikai Winchester, who led all players with the highest batting average during the championship series.

His 5-year-old brother, Paliku, was diagnosed with lymphoma in February and was a source of inspiration for the team. Paliku will probably join in the school's celebration, said the school's spokeswoman, Jocelyn Fernandes.

It will include the school's cheerleaders and an invitation to have Pikai sign a Little League ball to be enshrined in Holy Family's trophy case.

"We're going to try and get his official autograph," Fernandes said. "We're just so excited."

Pikai's friends and schoolmates spent part of their day making signs yesterday for the celebration, and Jane Chang, president of the parent teacher guild, was organizing parents for another sign-making party.

"It's a big day for Pikai," Chang said.

Pikai hit two home runs in the championship game — "that was awesome," said his friend Robin Pedro, 11, as he worked on a poster for Pikai. "And he was the one carrying the Hawai'i flag around the stadium."

Robin and a dozen other children were happy to take time yesterday for their friend because "he's funny and he's awesome," said Garrison Gabriel, 11. "He's good at baseball, too."

PARADE IN THE WORKS

Mayor Mufi Hannemann said yesterday that the city will organize a Waikiki Parade of Champions for the Waipi'o champions and for Hawai'i's Olympic athletes.

It will be the third Parade of Champions since 2005, which began when the West O'ahu Little League team won the Little League World Series. Last year's parade honored the University of Hawai'i football team.

The date and time of this year's parade will be announced later, the mayor's office said.