There could hardly be a soul in Hawai'i whose heart doesn't sing after watching and learning about the young champions who brought the Little League world pennant home with them yesterday.

Those who sat glued to the set on Saturday, when 12-year-old Tanner Tokunaga smacked a two-run double in the sixth inning to cap a comeback rally to a 7-5 victory over Lake Charles, La.

And the never-say-die character of the boys from Central O'ahu delivered the ultimate prize on Sunday in a 12-3 win over the team from Matamoros, Mexico.

Or was that the ultimate prize, after all?

Yes, it's exciting to watch young athletes displaying their hard-won skills on the baseball diamond. The hitters on Sunday were blazing hot, and Caleb Duhay's steady pitching helped cement the most lopsided U.S. victory since the Little League World Series went international in 1967.

But for many of the fans and families, it was even more thrilling to see how resilience, sportsmanship and sheer guts can power a team, enabling that come-from-behind win on Saturday. Not many athletes of any age can marshal their forces to dig out from under a 5-1 deficit.

Their coaches, and the parents who helped to fuel the championship drive all year, can take particular pride in that result.

Then there were the individual stories that provided inspiration to teammates and fans alike. Iolana Akau gritted his teeth through a painful hairline fracture of his left arm, suffered during his first at-bat Aug. 15 ... and came back to hit a home run and make a heroic diving catch.

And, of course, there's the story of lymphoma patient Paliku Winchester, the 5-year-old whose brother Pikai plays third base. The team chanted Paliku's name as a battle cry during the grueling Saturday match. What a joy for his family to hear that, and to watch the team win one for a child now determined to grow up to play like his big brother.

The team took a victory lap on Sunday, carrying aloft the Hawai'i flag as they ran. That sparked some critical comments from viewers who felt it should have been the Stars and Stripes.

Of course, they're proud to follow 'Ewa Beach, 2005 champs, in winning the title for the U.S. Their intent was clearly to show aloha for the special place they call home.

Their achievements are something the nation, as well as their state, can celebrate.