ABERDEEN, Md. — They were unmistakable in the stands — some shirtless with body paint, others jumping up and down on the dugout during the games, others flashing shaka signs — all displaying Hilo pride during the Cal Ripken World Series.

Despite the long journey from Hilo to Aberdeen — about 4,800 miles — and personal sacrifices — the 30 or so parents and supporters got the payoff: a 5-2 victory in the championship game for ages 12 and younger.

"I've got a whole bunch of awesome parents," said Hilo manager Kaha Wong, who is a parent of team members Kean and Kiani, the only girl in the Cal Ripken World Series this year.

Some families made big sacrifices to follow the team from Hilo to the regional at Woodland, Calif., and then to Aberdeen. The total time on the Mainland was one month.

Carrie Hoopii was so dedicated to what her son Ridge Hoopii-Haslam was doing on the field, she traveled with the team even though it cost her her job.

"I'll deal with that later," said Hoopii, who was interviewed about her personal sacrifice on television between innings of the U.S. championship game Saturday evening. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing."

In the U.S. championship game victory over Bryant, Ark., on Saturday, Ridge hit a three-run homer. Yesterday, he added a two-run shot that gave Hilo a 5-0 lead.

Other Hilo parents said they had few problems getting time off from their employers.

Assistant coach Jason Jinbo, father of Jordan Jinbo, says he was given the whole time off from his job at Automotive Supply Center, no questions asked.

The only hard part about the trip for Jason Jinbo was when his son fractured his thumb in the regionals and refused to get a cast because he wanted to play.

"As a parent that was the hardest thing to overcome," said Jinbo. "As a coach I was very proud of the way he played."

Hoopii said the parents and players became very close. "It's going to be hard to say goodbye when we get home," she said.

The team didn't only have to worry about the games, but finances ran short at time. Manager Wong said they had to do fundraising on the road and received donations from local companies, as well.

He added some of the players can't afford the fee to play in Little League or the P.O.N.Y. League.

While the players were able to stay with host families in the Aberdeen, Md., community, 18 parents lived in one hotel room for six nights, something Christy Kaaua, mother of Chayce Kaaua, found hard to do with one bathroom.

But Kaaua said it was understood they all would make sacrifices for their kids.

"We knew this would be tough from the beginning," she said.

One of the Hilo fans with face paint was Kolden Wong, another son of manager Kaha Wong.

Kolden Wong, who plays for Kamehameha-Hawai'i, was on the Hilo team that lost to Mexico in the World Series final in 2003.

"His brother and sister are playing," Kaha Wong said. "When he came (to Aberdeen in 2003), the two younger ones came to watch him."

The Hilo players and coaches saw Kolden Wong play in the Babe Ruth (ages 13-15) Pacific Southwest Regional in Reedley, Calif., during its extended stay in California earlier this month.

All but two parents of the youths followed the team to the regionals and World Series.

But even Anson Arruda, whose parents were not able to make the trip because they are starting new jobs, was treated as if his parents were there.

Kaha Wong said he considers Arruda to be one of his own sons and has taken care of him the whole time.