HONOLULU (KHON2) — The entire state has been cheering on this year’s Honolulu Little League team. This is the third time in the last seven years that the Hawaiʻi team has made it to the Little League World Series, and they’re hoping to get a little bit of help to make that cross-country trek.
This year’s Honolulu Little League team is taking Hawaiʻi on a wild ride.
“I think the one word that keeps coming to mind for me is surreal,” said Noelani Chow, Hulili’s mom. “I just, every step of the way, it’s just blowing my mind.”
The team clinched the West region and is now headed to Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series. But this journey started weeks ago in Aiea. Then at the state tournament on the Big Island, before this week’s regionals in San Bernardino.
So that means some families haven’t been home in weeks. Some players and siblings are missing school and parents are missing work.
“I think because it’s just such a momentous event and such like a spectacle and just the pinnacle of youth baseball that my principal was just like, ‘Oh my goodness, yes, you have to go, like, no worries, we’ll figure it out,’” said Mitani, who just started a teaching job.
“I’m just thankful to God that I’m able to do this, get the time off, and then I’m just praying that, you know, the money will work itself out because I know that we’re doing the right thing,” said Chow.
Check out more news from around Hawaii
While Little League International is covering travel costs for players, the team has a GoFundMe set up to cover some costs for this expensive trip across the country.
“So today they went go-karting and arcade and stuff that they didn’t, they don’t typically get to do in Hawaiʻi,” said Mitani. “And so it’s just building that experience at Olive Garden. They’re getting to eat In-and-Out every other day.”
“I just want to say mahalo to everybody who’s helping with this, because it’s not only building the pilina and relationships with our team, between our kids on our team, which actually is a big reason why they do so well,” said Chow.
The families admit they knew the risks when they signed up. And they say it’s all worth it.
“As hard as it is, it’s no doubt that we’d pay whatever it is for him to fulfill his dreams, you know,” said Mitani.
Honolulu’s first game at the World Series is scheduled for next Friday.
“In baseball is a lot of, a lot of good juju, bad juju, so you kind of, my thought process is don’t talk about it,” said Mitani. “Don’t think about it. Don’t have expectations.”
“Just to enjoy the ride,” said Chow. “And of course, to win. We definitely want to do that.”