With a legacy that includes five state championships, two trips to the Little League World Series, and one Little League World Series championship in the past nine years -- and that's just in the major baseball division -- Hawaii's Waipio Little League all-star team could perhaps be excused for casting an eye toward the mainland and higher-level tournament competition.

But as the team prepared for the 2010 Hawaii state championship at Pride Field on Oahu, Waipio's coaching staff aimed to keep the team's focus firmly on the task at hand.

"To win one tournament is hard in itself," said Waipio coach Kiha Akau on the eve of the state tournament. "I don't want these kids thinking about that (Williamsport) at all because it's a long journey to get there.

"I saw what (Waipio's 2008 Little League World Series championship team) had to go through to get there," added the Waipio coach. "They got stronger and stronger as they went on, but it still took some luck."

Waipio also saw stiff competition from Hawaiian leagues as the 2010 international tournament progressed: they needed seven innings to defeat Pearl City Little League in the District 7 championship game, and again required extra frames when edging defending state champion Central East Maui Little League, 3-2, to reach the state championship game.

And with the team trailing late in the state championship game, and Central East Maui just six outs away from forcing the tournament to a deciding game, Waipio again rose to the challenge. Waipio scored six times in its final at-bat, and defeated Central East Maui, 10-6, to win its fourth Hawaiian championship in a five year span. The Hawaiian champions advanced to the West Region tournament in San Bernardino, and ultimately reached the Little League World Series. Waipio finished the summer as the United States champion.

Central East Maui grabbed an early lead in the title game, stringing together a trio of hits and scoring three unearned runs to take a 3-0 lead. Waipio tied the game in the second, when Keolu Ramos delivered a run-scoring single and Jutice Nakagawa added a sacrifice fly, but Central East Maui reclaimed the advantage on Colby Tam's two-run homer in the third.

Central East Maui carried its lead into the fifth, when Waipio's first six hitters all reached base and scored. Waipio loaded the bases, then Ty DeSa was hit by a pitch to force in the tying run. Noah Shackles drove in a run with a ground out, then pitcher Dane Kaneshiro widened the advantage with a run-scoring single up the middle. Three runs scored when the ball got past the Maui outfielder, and Waipio had a 9-5 advantage.

"It was just a matter of time," said Waipio manager Brian Yoshii. "These kids never gave up."

Kaneshiro, who struck out eleven batters in five innings of work, surrendered just one hit after Central East Maui had three in the game's opening inning.

"The reason why we are such a good team is because all 13 (players) contribute," said Yoshii. "Some guys are better defensively, but the great thing about this game is I can substitute."

Waipio had opened the tournament with a 9-1 victory over Aiea Little League. The win avenged Waipio's only two losses from the 2009 state tournament, when Waipio finished third and Aiea as the runner-up to Central East Maui. The same three teams emerged as the state's top three finishers in 2010. Waipio returned three players from its 2009 team, with the rest of its roster filled out by players who'd won the league's fourth consecutive Hawaiian title in the 10-11 year old division the same summer.

Following its opening round win, Waipio edged Central East Maui, 3-2, in the winner's bracket final. The Maui team then earned a rematch by holding off Aiea, 6-5, in the elimination bracket final. Central East Maui used home runs by amona Kalanika and Nawai Kaipe to build a 6-0 advantage, then held off a late Aiea charge to seal the victory.

Waipio followed its state championship by winning the West Region tournament, and advancing to the Little League World Series for the second time in three years. The West champions lost their opening round game in South Williamsport, but rebounded with five consecutive victories, including a mercy rule-shortened, 10-0 win over Pearland White (Texas East) Little League in the United States championship game. Waipio fell, 4-1, to Edogawa Minami (Japan) in the Little League World Series championship game.