WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Now it's finally settling in.

I never really felt it (before). It was like a dream.

You could tell on the kids' faces (Sunday night after they won the West Regional in San Bernardino, Calif.) that they knew what they had accomplished. Some had tears, some had huge smiles.

That made me feel good because they were so happy. They worked so hard to get here.

We've been getting a lot of support and all of us here really appreciate that.

There were a lot of people who called who were watching the game. Tons.

Hopefully, we go out there and don't let them down, that we represent Hawai'i as it should be.

TUESDAY

We slept all the way, slept on the bus ride down, slept on the plane, the bus ride (in Newark, N.J.) slept all the way until we ate.

We left (the hotel) at 2:30 in the morning, caught a bus to the L.A. airport.

We arrived there at about a quarter to 4. Our plane left L.A. at 7 (a.m.).

(We) got in to Newark at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time.

(We) got all our bags, waited another hour-half for our bats. (They couldn't find them.) We weren't going to leave without those.

We caught another bus to Williamsport. We didn't eat yet, mind you. So we pulled over. Some guys grabbed McDonald's; some grabbed Arby's.

We pulled into the compound here at 10 p.m. and met the host and they explained to us what would happen (Wednesday). The kids went to sleep about 11.

WEDNESDAY

After breakfast, the uniforms were distributed. We took our team photos on top of the hill and did the ESPN/ABC photo shoot and interviews.

After lunch, we met with the three major sponsors — Easton, Lousville (Slugger), Wilson deMarini. Two players did instructional videos. Later, we had a coaches' meeting.

It feels really good, this atmosphere here. There's something about it, that there seems to be an aura. Surreal.

Right now, they (the players) seem pretty relaxed, having fun and enjoying every minute here.

LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES

Pool play schedule; all Hawai'i times

Aug. 15—vs. Shelton National, Conn., noon, ESPN2 and 1420-AM

Aug. 17—vs. Citrus Park, Tampa, Fla., 2 p.m., ESPN2

Aug. 18—vs. Canyon Lake, Rapid City, S.D., 9 a.m., ESPN2

Top two teams from each pool advance to semifinals on Aug. 20-21., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., ESPN

Aug. 23—International, U.S. championships, 6:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., ABC

24—Series championship, 9:30 a.m. ABC