WAIPI'O — This is a small, hillside community of recent vintage sandwiched between Mililani and Waipahu. Waipi'o has about 12,000 residents but neither a post office nor its own ZIP code.

Many O'ahu residents aren't sure where Waipi'o is, or know it only as the location of a Costco store. Some confuse it with Waipi'o Valley on the Big Island. Outside of Hawai'i, it is virtually unknown.

But that could change today in South Williamsport, Pa., when a Waipi'o all-star team takes on Lake Charles, La., in the Little League U.S. Championship.

The winner will face the international champion tomorrow to decide the Little League World Series champion.

Folks here are practically holding their breath in anticipation. While some are cheering outright, others spoke about today's game in calm, reflective tones — as if to do otherwise might jinx the outcome.

Matt DeLang, assistant coach and player agent for the Waipi'o Little League, said both the team's and the community's philosophy are the same regarding the World Series.

"It's always been one day at a time, one game at a time," he said. "We're not out to get ahead of ourselves."

A case in point: Lenny Fabro, who heads up the Waipi'o Little League, was so focused on today's U.S. Championship game he hadn't thought much about what would happen should the team win it all tomorrow.

"We haven't really put something together yet," said Fabro by phone from Williamsport when asked who would throw the parade if Waipi'o prevails and takes the world title. "When I get back to Hawai'i we'll do something."

And even though more eyes will be focused on Waipi'o today than ever before, DeLang said that winning both games would really put Waipi'o on the map.

"We've got to win the rest," he said.

GLUED TO THE TUBE

It's not as though Waipi'o hasn't achieved Little League glory before. The 2002 team made it to the World Series only to get knocked out before the championship rounds.

Resident Jeremy Shea, 21, said the game today is on the mind of just about everyone in Waipi'o.

"This is just a small neighborhood," said Shea, who played Waipi'o Little League ball himself from age 5 through 12. "So this is pretty exciting."

Shea, like virtually everyone else in Waipi'o, said he'll be glued to the tube this morning. But he confessed the game he most hopes to see is tomorrow's — providing Waipi'o is in it.

"This is the best team to ever come out of Waipi'o," he said. "Their skill level is amazing."

On Thursday, the day after the semifinal win over Mill Creek, Wash., Waipi'o residents Tyler "T.K." Kushima and Matt Campos, both 10, honed their batting skills on the league diamond in Waipi'o Neighborhood Park — the same turf used by the team playing today in Williamsport.

With them were their dads, David Campos and Bruce Kushima, who were wearing Waipi'o All-Stars T-shirts.

The boys are on the 9- and 10-year-old Waipi'o All-Star team. According to their dads, the boys look up to their older counterparts, who are 11 and 12.

'UNDERDOGS' NO MORE

Other Island teams have underestimated Waipi'o teams in the past, said David Campos.

"You know, our Waipi'o team has always been the underdogs," said Campos, who added that that reputation should evaporate after this weekend.

No matter what happens, there will be a celebration when the team comes home, Fabro said.

For this morning's game, Waipi'o Little League supporter Marj Vicari has organized a get-together for fans who want to watch the game on the big screen at the Mililani Golf Club.

"We're hoping that maybe 50 or 60 people will come," she said. "We're calling anyone who has connections to the team. But, of course, everybody's welcome — from anywhere. And there will be pupus."