Hawaii’s motto: ‘We, greater than me’

Like all the teams here, Honolulu, Hawaii received new uniforms upon reaching the Little League World Series.

The uniforms look much different than the one the 2018 world championship wore while pounding district, state and West regional opponents. They do, however, share one similarity which may be the most important for this unselfish team.

The players’ names do not appear on the back of these jerseys. That is just the way Honolulu likes it because it has never been about the individual for this powerhouse league which followed up its 2018 world title by reaching last year’s semifinals. This league’s motto is, "We, greater than me."

And you better believe this team lives those words.

"The most important thing is our whole culture of we greater than me. We always put that in the dugout. It doesn’t matter whose name is on the back of the jersey, it’s about the team," coach Keith Oda said while filling in for manager Gerald Oda who returned from COVID protocol for Wednesday’s winner’s bracket final against Tennessee. "We pound it into their heads that way. It’s not about you, it’s about the team. It’s about whatever it takes for the team to do well. If you’re not starting or you’re hurt be the best cheerleader, be the best guy shagging balls. Do something to the 100th percent of the support for the team."

That philosophy has helped Honolulu Little League become one of the world’s most tradition-laden programs. These teams are great not because of a few fantastic individual players, but because all of these super players compete as one.

Even during a tournament in which manager Gerald Oda missed the first three games and two players have missed games because of COVID, Honolulu has kept cruising along, outscoring its first three opponents, 29-1. So dominant has Honolulu been that only Texas went the full six innings against it in its first three Series games.

And again, it has been the We, not me, which has shined through. Twelve players have hits, five have hit home runs and the pitching staff remarkably surrendered just two hits through the first three games.

"These guys have done a great job. We won’t score every inning but the threat of us scoring is there. We’re just trying to break the game open and work on defeating the other team’s will to win with overwhelming energy and enthusiasm," Keith Oda said. "We talk about that a lot and these guys have done really done well. The dugout has been very loose. They’ve really enjoyed themselves."

That balancing act between playing with unrelenting desire and having fun is one Honolulu has mastered these last few years. These are players who train all year and pay the price for the success they reap each summer. But they do so because they love the game and love doing whatever it takes to get better.

And ask many who have interacted with or played against Honolulu and they will tell you that the players and coaches are as great off the field as they are on it. The 2018 team won the Jack Losch Sportsmanship Award and any time Honolulu is here it is among the favorites to earn that award.

This team has the Hawaii spirit and it perfectly represents the fans for which it competes.

"My brother keeps close contact with the other coach (from 2021). They’re really good friends of ours. We always support each other," Keith Oda said. "When they were here last year, we were trying to help them. It’s pretty much the support we get (which elevates the team). Even other leagues reach out to us and offer us good luck. Our phones are just full of text messages and things like that. The support is amazing in Hawaii."

Entering Wednesday night’s game, so has been Honolulu’s performance. The team was hitting a collective .366 with a Series-high six home runs, including four in a 12-0 win against New York. Three pitchers combined on a no-hitter against New York and Washington and Texas managed just two hits.

It’s hard to pick which has been more impressive between the offense and pitching. The lineup has seemed overwhelming at times but the pitchers also have held opponents to a staggering 2 for 50 performance.

Again, though, Honolulu is not competing against each other and not focused on individual statistics. Everything is for the team.

"Whenever I go up to the plate I’m not really worried about the outcome. I’m just worrying about the things I can control like my rhythm; my timing. I just go up there and try my best and the whatever happens, happens."

That perspective says a lot. So does this:

"The last game I didn’t have the best game but when Kekoa hit that home run I was so pumped," Esaiah Wong said after going 2 for 2 with a home run after coming off the bench against New York. "I was just ready to get into that game and when I got called up, I just had to clutch up and help the team in any way I could."

No matter the situation, it is We, greater than me. Before returning for the Tennessee game, Gerald Oda showed that by how he handled his adversity.

Instead of focusing on himself, Oda kept the focus on the team. He handed the keys to his brother and both the assistant coaches and the players kept this machine humming.

"My brother is a real humble guy. He doesn’t like to make it about himself," Keith Oda said after the New York win. "We were going to do a zoom call but he said just let them keep doing what they’ve been doing. And he trusted us to come up with the game plan and stick with that."

The game plan might change but the team’s mentality never does. We is greater than me at all times for these Honolulu Little Leaguers.

And that is how they have become one of the world’s best Little League teams.