Even before they touched down on home soil last night, the world champions of Little League baseball were being flooded with offers of everything from lu'au to limousine rides as Hawai'i tried to honor the boys from West O'ahu.

Everyday people from 'Ewa Beach and companies like Paradise Cove Luau had already decided before Sunday's 7-6 victory over defending champion Curacao that they would do something nice for the coaches and players — win or lose.

"Oftentimes, the West side communities get the bad rap," said Keith Horita, president and CEO of Paradise Cove Luau, based in Ko Olina. "But we're a West side business and they're part of our community. My wife (Stefanie) doesn't know baseball. But even she goes, 'Man, these guys, they put 'Ewa Beach on the map because the (announcers) kept saying over and over, 'Ewa Beach. They weren't just saying, Hawai'i. They were saying 'Ewa Beach.' That's amazing."

Others are pitching in to celebrate the team.

Developer Haseko Hawai'i has tentatively planned a parade for Sept. 10 in 'Ewa Beach, said state Rep. Kymberly Pine, R-43rd ('Ewa Beach, West Loch), who represents the neighborhoods where the players live.

Pine's office received several calls from hula halau, vintage car clubs and truck companies wishing to be in the parade and Neighbor Island residents who want to attend.

The governor's office had hoped to broker a meeting between the team and President Bush, calling the White House with the idea on Sunday afternoon, said Russell Pang, spokesman for Gov. Linda Lingle. That didn't happen yesterday.

No date has been set, but Lingle hopes to host the team and the parents at Washington Place, and possibly the players and parents for the Cal Ripken champions, Pang said. The O'ahu All-Stars captured the Cal Ripken World Series (12 years old and younger) title Aug. 21, defeating Team Mexico 1-0 and bringing home a trophy presented by the Baltimore Orioles legend in Aberdeen, Md.

As of last night, more than 1,100 people from around the world had posted messages on the Advertiser's Web site congratulating the West O'ahu Little Leaguers.

MONEY AND MORE

Much of the attention since the team began its quest for the championship focused on West O'ahu parent Myron Enos, who quit his truck driving job with Island Ready-Mix Concrete to travel to South Williamsport. Several companies that have openings for drivers, such as Meadow Gold Dairies, said they were willing to talk to Enos about hiring him.

Dr. Jim Barahal, president of the Honolulu Marathon Association and the father of a Kailua Little League player, also offered Enos $3,000 "to help him get back on his feet."

"It would have been akin to missing your daughter's wedding not to go," Barahal said. "Any father who has the chance to go see his son play in the Little League World Series just has to go. It's once in a lifetime."

Enos was still on the Mainland yesterday and did not travel home with the team last night.

In a statement, Shorty Kuhn, vice president and general manager of Island Ready Mix Concrete, said, "We're delighted the team did so well over the weekend. Like the rest of the state, we are proud of the team's accomplishments. We also respect Myron's decisions and wish him well. Over the past year, we've been very flexible accommodating Myron's requests for time off. Unfortunately, because other employees also have important family commitments and we need to support their needs, too, we were not in a position to grant Myron an additional three to four weeks off at this time."

University of Hawai'i football coach June Jones yesterday invited the Little Leaguers to meet with the UH football team before the Warriors' season-opener against two-time defending national champion Southern California.

"I've already put a call in," Jones said. "I'd love for them to come down and meet the guys before the game."

Throughout the day, offers of support for the team poured into the offices of the governor, the mayor, Pine and City Councilman Todd Apo — who represents 'Ewa Beach.

Pine's staff answered more than 100 calls yesterday, and the calls have been coming in for days. People wanted to donate for parties, parades and for a fund that would help defray the huge travel expenses incurred by families that followed the boys across the country.

Even though people kept calling about where to send money, Pine said she wanted to speak with team parents before setting up a fund. But early yesterday morning at the Starbuck's in 'Ewa Beach, Pine said she bumped into Gus Rivera who marched over to an ATM machine, withdrew $100 and handed it to the lawmaker.

"I wanted to help out the kids," said Rivera, an 'Ewa Beach resident for the past six years. "At least they did something for 'Ewa Beach, which was really nice. Usually people from the Mainland say: Where is 'Ewa Beach? Now the whole world knows the area."

Pine said the entire community is swelling with pride and everyone wants to congratulate the boys.

"They had passion," she said. "They were respectful and humble. They come from blue-collar families like everyone else here and I guess what they proved to all of us here in 'Ewa Beach is you don't have to come from a wealthy, privileged family to have what you want in life. But you have to be willing to work extremely hard, have a supporting family, an awesome coach and the heart to succeed."

LIMOS AND A PARTY

At the end of a long day of travel, the team was even treated to a community party. The event evolved all day yesterday with more and more people wanting to help, Pine said. At first it was going to be held in a supermarket parking lot, then in the home of West O'ahu coach Layton Aliviado and finally at the 'Ewa By Gentry Community Association center, which donated use of the facility.

Grace Pacific offered to help with food and donated 150 meals worth $1,000 to the party, said Bill Paik, vice president of the company.

The menu: assorted sushi, teriyaki beef, chicken, macaroni salad and lots of mahalo.

And because Grace Pacific also owns a sign-making company, it had special magnetic posters made for limousines that read "Little League World Champions, West O'ahu."

"I think this is history in the making for Hawai'i," Paik said. "We are proud of the kids. Everybody is."

Platinum Limousine Services sent four donated SUV limousines to greet the team at the airport last night. Company owner Kurt Tsuneyoshi just wanted to congratulate — and surprise — the team.

"They will be shocked," he said.

Like dozens of others, Miles Ichinose, who owns the 'Ewa Beach McDonald's restaurant on Fort Weaver Road, was unsure yesterday how to make their support known because the team was en route from the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.

"Everything's moving so fast," Ichinose said "But whatever we can do to support them, we'll support them."

Ichinose hopes to donate money to the families to offset their costs after spending weeks on the road at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport and the regionals in San Bernardino, Calif., as well as throw some sort of celebration for the team.

"I don't know any of the players but they did so much for the community," Ichinose said. "I think they actually helped out the state."

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com and Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com.