The day for West O'ahu Little League outfielder Ethan Javier had begun 21 1/2 hours earlier, but he gamely autographed a ball for a young fan late Monday night.

After boarding a flight that day at 12:30 a.m. HST in Williamsport, Pa., traveling all day and receiving a heroes' welcome at Honolulu International Airport, it was now past 10 p.m., and the 12-year-old was ready for bed.

"I'm tired," Javier sighed. "I just want to go to sleep."

Don't misunderstand, this team that's captured the imagination of an entire community as Little League World Series champions seems truly appreciative. The boys were there when hundreds turned out for a community party at the Ewa by Gentry Recreation Center pavilion.

"I get tired but I try to remember that when I go to games, I like to get autographs and players have been nice to me," said pitcher-infielder Kini Enos, 13. "I know it feels good to get one."

But at the end of the day, friends and family say, these players are still much less conquering heroes than young boys who need time with their families, and to get a good night's sleep.

Andy Kam, father of outfielder Harrison Kam, said his soon-to-be 13-year-old son fell asleep in the back seat on the drive home to West Loch Estates.

"The whole team — players, coaches and parents — just need a little time to rest and then we can continue the celebration," Andy Kam said. "When you go through the World Series, as long as it was, as serious as it was, and to travel that distance to get home ... is a bit much for anybody, especially kids.

"But I think we all feel we have an obligation to be there for friends and family who haven't seen us in a while," he added. "It was a great opportunity to have a celebration."

Yesterday was a breather for most of the team, but things are going to pick up quickly.

It'll start today, with special assemblies and parties for the players at their schools. On Saturday, the team will be honored at half-time at the University of Hawai'i football season-opener against Southern California at Aloha Stadium.

And on Labor Day, the city will hold a "Parade of Champions," honoring O'ahu's five youth baseball World Series teams, including the West O'ahu team.

The parade is set to begin at 5 p.m. Further details will be announced today.

Mack Memea, whose son Michael's seventh-inning walkoff home run gave West O'ahu its 7-6 World Series victory over Curacao, said the players didn't get any sleep Sunday night. They got back to the Little League's dorm at Williamsport from a post-game pool party with parents at 6:30 p.m. Sunday HST, and just stayed up until a bus came to get them for the airport, Mack Memea said.

"They slept on the flight from L.A. to Hawai'i," Memea added, noting that the crew did not announce the championship team was aboard until about 10 minutes before landing in Honolulu. "They got off the plane and the hoopla began again."

The boys, who are 12 and 13 years old, were polite and accommodating to the crowd at the rec center in 'Ewa despite their fatigue.

"I wish we could play in Williamsport everyday, win or lose," Javier said.

Kini admitted he's tired but is enjoying the attention that comes with being a champion. "Yeah," he said with a grin, "I can do this, maybe, a little while more."

Asked what he was planning to do yesterday, Kini said, "sleep and watch TV."

Outfielder Zachary Rosete is trying to get used to the team's celebrity status. "I'm really shy so it's hard but I want to do it to thank all the people for supporting us," Zachary said Monday night.

Harrison Kam is looking forward to going back to school at Mid-Pacific Institute and the slower pace of his normal life.

"It's been go, go," since the championship win, Harrison said, "and all of a sudden it's like I'm famous. There's no time to think. I just want to go back to school and see all my friends."

Pitcher-infielder Vonn Fe'ao took time off yesterday to spend the day with his uncle, Donald Otuafi, at St. Francis Medical Center-West. Otuafi, a diabetic, had planned to go to Williamsport but became seriously ill the night before he was scheduled to fly out, said Heather Fe'ao, Vonn's mother and Otuafi's sister.

Vonn's dad, Sese, and Sese's brother, Chris, who drove from San Bernadino, Calif., to Williamsport in 38 hours are driving the 2,000-plus miles back to the West Coast at a slower pace. Sese is expected back in Honolulu Monday, his wife said.

"He's needed back here," Heather Fe'ao said with a chuckle. "We're broke so he gotta get back to work, if he still got a job."

Seven or eight of the West O'ahu players, meanwhile, will start reporting to Waipi'o Panthers football practice. The Panthers open their O'ahu Youth Sports League season Sept. 9 against a yet-to-be-announced opponent.

The last big group of parents who went to Williamsport arrived home last night. The returning group included team mother Debbie Aliviado and Jerrene "Girlie" Enos and Myron Sr., who quit his job as a cement truck driver to watch his son play. West O'ahu field manager Layton Aliviado said Monday he plans to take a few months off before baseball practice in November for winter league play. The next goal for West O'ahu is the Little League Junior (age 13) World Series.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.