The game was thrilling, of course. Come-from-behind triumphs on the baseball diamond always are, especially when the stakes are so high and the protagonists are so young and charming.

Today's parade and festivities honors the West O'ahu Little League world champs, as well as the O'ahu All-Stars and Hawai'i Warriors. The 'Ewa Beach boys brought home the World Series world title, and have become an entire squad of role models — led by coach Layton Aliviado, who clearly has taught them well.

Each boy has a remarkable story to tell to other youths about the hope and promise of achievement. Lots of kids appear to be listening, too. The stars of 'Ewa Beach drew cheers and chants from schoolmates at campus rallies around the island that last week celebrated their victory.

The glory of victory always elicits a rousing response, but what makes the accomplishments of these teams ring resoundingly is the humility that showed the world what Hawai'i's spirit it truly about.

These aren't kids who rode in a cushioned seat to the top. They practiced, for hours on end, in scruffy park facilities — sandlot baseball at its best.

And once they reached the final game, it became clear that this humility and focus were key assets: Not to be undone by bad calls or shaken by bad breaks, they just kept their eye on the prize.

Other sports heroes from Hawai'i have shown this kind of grit, in perhaps a grander arena. Decathlete Bryan Clay as well as another Olympian, the late Duke Kahanamoku, became champions aided by no particular resources.

Only hard work.

Surfing legend Kahanamoku won five Olympic medals, including three golds in swimming. The 115th anniversary of his birth provided the occasion to reflect on his place in sports history. Castle High School graduate Bryan Clay is known for crediting all who have helped him on his rise to an Olympic silver medal and the more recent world title at the Finland championships.

These are the lessons our children need to learn. Becoming a success, in any endeavor, is possible without socioeconomic advantages.

One Highlands Intermediate School eighth-grader put it this way: "Now that they worked so hard for the World Series, it makes me want to work harder on my grades."

Exactly.

Theirs is an inspiring story, and a hopeful one, too, because it positions success within reach of every kid.