MAUI, Hawaii (KHON2) — The Central East Maui Little League Baseball team is still alive in the Little League World Series after winning 3 to 1 over Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Their parents have been by their side every step of the way, but it hasn't been cheap.
With less than a week left in the tournament, the Central East Maui Little League team is feeling the pressure not just on the diamond, but also in their finances.
"Not a lot of us have the funds to travel across the country to be here," stated Curstyn Pacheco, Team Mom. "A bunch of us didn't go back to work since we left and we all left on August 1st to attend the regional West Region tournament."
Parents say they've spent thousands of dollars on airfare, car rentals, lodging and food, but it's worth every penny.
"One of our parents lost her job for being here. So, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and she wouldn't have missed it for the world," said Pacheco.
One family who lost their home during the Lahaina wildfires was still able to make the trip with the help of a special donor. Kim Ann and Dalton Magno lived in a hotel for 11 months before reaching out to Central Maui Little League after their son Kolton had nowhere to play. The Lahaina wildfires had also wiped out the baseball fields.
"More important than winning is that it was just the right thing to do," said BJ Kobayashi, the donor funding the Magno family. "I feel a duty to do it... I really feel strongly that we have to stick together. When I say we, I'm referring to people that are born and raised in Hawaii."
Other families rely on nonprofits like The Wailuku Phillies to help fund their trips.
"When we get back home, we're going to go through all of our mail and get those donations, and we'll probably split it up equally between all of the parents for each kid," stated Pacheco.
The team will continue their quest in the Little League World Series with an elimination game on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
For donations:
Wailuku Phillies, C/O Daniel Bolduc, P.O. BOX 1786, Wailuku, HI 96793
Venmo: Central Maui @centralmauimajors