A loss to Waipio last summer cost the Central East Maui all-stars a trip to California.

This week, Waipio’s experience is helping Maui coach Bernard "Napa" Kaupe prepare his team for the Little League West Regional.

Before the Valley Isle team left for San Bernardino on Wednesday, Kaupe eagerly accepted a few tips from Kiha Akau, an assistant coach with two Waipio teams that reached the Little League World Series.

"I talk to him a lot; he tells me what they did up there when they went," Kaupe said. "It’s my first experience and I’m glad I have good friends who have been there and are giving me input."

The team of 11- and 12-year-olds representing the Central East Maui Little League opens pool play in the regional on Saturday against Rio Rico LL of Arizona at Al Houghton Stadium.

The top four teams in the six-team regional qualify for the semifinals next Friday. The championship and a berth in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. will be decided on Aug. 13.

"(The players) know we have a big challenge against Arizona," Kaupe said. "They’re one of the top teams always in the West, so they’re pretty pumped, they’re ready to go."

Last year, Central Maui reached the state final and saw an early lead evaporate against Waipio, which went on to capture the regional and U.S. titles before losing to Japan in the LLWS championship.

Central Maui again won the District 3 title this year and defeated Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale twice on July 19 to win the state tournament and the regional berth.

"Back in my day, the only time I went to the mainland was when I played PONY all-stars," said Kaupe, who’s in his 26th year of coaching youth baseball. "That was a great feeling and I’m glad I get to share it with 13 kids now."

Among those 13 is his daughter, Nawai, the only remaining player who experienced last year’s disappointment against Waipio.

She got the pitching assignment in the state final last month and delivered a complete-game victory and hit a three-run homer.

"I really thought we were going to the regionals last year because we had a tough team," she said. "But this year I have a lot of confidence going to California."

Bernard and Nawai Kaupe pulled for Waipio a year ago, taking pride in having faced the eventual U.S. champion while drawing motivation for this season.

"I really think if they can do it, we can too," Nawai Kaupe said.

Five Central East Maui Little League teams are represented on the all-star roster, which was selected through voting by players around the league and the coaching staff.

The team wore "Central Maui" on its jerseys through the district and state tournaments, but for the regional Kaupe requested that the uniforms have "Hawaii" across the front, with Maui prominent below, to underscore their role in representing the state.

"Hopefully we can keep up the Hawaii tradition of what Waipio has been doing," Kaupe said. "It’s going to be hard, but overall, we’re from Hawaii and hopefully we make Hawaii proud."

Bernard Kaupe said the team’s offense is based on speed, ignited by leadoff hitter Kao Mindoro. He has four primary pitchers — Nawai Kaupe, Kawena Alo-Kaonohi, Orion Miyasato-Farias and Makana Sakamoto-Bantilan — but noted that all 13 players pitched for their regular-season teams.

"They work together, they bond together, everything they do is so close as a unit," Bernard Kaupe said.

Most of the team began school on Tuesday before departing on Wednesday. But that doesn’t mean the players have a break from their studies.

Kaupe said a team parent will round up homework assignments. The players will have 2-hour study halls each day of the trip.

As far as on-field tests go, Kaupe hopes the players adhere to a relatively simple formula.

"Try to win one inning at a time."