The shrieks and hugs and tears of joy that heralded the return Sunday of three of Hawaii’s 8 Flavahz from its three-month run on MTV’s "America’s Best Dance Crew" belied the reality that the team with Hawaii and Los Angeles connections didn’t win the $100,000 grand prize.

It did, however, affirm the fact that friends and family of the dancing queens were as happy to have them back as team members Summer Waikiki and Tamara and Tiara Rapp were to finally be home.

About two dozen people — including a contingent of high-pitched, highly exciteable fellow dancers from the 24-VII Danceforce studio — converged on Honolulu Airport’s baggage area G to greet the travel-worn trio and their mothers as they made their triumphant return from Los Angeles.

"It was a total surprise," said Tamara Rapp, 17. "I thought my family would be here and maybe Marcelo (Pacleb, 24-VII founder and creative director). I cried when I saw everybody here."

The team — composed of the Rapps, Summer and former Hawaii resident Camren Bicondova, along with Los Angeles dancers Charlize Glass, Angel Gibbs, Jaira Miller and Kaelynn Gobert-Harris — finished second overall behind the Arizona-based Elektrolytes, an impressive and unexpected accomplishment for the youngest team in the competition.

Along the way, the girls won the hearts — and votes — of viewers around the country with their dance skills, athletic prowess and guileless enthusiasm. They reportedly garnered more than 2 million votes to advance to last week’s finals.

"They’re all heart," said Pacleb, who served as the crew’s choreographer with help from assistant Kelsey Park. "They were able to reach out and make a connection with the average person. Experienced dancers could recognize their dancing abilities, but everyone could see their heart."

Moms Tani Rapp and Jessica Waikiki — who both took extended leave from work to accompany their daughters to Los Angeles — said they were surprised by the team’s success against older, more experienced competition.

"At first, we just hoped that they wouldn’t get voted off on the first show," Tani Rapp said. "The next thing we knew, we were three weeks in. We just kept expecting (to be eliminated) at some point but the fan base exploded and we made it all the way to the finals. It was just a really, really, really awesome experience for them."

To survive the initial audition and advance through the competition, the team had to overcome some challenges. Separated by an ocean, the Honolulu and Los Angeles crew members turned to Skype to conduct their early rehearsals together. Once on the show, they turned to each other for support through long weeks of twice-a-day rehearsals, public appearances and on-site schooling.

"It got exhausting once in a while, but it was totally worth it," said Summer Waikiki, 12.

They also drew close by rallying around 13-year-old teammate Angel Gibbs, whose mother was dying of cancer. They volunteered at American Cancer Society functions and used their weekly appearances to raise awareness of the disease.

Carolyn Gibbs, known simply as "Mama" to the dancers, died three weeks into production.

"That seemed almost like a breaking point for us," Pacleb said. "But we wanted to do whatever Mama’s wishes were and it was her wish for her daughter to continue to pursue her dreams."

The team also had to overcome nagging injuries to several of the dancers, including both Rapp sisters. Still, all agreed that the difficulties were far outweighed by the thrill of performing on the national stage and being a part of an elite community of dedicated dancers.

"The thing I’m going to remember is dancing with so many of my inspirations," said Tiara Rapp. "I knew a lot of the crews from their YouTube videos and being able to get to know them and learn from them was amazing."

Twin sister Tamara agreed: "We were able to learn so much as dancers and as people. We’re still young so we were like sponges, just soaking up everything around us. It was great to be around the other dancers and see how hard they work. We met a lot of really, really nice people and we made a lot of lifelong friends."

The girls got along particularly well with the eventual winners, the Elektrolytes, whom Waikiki referred to as "our older brothers."

The competition now behind them, the dancers are out to prove they’re no flavahz of the week. Summer, who grew up dancing hula, is eager to continue honing her urban and hip-hop skills at 24-VII. The Rapps, who both graduated in absentia from Myron B. Thompson Academy last week, are finalizing plans to perform on tour with an undisclosed Disney tween star later this summer.