I brought quite a large one home from Morocco for my son, disassembled of course, in my hand luggage. No comments on it at CDG or at LAX from CBP although the agent did ask me what "sheesha" was on my declaration form.
CBP personnel in DHS are more competent in determining prohibited items than TSA personnel in the same Department, so I am not surprised that LAX's CBP wouldn't make a mountain out of air. The TSA is unfortunately another beast but usually even they don't make an issue of transporting this item, at least not if disassembled and with the more dense components placed in checked luggage rather than carry-on.