Summer 2018
WishfulThinking • Message from Siana
A Wish Begins With You Wow! What a season it has been—and all because of you. Over the past few months, we’ve seen our Hawaii community rally behind wish kids in truly exceptional ways. From the veteran wish moms and new supporters who journeyed side-by-side over 20 miles in the first-ever Trailblaze Challenge to Noma Home Builders, who worked tirelessly to build a magical Harry Potter hideaway for a Laie wish kid battling cancer, our community has proven to be the muscle behind the magic time and again. Our work inherently relies on such support; on average, 200 people will touch just one wish. It’s because of volunteers, leaders, medical partners, vendors, donors, and community supporters across every island community that we are able to create lifechanging experiences and lasting memories for our keiki with critical illnesses. As we wrap up an amazing Spring for Wishes and move into our busiest wish granting season of the year, we need your support more than ever. Together, we can continue to transform lives, one wish at a time.
B O A R D O F D I R E C TO R S Todd Apo, Board Chair Brigitte M. Egbert, Chair Emeritus Richard Erickson, Vice Chair Kim T. Jones, Treasurer Rachel Bradley Daniel Chun Erik DeRyke Alyson Helwagen Melissa Jackson Gregory Kugle Kristina Lockwood Matthew Luckett Marissa MacNaughton Jon Murakami Terence Murphy Kevin Pena Manoj Samaranayake Dean Spagnoli Brian Wong
Warm Wishes,
President & CEO
ON THE COVER YouTube sensation Rosanna Pansino makes Harper’s baking wish come true. Photo: TKI Photography
CONNECT WITH US
New wish kid Keira and her mother joined us at Wish! in the Wild West.
Photo: Kevin Lubera
Photography bie Leanne Photos: Deb
Event Recaps BLAZING TRAILS AND RAISING FUNDS Forty-three hikers participated in our first-ever Trailblaze Challenge Hawaii in March, raising an incredible $57,000 to grant local wishes! Our Trailblazers trekked over 20 miles across Oahu’s Windward Side in this one-day endurance event designed to represent the journeys of wish children and their families. Mahalo to our Trailblazers and all who donated and volunteered to make this inaugural event such a success! Keep an eye out for upcoming Trailblaze Challenge events!
CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF WISHES ON WORLD WISH DAY On World Wish Day, we recognized you: the dedicated volunteers, donors, medical partners, and community supporters who have helped us grant more than 15,000 wishes in Hawaii over the past 35 years. The day’s celebrations included a medical panel led by local and national medical advisory board chair Dr. Jeremy Edwards and a special look at two wishes granted in honor of World Wish Day—Harper and Leah’s wish to meet YouTube baking star Rosanna Pansino. To highlight the day, Mickey Mouse himself also revealed that 4-year-old Aaron’s wish to meet Lightning McQueen at Disneyland® was coming true! Mahalo to all for a magical morning!
Photo: Kevin Lubera
FIXIN’ TO WISH Yee haw! Our Wish! In the Wild West Gala took place at the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina on Cinco de Mayo. This Westernthemed shindig was one of our most fun events to date, as we kicked up our boots in celebration of the many lives touched by the power of a wish here in Hawaii. Guests enjoyed performances from awardwinning local musical duo Ben & Maila and New Hope Oahu Music and watched with bated breath as our gang of board members rode the mechanical bull to raise funds for wishes. One of the highlights of the night was when special guest performer and country artist RaeLynn performed a moving duet of “God Made Girls” with new wish kid Keira. Mahalo for an unforgettable night, y’all!
hawaii.wish.org • 808-537-3118
WishfulThinking • Recent Wishes
Recent Wishes: Change the Lives of Wish Kids JAMES, 15, KANEOHE leukemia
I wish to have my own music production studio “[This experience] really made him look to the future and plan for what he can be doing years from now rather than focusing on the treatment he’s having to suffer through right now. He wants to use the equipment to further his music skills and hopefully make a career out of it! We are so grateful to everyone, including the donors who made his wish possible!” –Wish mom Jonelle
POMAI, 17, LAIE
COLLIN, 12, LILIHA
YARETZI, 8, CALIFORNIA
I wish to have a Harry Potter hideaway
I wish to go to all San Diego parks
I wish to meet a mermaid in Hawaii
“It gave her a space to dream and imagine in the midst of chemo and all that comes with that. Her eyes would light up and she would just toss around ideas. Pomai said to me she would’ve been happy with four walls, a roof and chair. To get the product that she did was unexpected, overwhelming and inspiring. The details that went into the design and the attention to the little things that Pomai would love about having a space to get away was magnificent.” – Wish mom Lilia
“I felt so happy to be able to go to San Diego for my 12th birthday. I had so much fun visiting people like my cousins, doctors, nurses and friends. Sea World, Legoland, and the San Diego Zoo were super great. I liked all of the places in San Diego like the roller coaster ride at Sea World where I said ‘Aaaaahhhh!’ Thank you for granting me my wish. I made so many memories.” –Wish kid Collin
"For Yaretzi, it was something magical. She was not expecting to actually spend time with a mermaid. She was convinced that she was real. She kept saying, ‘Mommy, the mermaid just left! When can I see her again? When can I visit her in the sea?’ She could not believe she was able to swim with her. She still tells everyone about her granted wish, and now she wants to be a mermaid. She was dazzled by the mermaid and left the trip overjoyed.” –Wish mom Maria
hodgkin's lymphoma
congenital anomalies
liver transplant
MAHALO TO OUR PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS FOR MAKING WISHES LIKE THESE POSSIBLE!
Spotlight: Wish in Progress It’s been just over a year since 7-year-old Braxton was diagnosed with cancer, beginning a long and difficult journey of hospital visits, surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation. Now, one year later, Braxton is completing the final phase of his treatment. And, what better way to celebrate than with a wish come true? We’ve been following Braxton’s journey since last fall, when he first met with his wish granters, Daren and James. Braxton had just completed the first phase of his treatment, and though he had lost nearly 10 pounds and most of his hair, he never lost his spirit. When his wish granters approached him, he knew almost immediately what his one true wish would be…to go to Universal Studios Orlando to meet the Transformers! Over the next few months, Braxton’s wish gave his family something positive to look forward to as they endured another round of treatment. “Braxton has such a giving heart,” said wish granter James, who described how Braxton chose a wish that would be special to his entire family. He knew his brother Maddox would love The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. He also knew that going to Orlando would allow him to meet two new family members, including a newborn cousin. Now, one year after his journey began and after months of waiting and wishing, Braxton is entering the summer looking forward to his last treatment…and to his wish coming true! Braxton’s wish not only marks the end of his fight with cancer, but it also provides his entire family with hope for the future and the opportunity to make lasting memories together.
“After all that has happened, this trip gives us hope for better days ahead,” said wish mom Ayme. I wish to meet the Transformers Braxton, 7, Pearl Harbor brain cancer
Why a Wish? "If a family is struggling, a wish really can bring positive life back to them, and that has everything to do with their healing. It's more than a wish; it's a life-changing event." Dr. Charles Neal, Neonatologist • Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children
REFER A CHILD TODAY! | MD.WISH.ORG • 808-537-3118 • 808-537-3118 hawaii.wish.org hawaii.wish.org
Give Wishes Wings: Did you know nearly 80% of wishes involve travel? Help give these wishes wings by supporting our Wish Warriors! Make a gift of $35 or more in honor of our 35th anniversary and you’ll help more than 35 waiting wishes take flight this summer! I wish to go to Hobbiton Atlas, 7, Kalihi cystic fibrosis
Make your gift today. Site.wish.org/goto/wishwarriorshawaii MAHALO TO OUR SPONSORS!
Waiting Summer Wishes NAME AGE LOCATION Aeden..................13..............Honolulu Ahri.......................4.............. Pearl City AJ..........................4............ Ewa Beach Akila....................11............... Wailuku Alayna..................7............... Kualapuu Allyson................12............ Pearl City Aubrey.................6................ Kamuela Bethany..............11.............. Waipahu Brooke.................5...................... Haiku Carmelo..............11...............Waianae Carter...................5................ Kaneohe Connor................12............ Pearl City Daphine...............7.......... Kailua Kona Daso....................15..............Honolulu Davin....................7..................... Kailua Dyllan..................14..............Honolulu Elijah....................11..............Papaaloa EunBi...................14..............Honolulu Honoreena........13..............Honolulu Hulali....................5.................Waianae Ian........................18.......... Ewa Beach Jake......................17................... Kailua Jayceton.............14...............Waianae Jaysten.................4................Honolulu Jesee.....................5................. Wailuku Kaimi....................6................. Wailuku Kanilea.................5..................... Kailua Kaualoku............11............ Pearl City Kelcie..................14............... Wailuku Kona....................15................. Mililani Luke.....................16..............Honolulu Nawai...................3..................... Keaau Noah.....................9................Honolulu Rhona Lei...........16....................Eleele Selena.................13................. Mililani Skyla-Rose..........2................... Mililani Vandaybryan.....12...............Waianae ZayleeAnn..........8.........................Aiea
Heroes for Hope • WishfulThinking
Are you a young professional with a heart for the nonprofit sector? Our Young Leaders Board is dedicated to providing multiple avenues for Hawaii’s young professionals to get involved with the Make-A-Wish Hawaii mission.
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP: Become a Hero for Hope Become a Wish Ambassador Support our Events
Learn More info@hawaii.wish.org
I wish to meet Mickey Mouse Violet, 6 retinoblastoma
hawaii.wish.org • 808-537-3118
Make-A-Wish® Hawaii 223 South King Street, Suite 100 Honolulu, HI 96813 www.hawaii.wish.org
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Honolulu, HI Permit No. 1003
Upcoming Events GIVE WISHES WINGS June 1 – August 31 Help wishes take flight! site.wish.org/goto/wishwarriorshawaii FIRST ANNUAL WINE FOR WISHES ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach Saturday, July 14 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. wine4wishes.com SWING FOR WISHES Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort Thursday, October 11 11 a.m. Shotgun Start swingforwishes.com
I wish to have a princess birthday ball Angeline, 6, Kealakekua leukemia