SUMMER 2019
I wish to learn hula in Hawaii Ava, 7, New York leukemia
WishfulThinking • Note from Trini
Aloha Wish Ohana, As we move into our busiest wish granting season of the year, we are inspired and strengthened by the outpouring of aloha you have shown to our keiki this spring. From the Boys Bunch, who dedicated their annual event, April Foolish, to our wish kids for the 33rd year in a row, to the many sponsors, supporters, and entertainers who brought our magical WISH! In an Enchanted Garden gala to life, it was incredible to see so many of you share in the life-changing impact of a wish. Many of you also worked directly with our kids to bring their most heartfelt wishes to life, like intern Giselle, who, as you saw on the cover, helped grant 7-year-old Ava’s wish to learn hula…or University of Hawaii at Manoa Professor Rick Mills, who carefully brought 10-year-old Owen’s hand-drawn sea turtle to life in glass form during a special glass blowing demonstration…or the Hawaii Pacific University Men’s Basketball team, who revealed that their littlest fan, 3-year-old Elijah of Kailua, would soon celebrate a successful heart surgery with a wish come true at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. Every wish granted, life changed, dollar raised…it’s all because of you, our caring community that rallies behind our wish families. And we could not be more grateful. We need your support more than ever to make sure every waiting wish comes true this summer; currently, one in three local keiki are not being reached. But together, we can change this and continue to transform lives, one wish at a time. There’s never been a better time to make a gift, become a volunteer, or refer a child. Join us at hawaii.wish.org. Mahalo and best wishes,
Trini Kaopuiki Clark President and CEO
ON THE COVER Intern Giselle brings 7-year-old Ava’s wish to learn hula to life on Waikiki Beach. Photo: Abe McAulton
B O A R D O F D I R E C TO R S Todd Apo, Board Chair Brian Wong, Vice Chair Calvert Chipchase, Secretary Manoj Samaranayake, Treasurer Jeff Higashi Michelle Ho Rachel Bradley Erik DeRyke Scott Higashi Melissa Jackson Jon Murakami Katie Pickman Keri Shepherd
CONNECT WITH US
Photo: Abe McAulton
Recent Events
April Foolish
Photo: Noland Ugalde
For the 33rd consecutive year, the Boys Bunch generously used their signature event, April Foolish, to benefit local wish kids, this year raising over $36,000! We could not grant lifechanging wishes without the continued support of community partners like the Boys Bunch. Mahalo to our sponsors and auction donors who made this event possible and to all those who joined for an evening of fun in honor of wish kids!
WISH! In an Enchanted Garden Gala
Photo: Kevin Lubera
More than 700 guests transformed into enchanters, pixies and fairies for an evening of wonder and whimsy at our eighth annual gala, WISH! In an Enchanted Garden, on April 27. The night featured a number of entrancing surprises, but the highlight was a special performance from 17-year old wish kid Angelica, who learned her wish to be a recording artist will soon be coming true! Angelica was also joined by New Hope Oahu and members of our staff and Young Leaders Board for a memorable finale. Mahalo to our wonderful sponsors, donors, guests and entertainers who generously gave the gift of imagination and hope to wish kids like Angelica through their support of this year’s gala.
World Wish Day
April 29 marked World Wish Day®, a global celebration of the hundreds of thousands of lifechanging wishes that have been granted—and all those still to come. This year, we celebrated by telling stories of alumni young and old whose wishes were a turning point in their journeys, like 19-year-old Reece of Kailua, who has been in remission for nine years and credits his wish with giving him the hope to keep fighting. Reece shows us that where there’s a wish, there’s a way—that wishes give our keiki the ability to fight their illness, get better, and grow up. Mahalo for celebrating with us! Photo: (inset) Tracy Wright Corvo
hawaii.wish.org • 808-537-3118
Above: Salvatore visits his Make-A-Wish ohana. Left and below: Salvatore dressed as his favorite superheroes.
Eleven-year-old Wahiawa wish kid
“He is always running around the house shooting spider webs at us and trying to climb up the walls.” -Wish Dad Alfonso-
Salvatore loves superheroes. Full of energy, Salvatore has tried to be just like Spiderman since the day he was born. “He is always running around the house shooting spider webs at us and trying to climb up the walls,” said wish dad Alfonso. Salvatore routinely turns his living room into his own superhero world, where he defends the innocent and saves the day. Pretending he is just like a superhero keeps Salvatore positive despite an incredibly difficult battle with cancer. According to wish mom Chiharu, the last couple of months coping with his diagnosis have been overwhelming and frustrating, but Salvatore has remained strong through all the medical appointments and chemotherapy sessions. And while he hasn’t been able to keep up with his friends as much as he would like to, his love of superheroes lifts his spirits on his toughest days. As Salvatore now fights the realities of a critical illness right alongside the imaginary foes of his imagination, the prospect of a wish has given him even more strength and hope throughout his journey. His wish, of course, is to meet as many superheroes as possible—an experience that will encourage him to keep believing in the power of good to overcome even the darkest of times.
I wish to meet superheroes at Walt Disney World® Salvatore, 11, Wahiawa cancer
Said Chiharu, “I don’t think [the impact of a wish come true] has sunk in yet, but when he realizes what is to come, he will be thrilled.”
WishfulThinking • Recent Wishes
I wish to meet Jack Sparrow Kona, 16, Mililani heart condition “The tears of joy and gratitude for making my son feel special is indescribably priceless. This wish experience for my son will be unforgettable.” -Wish mom Laura
Change the Lives of Wish Kids
Mahalo for making wishes like these possible!
I wish to have a staycation at Disney® Aulani
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® for Christmas
I wish to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
I wish to learn about glass blowing in Hawaii
Elijah, 3, Kailua
Skyla-Rose, 3, Mililani
Ally, 12, Pearl City
neuromuscular disorder
heart condition
cancer
cancer
“The wish meant the world to us—we now treasure all of the time we have together as a family. Elijah finally had a chance to just enjoy some time as a regular kid.”
“Even at 3 years old, she still remembers how much fun she had and being able to become a princess. Soon after the wish, she had scans which showed great improvement. It is something that will be vividly remembered by all of us for a long time.”
“The wish was an opportunity for Ally to enjoy being a kid and know that people cared enough to make it happen.”
-Wish dad Eric
-Wish dad Randy
-Wish granter Jodi
Owen, 10, North Dakota ““I was pleased to be a part of such a great event and to work with my students to create a special glass sculpture for Owen…The feeling of good will and cooperation in the studio that day was palpable with everyone working together, and I’m certain the turtle is imbued with these feelings.” -Professor Rick Mills, University of Hawaii at Manoa
WishfulThinking • Waiting Wishes
Waiting wishes need your support Every unforgettable wish we grant is funded by donors like you. These life-changing wishes replace fear with confidence, sadness with joy, and anxiety with hope—helping children with critical illnesses see the impossible as possible. By supporting a wish, you provide much-needed funding that will be used to grant the wishes of local keiki while rallying a team of heroes in the community to make a positive impact. You can impact a wish child by becoming a monthly donor.
Monthly Giving is... QUICK It'll take you less than 5 minutes to enroll online today.
EASY When you participate, your gift will appear on your credit card statement without any further action from you!
SAVING YOU TIME Automatic monthly payments mean more of your donation goes to granting wishes instead of overhead expenses.
FLEXIBLE Change or suspend your gift at any time. Just call 808.537.3118
VISIT HAWAII.WISH.ORG
WHEN YOU JOIN THIS SPECIAL GROUP OF DONORS, YOU HELP MAKE WISHES POSSIBLE YEAR ROUND.
Help make summer wishes come true! Chloe, 8, Hilo I wish to meet Ana & Elsa at Disneyland
Angelica, 17, Honolulu I wish to be a professional recording artist
Wanter, 14, Honolulu I wish to be a master fisherman
Dreyton, 8, Kapolei I wish to have split A/C
Nawai, 4, Keaau I wish to have an outdoor garden patio
Aiden, 4, Honolulu I wish to have a backyard playground
Ava , 12, Honolulu I wish to go to the Lego Inside Tour in Denmark
Diamond, 15, Kaneohe I wish to go on a family vacation to a private island
Camryn, 10, Hilo I wish to have a sensory playroom
Frances, 7, Wahiawa I wish to go to Disney’s Aulani Resort
Alayna, 8, Kualapuu I wish to go to Disney’s Aulani Resort
Kaimi, 7, Wailuku I wish to go to Disney’s Aulani Resort
Robin Jay, 16, Waipahu I wish to go to Disney World
Salvatore, 11, Wahiawa I wish to go to Disney World
Zierra, 6, Wahiawa I wish to go to Disney World
Angel, 14, Waimanalo I wish to go to Disney World
Saeota, 9, Waianae I wish to go to Disney World
Ezekiel, 4, Hilo I wish to go to Disney World
I wish to go to Tokyo
Dallas, 14, Kapolei I wish to go to Disneyland
Zeila, 10, Mililani autoimmune disorder
Kobe, 19, Honolulu I wish to go to San Diego Comic Con
Skylee Joy, 9, Honolulu I wish to go on a Disney cruise
Make-A-Wish® Hawaii 223 South King Street, Suite 100 Honolulu, HI 96813 www.hawaii.wish.org
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Upcoming Events WINE FOR WISHES ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach Saturday, June 22 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets at wine4wishes.com
SWING FOR WISHES Hawaii Prince Golf Course Thursday, October 3 Registration opens - 10 a.m. Shotgun start - 11 a.m. Call 808-537-3118 to learn more.
Give wishes wings all summer long! For more information about upcoming events, call 808-537-3118
VISIT HAWAII.WISH.ORG TO HELP WISHES TAKE FLIGHT!
Maksim, 5 kidney transplant