Make-A-Wish Hawaii Fall 2019 Newsletter

SUMMER 2019

I wish to meet a mermaid Maria, 5, Minnesota leukemia

FA L L 2 0 1 9

WishfulThinking • Note from Trini

Aloha Wish Ohana, It’s hard to believe summer is coming to an end already, and what a summer it has been! With your help, we’ve granted hundreds of unique local and visiting wishes across the islands these past few months—wishes to meet mermaids and unicorns, learn how to surf, go to Walt Disney World, and so much more.

Our team is full of gratitude for the aloha you have shown to our wish keiki this summer. From the generous new and long-term donors who gave toward the 6th Annual Give Wishes Wings radiothon and telethon, making local wishes come true, to the many community partners who welcomed visiting wish keiki to Hawaii and created unforgettable experiences, we could not be more thankful.

In these pages, you’ll read about a few of these partners and the lasting impact their efforts have made in the lives of wish kids and their families. You’ll also read about local wishes brought to life thanks to you—and even a wish granted 20 years ago that is still making a difference.

Your gifts of cash, airline miles, time, and aloha truly transform lives all year round.

Mahalo for wishing with us!

Mahalo and best wishes,

Trini Kaopuiki Clark President and CEO

ON THE COVER Mermaid Sirenity grants 5-year-old Maria’s magical wish to meet a mermaid.

Photos: 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 Rachel Bradley Erik DeRyke Jeff Higashi Michelle Ho Scott Higashi Melissa Jackson Brenda Mitchell Jon Murakami Katie Pickman Keri Shepherd Andrew Shimabukuro

CONNECT WITH US @ M A K E AW I S H H AWA I I

Pictured: Trini accepts a generous donation from Windward Dodge Chrysler Jeep to Give Wishes Wings. Wish alum Wallace now works for the company and helped present the gift along with Jerry V! Read about Wallace's story on the next page.

MY LIFE

WishfulThinking • My Life Now

NOW I wish to go to Walt Disney World

"Make-A-Wish had a big impact not only in my life, but my family’s lives."

-Wish Alum Wallace

Twenty-nine-year-old Wallace, called Kainoa by those closest to him, flips through the old photo albums slowly, laughing at the faces he and his older brother Keahi had made at the camera and reflecting on a happy childhood surrounded by a loving family. As the pages turn, the photos move from neighborhood basketball games and cookouts to a set of Polaroids his mom Glenell had labeled “Hospital room #431.” Now an adult, Kainoa explains that the photos were taken after a 9.5-hour brain surgery, a surgery that doctors had given only a 50 percent chance of success. If he did survive, they cautioned, he may never walk again.

When Kainoa beat the odds and did pull through his surgery, there was still a long, uncertain journey ahead, filled with radiation, physical therapy, and experimental procedures.

During this process, Glenell had written a letter about their journey so far. “We are blessed and satisfied with having our son with us here today,” she writes. “But what the future will hold we don’t know.” At the time, Glenell could have only hoped for what Kainoa’s future ultimately did hold.

Today, he is a 29-year-old husband, father, and successful car salesman. He is married to fellow brain cancer survivor and loving wife Kuulei, and the couple has two beautiful children.

Kainoa credits the support of his family and community with where he is today, including Make-A-Wish Hawaii, which granted his wish to go to Walt Disney World in 1998. For Kainoa, the wish gave much-needed time to be a kid and a sense of confidence to persevere through the rest of his journey.

Photos: Rayen Watanabe

Wallace, wish granted 1998, Kaneohe brain tumor

Photo: Abe McAulton

June’s 6th Annual Give Wishes Wings radiothon and telethon raised more than $55,000 to make summer wishes come true! Mahalo to 94.7 KUMU, KHON2, and the many local corporate and individual supporters who made generous gifts toward this year’s event. Alaska Airlines also matched every mile donated, once again helping local wishes take flight!

A highlight of the day was revealing that 12-yearold Ava’s wish to go to the LEGO Headquarters would soon be coming true!

Mahalo for Giving Wishes Wings! $7,000+

$1,000+

Aloha Petroleum

Chun Wah Kam

Windward Dodge

Noodle Factory, Honolulu

Chrysler Jeep Ram, Kaneohe

Gwen Amazaki, Honolulu Revolusun LLC, Honolulu

$2,000+ Page Academy of Dance

$500+

Honolulu

Chris Laird, Honolulu

Orange Theory Fitness, Aiea

Murphy's Bar and Grill Ohana Broadcasting

$1,500+

Company, Inc., Honolulu

Earlene Barnes-Anderson

Trisha Sato, Honolulu

Honolulu

John Scammell, Sunapee

Sherilyn Braunthal, Honolulu

7

Photo: Kevin Lubera

th

Miae Song, Honolulu

$200+

Darissann Stout, Kailua-Kona

Rodney Aveiro, Kaneohe

Carla Baker, Lihue DJ's Construction, Aiea Terry Gillingham, Honolulu Miles Harada, Wahiawa Joann Ishii, Beverley Hills Margaret Keller, Makawao Kimberly Loew Kris Oka Anita Peterson, Ewa Beach Clarene Sunada, Honolulu Dorothy Tenn, Honolulu

$100+ Zaida Akeo, Pearl City Courtney Asato, Mililani Grady Burnett, Ewa Beach

ANNUAL

S TAT E C A P I T O L DECEMBER 15, 2019

F E S T I V I T I E S B E G I N 3 P M • W A L K 5 P M

Walk with us and local keiki that need your support this holiday season.

WishfulThinking • Give Wishes Wings

“I feel more motivated to take care of my health and follow my dreams of being a LEGO designer. It made my parents proud and gave them hope for my future.” -Wish kid Ava

Rhea Calderon, Kapolei

Jobi Purdy, Kailua

DeeAnn Carpenter

Raleigh Reid, Aiea

Deanna Carreira, Kaneohe

Mely Rivera, Honolulu

Dexter Caston, Honolulu

Jana Safery

Julia Chan, Mililani

Arden Salassa, Honolulu

Annita Coelho, Haiku

Rachelle Sanchez, Ewa Beach

Eloise Cordeiro, Ewa Beach

Chandra Satele, Honolulu

Raelene Fukuda, Honolulu

Jamie Correa, Waianae

Theresa Shibata, Aiea

Janet Heida

Kawika Correa, Waianae

John Shupe, Honolulu

Cherylene Hidano, Honolulu

Brenda Espaniola, Kaunakakai

Lorna Silkwood, Wailuku

Lucille Hill, Kamuela

Therese Franklin, Honolulu

Evette Son, Honolulu

Robin Jaber, Kailua

Ronald Fukami, Kahului

Ernest Teshima, Kaelakekua

Gail Kaeka, Honolulu

Milton Goo, Honolulu

Meredith Trockman, Kailua

Amy Kaina, Lahaina

Betty Hagio, Pearl City

Arlene Uyeno, Honolulu

Eugene Kaneshiro, Honolulu

Amanda Hair, Waipahu

Rayen Watanabe, Honolulu

Victoria Kerfoot, Kapolei

Jeanne Harada, Mililani

Cheryl West, Makakilo

Wendy Koja, Honolulu

Dana Izumi, Honolulu

Guy White

Allan Lau

Terumi Jichaku, Waipahu

Edwina Wong

Adele Leandro, Honolulu

Karyn Kaina, Honolulu Kenneth Kato, Kapolei

Hoi Chao Wong, Honolulu

Steve Loring Noreen Louie, Honolulu

$25+ Karen Amamalin, Honolulu Luann Asanam, Aiea Earlene Barnes-Anderson, Aiea Rod Braunthal, Honolulu Antoniette Castro, Honolulu Christine Chaikin, Kahului Yolanda Costa Rosalie Deaquino, Waimea Rachel Defeo, Pearl City Margerite Fabre, Aiea Steve Fogtitch, Kaneohe Karen Goo, Honolulu Amy Higuchi, Hilo

Jason Kino, Honolulu

$50+

Aiea Kumon, Pearl City

Linda Akana, Kailua-Kona

Susan Martin, Aiea

Craig Kunishige, Mililani

Aloha E-Liquids, Aiea

Michael Johnson, Honolulu

Deborah Lazur, Honolulu

Alison Mehrman, Kailua

Edmay Apana, Honolulu

Amanda Kaaua, Honolulu

Dawn Lino, Kaneohe

Lisa Armenio-Reis, Honolulu

Laurie Mizuno, Honolulu

Veena Kakarla, Honolulu

Jane Liu, Pearl City

Beverly Au, Honolulu

Monica Monpayre

Alyssa Kapeliela, Ewa Beach

Julie Loo, Ewa Beach

Harvey Barnoff, Honolulu

Claire Muranaka, Honolulu

Amy Kunimura, Kapolei

Janice Luis, Pearl City

Donda Bird, Kihei

Rhonda Nakamura, Honolulu

Albert Lagunte, Kapolei

Alice Masuho, Mililani

Laticia Cervantes, Honolulu

James Nakasone, Mililani

Alexis Liftee, Honolulu

Stephen McCravey, Wahiawa

Joyce Chinen, Waimanalo

Melissa Nicolas, Waipahu

Vivian Lin, Honolulu

Heidi Mele, Hawthorne

Wallace Choy, Kaneohe

Eunice Paglinawan, Mililani

Lois Miyashiro-Tong, Honolulu

Wayne Nakai, Honolulu

Dee Choy Hee, Honolulu

Fe Reyes, Honolulu

Marilyn Moura, Waipahu

Raynette Nakamura, Waipahu

Mara Dela Cruz, Honolulu

Manabu Sakurai, Honolulu

Ross Murakami, Honolulu

Douglas Paalaz

Phyllis Esclito, Honolulu

Masami Takeuchi, Honolulu

Jose Nater-Rodriguez, Waianae

Stacie Pascual, Pearl City

Vance Fuchigami, Kailua

Mae Uchiyama, Mililani

Preet Nijjar, Honolulu

Aura Wilson, Honolulu

Jane Okinaka, Kailua

Heidi Luchterhand, Ewa Beach

Jamier Hines

Mitchell Ono, Waipahu Liya Joy Pascua, Waipahu Taesare Santiago, Kailua Kam Sappal, Honolulu Wayne Simplot, Lahaina Robert Somera, Wahiawa Kathleen Soule, Makawao Ola Souza, Honolulu Lynn Takenishi, Honolulu James Terry, Aiea William Wofford, Wahiawa Erin Yost, Kaneohe Carlton Young, Waipahu Karen Yoza, Pearl City Travis Burich Robert Cartmel, Honolulu Dylan Caston, Honolulu Kent Comstock, Kailua Alice Cypriano, Honokaa Sandra Halualani, Kaneohe Ryan Hirokane, Mililani Jennifer Kamako, Pearl City Ari Matsumura Aleeka Morgan, Aiea Judy Orlando, Honolulu Ruby Surigao, Kailua

3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET STARTED Register now at jinglerockrun.com.

Personalize your participant page and set a fundraising goal.

Share your page with friends and family to raise funds before event day.

Kailua wish kid Elijah and his family (pictured above) were the top fundraising team last year, raising more than $1,600 to make more wishes like his come true!

Winners will be determined for top individual and team fundraising, largest team, and most festive costume!

Mahalo to Our Wish Partners!

Nearly 500 wish kids visit Hawaii during the summer to experience the warmth and aloha of our beautiful islands. Mahalo to our partners statewide for their support in making these wishes come true!

SHERATON WAIKIKI With the help of our ohana at the Sheraton Waikiki and their sister properties The Royal Hawaiian & Moana Surfrider, wish kids experience Hawaiian hospitality and aloha. Hundreds of wish kids are welcomed with lei upon arrival, enjoy the sweeping vista from Leahi Lounge, and have a blast filling their bag of keepsakes to go alongside the memories they make while in Hawaii. One of the many reasons wish kid Kaiden wished to visit Hawaii was to drink out of a coconut. A sincere mahalo to the Sheraton Waikiki for going above and beyond to share and crack one open for him to enjoy! Mahalo for being a 2020 Elite Corporate Partner.

Pictured: (above) Florida wish kid TJ and his family honored his late father during a wish come true at the Sheraton. (left) Wish kid Rosie took in the ocean view from her lanai at the Moana Surfrider.

WishfulThinking • Mahalo

ENTERPRISE What better way to holoholo and explore the island than together as a family in one of Enterprise's vehicles? Thank you to the team at Enterprise Rent-A-Car for your continued partnership.

LEIS OF HAWAII ALII GREETING SERVICE OHANA LEI GREETERS From the moment wish families arrive to Hawaii to when we bid them “a hui hou”, our sincere mahalo for showing our wish kids aloha. Thank you to Leis of Hawaii, Alii Greeting Service and Ohana Lei Greeters for greeting our wish families with lei upon arrival to our islands.

DOLPHIN QUEST Thirteen-year-old Elizabeth wants to be a dolphin trainer and wished to have as much interaction with dolphins as possible while in Hawaii. She participated in Dolphin Quest’s Marine Mammal Specialist program and learned through hands-on instruction how to use positive reinforcement and affection to create strong relationships and trusting bonds with dolphins. Mahalo Dolphin Quest!

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

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Photo: Tracy Wright Corvo

Upcoming Events SWING FOR WISHES Hawaii Prince Golf Course Thursday, October 3 Registration opens - 10 a.m.

Shotgun start - 11 a.m. swingforwishes.com

JINGLE ROCK RUN Hawaii State Capitol Sunday, December 15 Festivities begin - 3 p.m.

Walk - 5 p.m. jinglerockrun.com

MACY'S THANKS FOR SHARING

Beginning August 28 Help grant wishes! Join to get 10% back in rewards, and a portion of proceeds come to Make-A-Wish!

Learn how your school or community group can make wishes come true!

Contact James Donnelly at jdonnelly@ hawaii.wish.org or visit hawaii.wish.org.