This fall, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa joined forces with Make-A-Wishh Hawaii to bring the aloha spirit to wish kids with the first-ever Aulani Wish Week. To celebrate the season here in Hawai‘i, we welcomed 20 wish kids and their families for a spooktacular week-long bash full of thrills, chills and ghoulish good times!
How Cast Members Brought the Disney Aulani Wish Week to Life
Disney has worked with Make-A-Wish since 1980 to grant over 150,000 wishes, and we are the largest wish granter in the world for Make-A-Wish. Historically, one out of every two wishes granted in the U.S. through Make-A-Wish has been a Disney wish.
Of these wishes, approximately 150 per year are to visit us at Aulani Resort for a unique Hawai‘i vacation with a touch of Disney magic, and we wanted to make these wish kids part of our ‘ohana. In that spirit, cast members across Aulani Resort worked together to dream up a week filled with authentically-Aulani surprises.
“Our goal, first and foremost, is to help families create memories,” said Joe Medwetz, senior sales and services director at Aulani, and board member at Make-A-Wish Hawaii. “We love to see the joy on the children’s faces when their dreams come true at Aulani.”
Reminiscing on the Magic of the Aulani Wish Week
Building on the success of our friends at Walt Disney World Resort who made Princess wishes come true at Once Upon A Wish Party, we shared a warm aloha with 20 children facing critical illnesses who wished to experience the magic of Aulani Resort. The unforgettable week was jam-packed with magical touches, including a dinner party with Stitch and Angel, a Halloween Dance Party and the famous KA WA‘A Lū‘au!
During the week, I met 11-year-old wish kid Elijah. While fighting an aggressive form of bone cancer, his life was changed by a music therapist, whose guitar melodies provided solace and momentarily interrupted his pain. Music is a beautiful and meaningful part of Hawaiian culture, and you’ll often hear the delightful chords of the ‘ukulele, one of the islands’ most popular instruments, fill Aulani Resort – the perfect wish fit for Elijah.
Everyone looked boo-tiful at the Halloween Dance Party where the special guests, decked out in costumes, danced the night away.
Aulani Wish Week culminated with KA WA‘A Lū‘au brimming with rich Hawaiian traditions, delicious food, and enchanting performances. As we looked out into the Hawai‘i sunset at the sight of 20 wishes coming true, it was a moment of pure magic.
As Aulani Resort’s newest ambassador, I’m honored to help make life-changing wishes come true. I’d also like to share my heartfelt gratitude to the cast members and VoluntEARS who went above and beyond to create unforgettable memories for these deserving families.
More Magical Moments for Disney’s Make-A-Wish Kids
I’m excited to share that these wish-granting events are far from over. We’re already planning more magical moments for wish kids here at Aulani Resort, and our friends at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort are preparing for a Make-A-Wish celebration this December that could melt a frozen heart (if you catch my drift).
Mahalo – thank you – for joining us for our first large-scale wish granting event at Aulani Resort. Until next time, may the spirit of aloha and the magic of Disney be with you.
