2021 Annual Report: Year in Review

Despite ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic in 2021, Make-A-Wish Hawaii continued granting life-changing wishes thanks to supporters like you. Local businesses lent their time and services. Community partners made generous gifts that drove our mission. Volunteers planned wishes virtually. Because of these efforts, 37 local wishes were brought to life—wishes that made an immediate and lasting impact for keiki fighting critical illnesses and their ‘ohana.

While the pandemic prevented wishes involving travel this year, many children had to look no further than home, sweet home for wishes that brought them hope, strength, and joy. Click below to read more about a few of the many impactful wishes granted throughout the islands this year thanks to your generous support.

Imagination is key to our mission. It is present from the very first moment a child is asked to dream about a wish come true, and it persists long after a wish is granted—into the newfound strength to envision life beyond illness and brighter days ahead. While adapting to the new normal presented by the pandemic, we too harnessed the power of imagination to fulfill our mission in partnership with valued supporters like you. Together, we found our stride and discovered creative new ways to continue raising essential funds and granting life-changing wishes for keiki across the state with critical illnesses.

Mahalo to the support of our corporate partners, who help make wishes come true by generously supporting our mission. We couldn’t grant wishes without you!

Swing for Wishes

Thanks to our generous sponsors and golfers, October’s 14th Annual Swing for Wishes at Hawaii Prince Golf Club was a huge success! Although we were physically distanced, it was a wonderful day on the green that raised over $70,000 to deliver strength and hope to our wish children and their families. Special mahalo to Make-A-Wish Hawaii Board Chair Jeff Higashi and wish dad Travis Kikuchi for co-chairing this year’s event and to all of our sponsors.

Jingle Rock Ride

In the spirit of imagination, we created safe ways to connect, such as our reimagined holiday fundraiser, Jingle Rock Ride. While the event itself was re-imagined, its purpose remained the same: to show support for local keiki with critical illnesses and raise essential funds to grant their wishes.

For the prior eight years, thousands of community supporters and wish families joined together to celebrate the holiday season and the life-changing power of a wish at the annual Jingle Rock Run. In 2021, we knew we could not hold the event as usual, so we dreamed up the idea for a new kind of celebration—one that would be safe for our community but with the same important purpose. And although this event was a first, your enthusiasm, heart and holiday cheer made it just as special as ever. Thanks to your participation, fundraising and generous gifts, we raised more than $117,000 to make wishes come true for deserving keiki across our islands. Mahalo to the more than 1,700 participants and generous sponsors who joined us in spreading cheer!

2nd Annual Stars at Home:
A Virtual Talent Show

Our second annual virtual talent show was a huge success! We received more than 30 videos for our Stars at Home show in April 2021. Submissions included everything from singing and dancing to surfing and snowboarding. Our community was invited to support their favorite performances with a $5 donation—a virtual high-five that collectively raised more than $27,000 for local wish kids.

Thanks to presenting sponsors Domino’s Hawaii and Jersey Mike’s Subs Hawaii who triple-matched all donations, helping us raise more than $67,000 to help grant life-changing wishes for local keiki. The top three winners received a pizza party courtesy of Domino’s Hawaii. Our Stars at Home first-place winner also received four roundtrip tickets on Alaska Airlines.

Mahalo for your support and congratulations to our talented winners:

1. Aya and the Wish Makers, perform "A Million Dreams" $6,880 raised
WATCH AYA AND THE WISHMAKERS

2. Sabia performs "Rainbow Connection" $4,921 raised
WATCH SABIA

3. Abriana performs "Time After Time" $2,255 raised
WATCH ABRIANA

WISH! A Night in Old Havana

Each year, we come together for our WISH! Gala in honor of local keiki, and each year we are incredibly humbled by the generosity and support of our community. On May 15, 2021, supporters statewide tuned in to Hawaii News Now’s K5, placed bids on our silent auction, and made gifts, helping us raise more than $470,000 to help deliver hope and change lives here in Hawaii.

Mahalo to our sponsors, especially D.R. Horton Hawaii, Steve & Marilyn Katzman Philanthropic Fund, Nan Inc., and Dr. Thomas & Mi Kosasa, for making this event possible, as well as our honorees, wish kids, and virtual guests.

And a special mahalo to the Zilber Family Foundation and our leadership community for triple matching all gifts up to $25,000 and helping us exceed our $100,000 Fund A Wish goal for waiting with keiki!

Watch the 2021 Wish! Gala