As wish mom Wendy wheeled her daughter out of their Kea’au home and toward their new backyard sanctuary, she was overwhelmed with an outpouring of love. Everyone who had brought 7-year-old Nawai’s wish to life—donors, architects, construction workers, artists, volunteers—gathered around the family, cheering and waving signs.

“It was very emotional to know that people care that much,” says Wendy, tearing up. “There was a little bit of light in the darkness.”

Wendy, Nawai, and their ‘ohana had been dreaming of this moment for so long, sneaking peeks at the construction happening in their backyard, watching as Nawai’s wish took shape amid the challenges of daily life fighting a critical nervous system condition and the pandemic.

While much of the world was adjusting to staying home, Nawai’s family hadn’t known any other way since her diagnosis with spinal muscular atrophy as a baby. Dependent on a ventilator and numerous other machines that assist her in breathing and eating, Nawai is often confined to her living room. Sassy, smart, and full of personality, Nawai is nonverbal, but her smiles, laughter, and expressive eyes have always clearly communicated her love of the outdoors. Her heartfelt wish to have a space all her own outside—surrounded by the vibrant pinks and purples of garden flowers, the feel and smell of the fresh air, and the sound of birds chirping—captured the hearts of so many caring people in the community.

When longtime volunteer Robert Kubota first heard Nawai’s story, he immediately began brainstorming ways to make it happen. With a background in construction, he says, it “just seemed to make sense.” He made a call to his old friend, architect Ben Lee at Clifford Planning & Architecture, who involved his team and made some calls of his own. Soon, the wish had taken on a life of its own.

“There were a lot of hands, and it was just a matter of connecting dots,” says Kubota. “You make one call and then you make another, and soon you have a lot of people making a lot of calls.”

With Kubota managing the project, the architects at Clifford Planning & Architecture and structural engineers at KAI Hawaii Inc. donating countless hours and poring over design plans over each weekend, and the contractors at Lokahi Construction breaking ground, Nawai’s humble wish to enjoy her backyard became a labor of love. Over time, the wish united supporters across the islands and the Pacific, from local electricians, landscapers, artists, and volunteers to the generous donors at San Francisco-based biotechnology company Genentech.

In addition to funding the project, Genentech ensured Nawai and her family felt their support through a video message from the entire team, custom lawn ornaments with words of encouragement written on each one, and a beautiful fountain.

The finished product—featuring a swinging daybed, butterfly mural, glass doors to protect from the Hilo weather, and a pathway lined with pretty pink and purple flowers—exceeded all expectations. “It feels like a resort out there. We know it definitely took a lot of work, and we are just grateful for everyone who helped,” says Wendy. “We go there pretty much every weekend, and sometimes we camp out there. It’s Nawai’s princess space.”

The moment Nawai first saw her new backyard sanctuary was also emotional and unforgettable for Make-A-Wish Hawaii Director of Mission Delivery and fellow wish mom Kari Bogner, who had been by the family’s side since the very beginning of their wish journey. “All the hearts and hands that had helped grant her wish along the way—everybody came out,” she says. “[Nawai] received it with such a full heart, and even though she doesn’t have the voice to say thank you, it was there; gratitude sprang from her eyes, and she started to tear up.”

Bogner, Kubota, and the team at Make-A-Wish Hawaii would like to sincerely thank everyone who made Nawai’s wish possible and to encourage those inspired by Nawai’s wish to join us in transforming more lives through the power of a wish.

As Kubota says, “Not everyone is going to be able to give with money, but they can give with time or even just a phone call. There are so many people willing to give who just don’t know how to yet, but whatever someone can give makes a difference.”

To learn more about how you can help make more wishes like Nawai’s come true, visit hawaii.wish.org. 

Mahalo nui loa to Genentech; Lokahi Construction, LLC; Walter’s Electric Inc.; Robert Kubota; Benjamin B. Lee, FAIA; Clifford Planning & Architecture, LLC; Tim Goshi, KAI Hawaii Inc.; Green Thumb Inc. Landscaping; Big Island Gutters; Awai & Sons Concrete; Honsador Lumber, Hilo Branch; Mountain Meadows Inc.; Yamada Furniture; Paradise Flooring; Brandy-Aila Serikaku; Mr. & Mrs. Carlton & Antoinette Bello; Mr. John Bello; Mr. Sam Isabel; Mr. Kaimi Chung; and Mr. Nathan Santos.