From the moment she was born prematurely, Randallyn faced medical challenges, requiring immediate medevac from her home on Hawai‘i Island to Oahu for the first of three open-heart surgeries. Diagnosed with congenital heart disease, her journey was filled with obstacles—but also incredible strength.

Growing up in Laupahoehoe, Randallyn persevered. While her peers joined sports teams, she had to prioritize treatments. But her warm and vibrant personality wasn’t made for the sidelines. She found new ways to express herself, discovering a love for photography—where she was often the star her photo shoots.

“I really feel self-love, I love myself,” Randallyn says. During her teen years, she and her cousins often put on makeup, taking turns photographing each other as aspiring models.

Though she loved the stunning backdrops of her island home, Randallyn dreamed of experiencing life as a professional model. She wished to be a supermodel in New York City!

She envisioned receiving the full supermodel treatment: hair, makeup, and a portfolio photoshoot in a New York studio. As she anticipated her wish, memories of her medical hardships began to melt away, replaced by hope and excitement for the future. “It makes me forget about what I went through,” Randallyn shares.

Make-A-Wish Hawaii connected Randallyn with fashion designer Kamalani Casteel to craft Randallyn’s dream dress. “Her favorite color is pink, so definitely we were adding all of the pinks, all of the sparkles, everything that she wanted to be all glitz and glammed up,” Kamalani says. 

When the day of Randallyn’s dress fitting arrived and she saw the custom-made pink, sparkly dress, she was overjoyed. “I felt like a princess!” she exclaims. Kamalani adds, “Seeing her face when she saw her dress, that just made my heart melt. The confidence and the happiness that she showed—this is what this is for.”

Thanks to the generous support of the Murray Kim ‘Ohana, Randallyn and her family traveled to New York City for her wish to come true. It was the first time any of them had been to the Big Apple, and they were thrilled to explore all the city has to offer. They visited iconic landmarks like Times Square, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty, and enjoyed a carriage ride through Central Park. But for Randallyn, the highlight was living out her supermodel dream—shopping in New York City and posing for photos in a professional studio.

She received the full supermodel treatment, starting with hair and makeup before slipping into her stunning custom dress. With pink balloons and a pink backdrop, just as she imagined, Randallyn worked the set for hours, as two photographers captured her from every angle. It was a wish come true!

“It changed my life,” Randallyn reflects. “I got to experience how modeling works. I got to experience what living in New York City is like. But the most important thing that impacted me was spending time with my family.”

Now, Randallyn is considering her future, pondering whether to pursue a career in modeling or automotive detailing. “I like cars, and I like the way some of them look,” she says with a smile.

No matter which path she chooses, Randallyn’s courage and creativity continue to shine—proving that her strength, like her dreams, is limitless.