Since the first Aulani Wish Week last year—a large-scale event at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa dedicated to making wishes come true—it was clear this magical experience would be the start of something lasting.

Families continue to be enchanted by Disney magic in Hawaii, with the most recent wish week concluding with an unforgettable Halloween dance party.

Make-A-Wish kids from around the country came together for a time of relaxation and fun, but the heart of the week was the connections made along the way. Among the group of 22 wish kids was 8-year-old Harper from Connecticut. When asked what she was most excited about, Make-A-Wish learned that she couldn’t wait to meet Moana and soak up the warm weather – a wish that came true thanks to the efforts of Aulani cast members, Disney VoluntEARS and Make-A-Wish. “We got to meet Moana on our first full day here,” said Harper’s mom Jenna. “Harper had been sleeping, and when she woke up, she reached out and grabbed Moana’s hand. It was just….magical.” Another aspect of the week that brought Harper joy was attending Aulani Resort’s KA WA‘A Luau, laughing and giggling as she was immersed in Hawaiian music and dance.

During their stay, Harper’s family even made a special bond with another Connecticut family. They later invited them to celebrate Harper’s birthday at a private movie screening, showing how these connections stretch far beyond Aulani.

This is all thanks to Disney VoluntEARS and cast members who teamed up to create the most memorable week for these kids – something we know they’re passionate about! “It’s very hard in the real world to find people who share the same experience of having kids that need special things,” said Jenna. “We just made a whole family of friends of people that understand the same thing that we’re going through. That’s something we never expected from this trip, but it’s a better gift than we could ever ask for.”

Whether it was through wish kids making new friends, parents connecting with other parents undergoing similar life experiences, or families connecting with cast members and bonding with each other, Aulani’s ‘ohana spirit was palpable, leaving everyone touched by the commitment to bring happiness to these deserving kids.

After a marvelous week of snorkeling adventures, a traditional lū‘au, meeting Moana and more, the wish kids and their families gathered on Hālāwai Lawn for the culminating Trick-or-Treat dance party on Halloween night where they were surprised with costumes and accessories donated by the Disney Store and our guests and fans across the country.

It was sparkly tiaras, Stitch onesies and Marvel capes galore with each wish kid able to embrace their favorite Disney characters.

This week has truly been one for the books… and we’re looking forward to many more! For nearly 45 years, Disney and Make-A-Wish have worked together to grant life-changing wishes for children fighting critical illnesses.

With 155,000 transformative wishes and counting, Disney is honored to be the world’s largest wish-granter for Make-A-Wish. Learn more about how Disney delivers joy when it’s needed most at joy.disney.com.