Aulani Wish Week 2024: 22 Make-A-Wish Kids Celebrate Halloween in Hawai'i

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa hosted its second annual Wish Week in 2024, welcoming 22 Make-A-Wish children and their families for a week of Hawaiian adventures that culminated in a Halloween Trick-or-Treat dance party on Hālāwai Lawn. The event, organized by Aulani cast members and Disney VoluntEARS, delivered snorkeling, the KA WA'A Lū'au, character meetings with Moana, and surprise Disney Store costumes — all designed to foster joy and lasting connections among families navigating critical illness. Disney has granted more than 155,000 wishes through its nearly 45-year partnership with Make-A-Wish.

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa welcomed 22 children from the Make-A-Wish program during its second annual Aulani Wish Week in 2024, capping the week with a Halloween Trick-or-Treat dance party on Hālāwai Lawn and surprise costumes from the Disney Store. Wish kids and their families from across the United States came together for a full week of snorkeling, lu'au dinners, character meetings, and the kind of human connection that extended well beyond the resort. Disney and Make-A-Wish have collaborated for nearly 45 years, with Disney serving as the world's largest wish-granter for the organization.

The Spirit of 'Ohana at the Heart of the Week

While each individual wish came with its own magic, the recurring theme of Aulani Wish Week 2024 was the connections forged among families. Among the 22 wish kids was 8-year-old Harper from Connecticut, who had been eagerly anticipating a meeting with Moana and a chance to soak up warm Hawaiian weather. Her wish came true on the very first full day at the resort.

"We got to meet Moana on our first full day here," said Harper's mother Jenna. "Harper had been sleeping, and when she woke up, she reached out and grabbed Moana's hand. It was just...magical." Harper also found joy at Aulani's KA WA'A Lū'au, laughing and giggling as she took in the sights and sounds of Hawaiian music and dance.

Perhaps the most unexpected gift of the week came through a friendship Harper's family formed with another family from Connecticut. The two families later came together to celebrate Harper's birthday at a private movie screening — a connection that stretched far beyond their time at Aulani.

"It's very hard in the real world to find people who share the same experience of having kids that need special things," Jenna reflected. "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 through friendships between wish kids, shared moments between parents facing similar journeys, or bonds formed with the cast members who brought each day to life, Aulani's 'ohana spirit ran throughout the week, touching everyone in attendance.

A Halloween Finale with Surprise Costumes

Following a full week of snorkeling adventures, the KA WA'A Lū'au, character meetings, and resort exploration, the wish kids and their families gathered on Hālāwai Lawn on Halloween night for a Trick-or-Treat dance party. As a surprise, each wish kid received costumes and accessories from the Disney Store — sparkly tiaras, Stitch onesies, and Marvel superhero capes — allowing every child to dress as their favorite Disney character for the evening's celebration.

45 Years of Disney Wishes

Disney's partnership with Make-A-Wish spans nearly 45 years, during which more than 155,000 transformative wishes have been granted, making Disney the world's largest wish-granter for the organization. The Aulani Wish Week is part of an ongoing series of large-scale wish-granting events across Disney's properties. To learn more about how Disney delivers joy to children facing critical illness, visit joy.disney.com.