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Honolulu (HawaiiNewsNow) – A gift that keeps on giving.
Children battling life-threatening illnesses are grateful to the young people of Kaneohe who once had their wishes granted.
Taiyo Kaaialii, 19, had one wish. It’s a hydraulic dump trailer.
His dream was to start a heavy equipment hauling and rental business.
Thanks to Make-A-Wish Hawaii, his wish came true in February.
“I can’t even describe how it feels. It’s definitely one of the best moments of my life,” Sun said at the time.
Taiyo often used his gifts to help others, such as carrying a special wheelchair for a fellow wishing child.
“That was one of his wishes. He wanted to return the favor,” said Aya, the mother of the sun.
Sadly, Sun lost his battle with cancer in June.
“He had a swelling in his brain, which we didn’t know about, so it was really unexpected, so it actually came really quickly,” the father, Paul, said.
Taiyo was diagnosed with fetal rhabdomyosarcoma in 2020. This is a type of cancer that attacks skeletal muscle tissue.
After he passed away, Sun’s parents sold his hydraulic dump trailer and donated all proceeds to Make-A-Wish Hawaii for a total of $10,000.
That’s what the sun wanted.
“That’s exactly what the Sun wanted to do,” said Paul.
Debbie and Glenn Furuya of Leadership Works, Sun’s Make-A-Wish sponsors, were so impressed by their generosity that they decided to donate and set up the Wishes Forever Endowment Fund.
“The cornerstone of much of his entrepreneurial spirit was helping and serving people,” said Glenn Furuya, Founder and CEO of Leadership Works. “He was a very, very giving kid…it was a perfect fit.”
“The Sun had this dream of becoming an entrepreneur. He didn’t live to see that dream come true in his version, but this Make A Wish Wishes Forever Fund. is so much more than that, and it will make children’s dreams come true forever,” said Debbie Furuya, Vice President, Leadership Works.
Make-A-Wish Hawaii states that their generosity will forever honor the legacy of the Sun and grant future wishes to future children and their families for generations to come.
Copyright 2022 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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