Park Candy is Supporting Make-A-Wish Hawaii All April Long

Our Connection to Make-A-Wish

Steve and I have been lucky enough to cross paths with Make-A-Wish more than once, and every time, it’s left a lasting impact.

Back when Steve was a Jungle Cruise Skipper at Walt Disney World (yes, that kind of skipper—full of terrible puns and questionable boat-driving skills), he had a moment that really changed his perspective. He was doing his usual routine, steering the boat through the jungle, when he let a sweet little girl come up to the front and “steer” the ship through the dark and mysterious temple. She was adorable as ever, fresh out of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and dressed like a princess. When she got up to the front of the boat, she was beaming, taking her job very seriously. Afterward, when she sat back down beside her dad, she looked up at him and said, “See Dad, I told you I was brave!” Her father immediately started tearing up. That’s when Steve noticed the Make-A-Wish button she was wearing—and realized she was battling cancer. He barely made it through the rest of the cruise before having to duck into the breakroom and cry. That moment stuck with him, and with both of us.

Then in 2024, we had the chance to help directly with a wish being granted here in Florida. Charities can sometimes hit a lot of roadblocks trying to coordinate with large organizations like Disney, and we happened to be in a position where we could help move things along. A young girl had a simple but magical wish—to meet Mary Poppins. We did what we could to help make it happen, and when we finally saw the photos of her having the most magical day ever we knew then and there that helping make these moments was something we wanted to do more of — a core part of our purpose.

Why Hawaii?

You might be wondering—why focus specifically on Make-A-Wish Hawaii?

A few years ago, while working in Hawaii, we got to know a wonderful human named Will (hi Will!), who works closely with the Make-A-Wish team on the islands. Through him, we not only got closer with the team but we learned something that stuck with us: Hawaii’s local Make-A-Wish chapter is not well funded, despite the fact that children there are just as deserving as anywhere else.

Most people see Hawaii and think of paradise—luxury resorts, clear blue water, expensive real estate. But the reality for many local Hawaiian families is very different. They’re hardworking, everyday people, and when a child in their family gets seriously ill, the cost of care can be overwhelming. On top of that, travel from Hawaii to the mainland U.S. for treatments or wish experiences is extremely expensive. Many of the kids just want to visit family on the mainland or spend a day with their favorite character. But making those dreams a reality takes serious funds.

It breaks our hearts to think that location alone might be the thing that holds a child back from having a wish granted. And that’s why we’re putting our energy, our platform, and our dollars behind Make-A-Wish Hawaii this month.

How You Can Help

We’re making it easy to contribute. Every order placed in April helps. Whether you’re picking up one of our resort-ready outfits or grabbing a bag for your next adventure, part of your purchase is going toward making a wish come true. No extra steps. No checkout add-ons. Just shop like you normally would, and know that a portion of your order is helping a child experience joy, strength, and hope during the hardest time in their life.

And if you want to go a little further, we encourage you to donate directly to Make-A-Wish Hawaii or spread the word. We’ll be sharing stories and updates throughout the month on our socials, so stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes magic.

From the bottom of our hearts—thank you. Supporting this cause means the world to us, and we’re so grateful to have a community of customers who get it. You’re helping us bring a little more magic into the world, one wish at a time.

With love,
Carise & Steve (your trusty skipper)