The annual Make-A-Wish Hawaii Surf Camp with Bethany Hamilton returned to Kauai’s North shore this week,this granting the wishes of 13 children struggling with life-threatening medical conditions from across the country.
Make-A-Wish Hawaii Surf Camp was founded in 2014 to serve wish kids from all over the nation. Meeting Hamilton was at the heart of many of the young campers. The surf camp began as an opportunity for a handful of wish kids to meet Hamilton, but quickly expanded to include surfing and other island activities with pro surfers who wanted to give back and make a difference in the lives of these special kids from across the nation.
This year, 13 wish kids bonded with surfing pros including Alana Blanchard, Brianna Cope, Evan Valiere, Kalani Vierra, Krystl Apeles, James Donnelly, Nage Melamed, Rochelle Ballard and Russell Lewis.
Other activities included professional family photo sessions, storytelling, star gazing, a Kauai backcountry adventure and a Hawaiian luau.
The pro surfer was born and raised on Kauai. On the morning of Halloween 2003, the 13-year-old was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark. Surviving the ordeal, Bethany lost her left arm, but was back on her surfboard in just a month and continued on to become a professional surfer in 2007.
Her story, first written as an autobiography, turned into a major motion picture, “Soul Surfer,” released in 2011. She has become an inspiration to many, including wish kids across the nation.