A trip to Hawaii quickly turned into a whale of a time for Zachary, an eight-year-old wish kid from Louisiana.

Within hours of saying aloha to Hawaii in the spring, a whale breached the surface of the blue water near where Zachary and his family were having lunch. His encounter with one of the sea’s biggest and most intelligent creatures was the perfect start to five fun-filled days in Kona, a city on Hawaii’s famous Big Island. Zachary, who is responding well to treatments for his brain tumor, had never been on a beach vacation. He wanted to experience all Hawaii had to offer. From warm blue water to red-hot magma, he didn’t miss any of the Big Island’s splendors thanks to Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Louisiana and the Jewelers for Children program.

The Fairmont Orchid was his base for adventures that would become some of his greatest memories. Nearby Mauna Lani Bay gave Zachary’s family a postcard-perfect example of Hawaii’s scenery.

Mother Nature followed his whale encounter with another spectacle for him in the form of an erupting volcano. The Big Island is home to well-known volcanoes such as Kilauea and Mona Loa, and they were in fine form. During a helicopter flight, Zachary and his father watched orange-hot molten lava flow in the caldera.

And what’s a trip to Hawaii without hula dancing, ukuleles, a roasted pig and a serving of poi? A first-row seat at a luau helped Zachary enjoy some authentic island color. He also took a snorkeling cruise on a boat complete with a slide and a diving board – that’s when he had his second encounter with whales. This time, he had his camera ready.

There was still more fun to come. Zachary took a surfing lesson, tried his hand at sea kayaking and took a hike in the rain forest.

When the last day of the trip rolled around, Zachary’s parents asked him if there was anything else he wanted to do. He told them no, his wishes had already come true.

Since 1999, Jewelers for Children has supported organizations that help children with life-threatening illnesses. The organization is a great asset in helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation share the power of a wish^® .