Kaipo Gets His Wish Kaipo Manners Fulfills Lifelong Dream Of Traveling To Hawaii To Meet His Grandparents And Other Relatives

Nine-year-old Kaipo Manners can’t decide which is better, surfing or boogie-boarding, but he is certain of one thing.

Wishes can come true.

Diagnosed with a progressive neurological disorder, Kaipo’s journey has not been easy. Doctors have found that his illness, which affects the brain stem and spinal cord, is so rare they’ve lent it his name.

The disease has left birth marks on Kaipo’s hands, palsy in his right eye, and vocal cords that barely whisper. Gradually, he’s lost his ability to walk and is confined to a wheelchair.

But that is his only limitation.

A loving family and a granted wish from Make-A-Wish Foundation have given Kaipo hope for the future by providing him a connection with the past.

Kaipo means “male sweetheart” in Hawaiian. And the name suits him. Though small for his age, Kaipo is big-hearted. The discomforts of his illness seem overshadowed by his generosity of spirit.

His father, Daniel Manners, moved the family to Spokane in 1995 to be close to the Shriner’s hospital. It was shortly after the move that the family heard about Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“When I found out that Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses, I called and asked for their criteria,” said Laura Manners, Kaipo’s stepmother of nearly four years. “I asked Kaipo what his wish would be if he were chosen.”

Kaipo had fleeting thoughts of Disneyland and Disney World, but an unusual wish emerged. Kaipo wanted to go to his father’s native state of Hawaii to meet his extended family and experience his cultural heritage.

On Christmas Eve of 1996, Kaipo’s wish came true.

He was wheeled onto a plane for Oahu and Maui, accompanied by Daniel, Laura and little brother Kalani. An added bonus: Kaipo’s mother, Cleala, would join them from her home in Lake Tahoe, Calif. They were granted an all-expense paid trip to the Aloha state, courtesy of Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“When I got off the plane, I got five leis,” Kaipo said. “It felt like you had a big, fluffy fur coat on. Some felt smooth, some felt really soft. Most people think Hawaii is a place where everyone does the hula and stuff. But it’s a special culture. Everyone’s just an angel to you.”

Kaipo’s family reunion began in Oahu where his father was born, the eldest of five children.

The Manners met the enormous extended family, especially those from the largest branch of the family tree, beginning with Kaipo’s great-grandmother. She had 20 children, one each year when she was between the ages of 16 to 36. Kaipo’s grandmother is one of the 20.

“I have 80 cousins,” said Daniel. “We have not figured out second cousins.”

While many family members have moved to the mainland, a core remain in the community where Daniel grew up. “It’s an amazing family,” said Daniel. “Everyone is doing different things, but we remain close.”

Aside from the family reunion, there was plenty of time for playing tourist. Kaipo quickly summarizes the itinerary: whale watching, shell collecting, surfing, a visit to Sea Life Park.

“I saw sharks and turtle pools and dolphin shows, where they jump through the rings. That was really cool,” he said.

They attended a luau at the Polynesian center where they ate laulau, a taro leaf wrapped around pork and salmon; and kalua pig which was buried underground with lava rocks, then cooked for 12 hours.

“My favorite memory was Christmas Day, plus that night,” said Kaipo. “I got to meet my family, and go boogie-boarding and play on the beach. The sun was so warm. We picked up coral, lava rock, imu rock and kukui nuts.”

But what really made the trip special? Kaipo answered without pause: “The family I met. Uncles, aunties, great-grandma, great-grandpa. I loved them.”

The high point of the trip was a poignant visit to Kaipo’s grandfather’s gravesite. “It was on top of a [dormant] volcano,” said Kaipo. “Dad told me a lot about my grandpa. I cried. We all cried. He was a great man. I’m named after him.”

“We had been trying to get to Hawaii for years,” said Laura. “”Kaipo had visited when he was two and a half, and remembers bits and pieces.”

Instilling in the boys a sense of their cultural heritage has been an important priority for Daniel, especially since Kaipo’s mother is Caucasian, including part Irish.

“My sons learn the white tradition because they’re from a mixed family, yet they are hardly around the Hawaiian culture. I’ve been trying to teach Kaipo the Hawaiian language. In going there, it clicked for him,” she said.

One of the important aspects in teaching the language, Daniel explains, is explaining to children the significance of their Hawaiian names.

“Hawaiian names are chosen with care. The location of the birth is taken into account. Was the child born near the mountains or near the ocean? The name reflects that location,” he said.

The characteristics of the child are also taken into account.

When Kaipo’s skin disease was noticed at birth, his parents knew his life would be unique. They chose his name Kaipo, meaning “sweetheart.” When his younger brother was born, “heaven’s child” seemed to fit, so they named him Kalani.

When Kaipo returned from the Make-a-Wish trip, he gave a speech to his classmates at Keystone Elementary, where he is a fourth-grader.

“I showed them my shells and told them what I did,” he said.

Kaipo, who also goes by Danny, encourages kids to learn about their heritage and meet their distant family members. “I tell them they should go and see. I think they’d like it,” he said.

And what would he tell the Make-a-Wish organizers? “That I love them. I would take them with me next time. I would show them my family,” he said.

His father agrees: “It was so special, he cries all the time when he thinks about it,” he says.

Kaipo’s soft brown eyes look toward his dad: “I felt at home,” he said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color Photos

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: GRANTING WISHES Make-A-Wish Foundation of Washington State grants wishes to children battling life-threatening illnesses. Founded in 1986, it is one of the largest chapters nationwide and has granted over 1,000 wishes to children ages 2-1/2 to 17 statewide. Charitable contributions are the sole means of financial support for the Foundation. Tax deductible donations are appreciated, payable to: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Washington State, 421 W. Riverside, Suite 504, Spokane 99201. People interested in volunteer opportunities with Make-A-Wish Foundation are invited to a training workshop on March 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 421 W. Riverside, Suite 504. Call (509) 458-2618 for an application.