Bringing Halloween
Happiness Every Day
MOST OF US ONLY LOOK FOR
THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN
STORE WHEN TRICK-OR-
TREAT SEASON IS STARTING.
However, the costume shop
works year-round to make time in
the hospital less frightening for
kids and their families. Spirit of
Halloween has a Spirit of Children
program which includes a team
that brings a variety of costumes
to Kapi‘olani Medical Center for
Women & Children for dress-up
days. Pediatric patients and their
siblings can choose to become
anything from pirates to princesses
during a fun-filled day of activities
and games. The kids get to keep
the costumes for future play. It’s a
small gesture that brings great joy.
“When a child picks his or her own
costume, it really transforms the
patient into being someone or
something magical for a while,”
said Sharon Domeraki, Spirit of
Children coordinator and event
leader. “It gives them a chance to
be creative and playful while using
their imagination. We’ve had sick
kids just forget their illnesses and
just be kids having fun.”
Kapi‘olani is one of 139 hospitals
across the country that benefits
from the Spirit of Children program
in more ways than one. Besides
giving pediatric patients and
families a much needed escape
through smiles and laughter, Spirit
of Halloween collects donations
from customers from its local
pop-up stores during the Hallow-
een season. In the past five years,
Spirit of Halloween has contrib-
uted $148,700 to Kapi‘olani. It’s
part of more than $37 million that
the business has given to children’s
hospitals since the program started
in 2006.
“Kapi‘olani is one of the most
interactive and supportive hospi-
tals that I work with,” Sharon said.
“The Kapi‘olani staff knows our
team well and has truly embraced
our efforts.”
Photos: Spirit of Children
team members delivering holiday
festivities to Kapi‘olani families.
INSPIRE
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