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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:01 a.m., Thursday, September 11, 2008

Boy's special wish: Shape his own surfboard

Advertiser Staff

Wahiawa — Even Leukemia can't stop 7 year-old Mikael Estopier from catching some waves this week.

Mikael and his family have left their hometown of San Antonio, Texas, for a week of relaxation, surf lessons, and — the best part — making his very own personalized surfboard, thanks to Atlanta-based charity, Children's Wish Foundation International.

Diagnosed at age 5 with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, cancer of the blood and bone marrow, Mikael has bravely battled this life-threatening disease and the effects of the harsh treatments with courage and dignity, family and friends say.

His favorite movie of all time is Surf's Up, so he knew for sure he wanted to wish not only for surf lessons to be just as good as the characters in the movie, but to go further into surfing culture by making his own surfboard.

Children's Wish Foundation International has partnered with Keoki Surfboards where Mikael will have the opportunity to tour the facility and actually build his very own surfboard complete with his favorite designs. His surfboard will be ready just in time to hang ten with the local firefighters, as they give him private surf lessons.

Mikael was scheduled to visit the Keoki Surfboard Factory on Whitmore Avenue in Central O'ahu from 9:30 a.m. to noon today to shape his own surfboard.