Our story
About Aloha Always
In November 2023, our family’s life changed forever when we welcomed three foster children into our home. With three boys of our own already, that made five boys—and one GIRL.
Having a girl in the house was something I had dreamed of since I was nine years old, when I received my first American Girl doll, Kirsten. She was more than a toy to me—she was a companion, a comfort, and a reminder that I could nurture, protect, and love deeply. Through my parents’ divorce and all the uncertainty of growing up between homes, Kirsten was my constant when the world around me felt unsteady. I still have her today and have always imagined passing her down generationally.
When C came into our lives, she immediately adored Kirsten. She wanted to bring her everywhere, to care for her, to love her. She would often call her “Little Kinsey” and I realized she needed a doll of her own—a reflection of herself and a tangible reminder that she, too, was worthy of love and belonging. My dad found a pre-loved doll on Facebook Marketplace—tan skin, brown curly hair, and the brightest eyes. She was perfect for her. When I told her we got her a doll of her own, she lit up. Knowing how special my doll was to me, she was beyond proud that I would trust her with one of her own.
C would often talk about her love for Hawaiian culture since she and her brother were both very proudly born there. Words like ‘Ohana,’ meaning family, and ‘Aloha,’ meaning not just hello or goodbye, but love, peace, and compassion were said frequently and even framed and hung in her room. Nightly we would read The Jesus Storybook Bible together and speak daily affirmations:
“I am brave. I am strong. I am smart. I am beautiful. I am loved.”
Those moments became sacred—simple, healing, full of grace.
Through nurturing her doll, C learned that she could be a good momma someday, no matter what she had experienced in the past. It gave her a sense of responsibility, pride, and comfort—a reflection of the love God has for her.
Before she reunited with her biological family, we took a girls trip to Dallas and visited the American Girl Doll store where we got dressed up, had a fancy lunch with our dolls, and celebrated our journeys—a full-circle moment of joy and healing. C even used her own money to buy a baby doll for her doll, proudly continuing the cycle of love and care.
At Aloha Always, we restore gently used American Girl dolls and give them to girls in foster care. Each doll is lovingly refurbished—brushed hair, repaired, cleaned faces—and paired with The Jesus Storybook Bible. Our hope is that each girl will read to her doll, hearing the greatest love story ever told, and know that like her doll, she is not forgotten, she is cherished, and she has a purpose.
Every doll tells a story of redemption and hope. And every girl deserves to know—
That’s where Aloha Always was born.
She is BRAVE. She is STRONG. She is SMART. She is BEAUTIFUL. She is LOVED.
She is never forgotten.
Because love doesn’t say goodbye.
Love remains.
The Meaning of Aloha
In Hawaiian, Aloha is more than a word—it’s a way of life.
It means love, peace, compassion, and the breath of life.
It’s spoken when we greet one another and when we part ways, but the heart of Aloha is deeper than “hello” or “goodbye.” It’s a reminder that love is what connects us, sustains us, and calls us to show kindness even in the hardest moments.
For our family, Aloha took on new meaning when we stepped into foster care. It taught us that love doesn’t always look tidy or easy—it’s sacrificial, unconditional, and healing. Through welcoming children from hard places, we saw firsthand that true Aloha—the love that never gives up—is the same love God extends to each of us.
Aloha reminds us that:
Love remains even when circumstances change.
Peace can exist even in uncertainty.
Compassion is the bridge that heals hearts.
That’s the heartbeat of Aloha Always—to share a love that never says goodbye.
Just as God restores us with tenderness and grace, we restore each doll with the same care, believing every girl deserves to feel cherished, chosen, and remembered.
Because the greatest Aloha comes from Jesus—the One whose love is everlasting, redeeming, and always enough.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
-Deuteronomy 31:8
Gently refurbished American Girl dolls for girls in foster care—reminding them they’re brave, loved, and never forgotten.
Our Mission
At Aloha Always, we believe in second chances, sacred purpose, and love that never lets go.
We restore gently-loved American Girl dolls and place them into the arms of girls entering foster care — as a tangible reminder that, like these dolls, they are not forgotten, discarded, or without purpose. They are deeply loved, cherished, and created by God for something beautiful.
Each doll receives a new outfit, fresh hair, and a name card affirming her worth:
You are brave. You are strong. You are beautiful. You are smart. You are loved.
Every girl also receives a Jesus Storybook Bible, so she can read to her doll and discover the greatest love story of all — the story of Jesus, the truest expression of Aloha.
