Katsuki Obama isn't headed to Hawaii until next week, but a celebration at a Murrieta restaurant Saturday really drummed up excitement for the trip ---- literally.

Katsuki, a 16-year-old Winchester resident, is the recipient of a Make-A-Wish Foundation award, which was presented to him Saturday amid the echoing beat of Polynesian drums and the shake-shake-shake of luau dancers clad in little red skirts.

"It's amazing," said Katsuki, a junior at Temecula Preparatory School, who has struggled with a heart condition for several years. "It's really happening."

After he had surgery last year, the family was approached by a social worker who encouraged them to fill out the foundation's paperwork. The rest is history.

His family gets to go with him on the weeklong journey to Hawaii. While on many of the days the family gets to choose their own itinerary, the foundation has signed them up for a luau and a trip to a cultural museum.

Katsuki also gets to visit a childhood friend who lives in Hawaii whom he hasn't seen in years. Katsuki added that he's never been to Hawaii and is thrilled to go.

His mother, Maria Lheureux, said she is also happy about the trip, as well as the special attention for her son.

"It's everything for Katsuki," she said. "This is a good opportunity for him."

Lheureux moved her family to America from Japan about six years ago, and they're still working on perfecting their English, but she was able to speak Japanese with the restaurant's owner, Charlie McKee, as he taught them how to make sushi.

McKee volunteered his two-month-old restaurant, Aki Sushi and Japanese Grill, and even came up with the idea of teaching the family how to put a sushi roll together as part of the presentation ceremony.

Prior to the sushi lesson, the family was serenaded by dancers and drummers from the Temecula-based Puahis Polynesian Dancers, during which two solo dances were offered up especially for Katsuki.

"This is a really nice day," Lheureux said. "An exciting day."

Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. The four steps of granting a wish, according to the group's Web site, are receiving a referral, determining eligibility, discerning the child's true wish, and, lastly, "creating joy."

The wish-granters, who organized the presentation on behalf of the foundation, were Robin Crist and her daughter, Lauren, who both recently signed up as volunteers for the group.

Robin Crist is also a Murrieta Valley Unified School District board member, but her role with the foundation is separate.

Saturday marked the first time the Crists presented a wish, and it was a very special moment for them, they said.

"This has given me the opportunity to reflect on how blessed I am to have three healthy adult children," Robin Crist said. "It's also reminded me of the importance of paying it forward. I am honored to be part of bringing joy to a family that's struggled."