Anyone who’s ever lost something precious while on vacation knows the sinking feeling all too well. But when 23-year-old Ava Shulman realized her childhood stuffed animal, Lamby, was missing after checking out of Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club in Hawaii, her heart just about broke.
Lamby wasn’t just any stuffed animal. He was Ava’s “most prized possession,” her ride-or-die since childhood. “Every time I left the house as a kid, Lamby was by my side,” she said. These days, he doesn’t tag along as often, but Ava made a special exception to bring him on their family trip to Hawaii.
Then, on the last day of their vacation, disaster struck: Lamby had vanished. “I was calling everyone I could, and I filed a lost item report,” Ava shared. “I had accepted that he was gone already.”
Enter: the heroes of hospitality.
Lawton Mauai, Director of Safety and Security at the resort, immediately jumped into action. “We immediately started a search when we were alerted that Lamby was missing,” he said. As they suspected, the plush pal had gotten swept up in the sheets during routine housekeeping.
“We tracked him down in the laundry center and assured Ava that Lamby had been found.”
But the staff didn’t stop there.
“After tracking Lamby down, I snapped a photo with him to offer Ava some peace of mind,” Mauai said, “and from there, more associates joined in on the fun to create a full-on VIP experience for Lamby that we shared with Ava before sending him home.”
It was all part of a plan to reassure Ava and sprinkle a little magic into a stressful moment. “This all started as a lighthearted way to reassure Ava that Lamby was in good hands, and we saw a chance to create a special moment for a guest,” Mauai added.
And it was special.
Photos began rolling in, Lamby with Madelyn, a Villa Attendant, perched sweetly on her shoulder. “Aloha family! I know you must be worried about me but I wanted to let you know I am doing just fine,” the caption read. “Madelyn…was so sweet she even let me hang out with her as I was scared when I couldn’t find you.”
Lamby got the royal treatment, posing with employees, enjoying shaved ice, and soaking up some serious island vibes before being sent safely home.
But the surprises weren’t over.
Once Ava was reunited with her fuzzy friend and posted about the experience, the Marriott Vacation Clubs’ social media team sent even more joy her way: a custom robe, tumbler, Hawaiian shirt (for Lamby, of course), an AirTag, a suitcase, and a complimentary stay.
“It’s such a beautiful display of humanity,” Ava said. “A lot of employees in hospitality and service are going above and beyond every day, and a lot of people don’t see it.”
“They did things that they didn’t have to and took time out of their day to do these things on top of the already insanely hard and busy job that they have,” she added. “It is really an amazing show of how much they love their job and it’s such a good display of character.”
In the end, Lamby’s Hawaiian adventure wasn’t just about a lost stuffed animal. It became a reminder that kindness, character, and a little creativity can turn heartbreak into something truly unforgettable.
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