Three lucky muggles from Hawai'i are heading to New York City to meet the mother of "Harry Potter" herself, author J.K. Rowling.

The Isle trio — Maya Grimm, 8, of Ha'iku; Jason Miwa, 21, of Honolulu; and Karen Newman, 49, of Hawai'i Kai — are among 1,000 winners in a sweepstakes by book publisher Scholastic to receive a pair of tickets to attend Friday's J.K. Rowling Open Book Tour. The writer will read from and sign copies of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the seventh and final book in the Potter series, as well as answer questions.

The trio, chosen from 50,000 entries, are going on their own dime, too.

That's not easy when you're a struggling college student, but, said Miwa, "I'm such a big fan that I was willing to drop $1,500 to go to New York to meet J.K. Rowling!"

Miwa's girlfriend, fellow Kapi'olani Community College student Jennifer Loo, entered him into the contest, and both were thrilled to learn he'd won. Miwa is, of course, taking Loo.

"God bless points!" added Newman, who is bringing along her husband, Ken. "I was saving them for a rainy day."

A former New York resident, Newman looks forward to visiting old haunts. Oh, and to get Rowling's autograph.

"I've read all seven books," she said, "the first five at least three times."