University of Hawaii Cancer Center

01/07/2026

Hope starts with possibility 💙

Clinical trials open another path to hope—bringing safe, effective treatment options and renewed optimism to patients and families across Hawaiʻi. At the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, our research today is shaping the care of tomorrow.

Learn how clinical trials may be an option for you or your loved one and help advance cancer care for our community: https://www.uhcancercenter.org/patients-families/clinical-trials

The University of Hawaii Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated center in Hawaii and the Pacific.

01/05/2026

Congratulations again to Dr. Jami Fukui and Dr. Linda Wong, faculty members at our UH Cancer Center who were named 2025 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes. Senator Sharon Moriwaki recently presented them with special state Senate recognition certificates that recognize and congratulate Dr. Fukui and Dr. Wong each on their awards, and for "outstanding service to the state in advancing cancer healthcare, clinical practice, research and education." Dr. Wong and Dr. Fukui were among only five healthcare providers statewide recognized by the Healthcare Association of Hawaii as 2025 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes, a patient-nominated award. Mahalo to Senator Moriwaki for her continued support!

See Dr. Fukui's story here: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/video/2025/10/28/doctor-serves-guiding-light-cancer-patients-while-striving-find-cure/

See Dr. Wong's story here: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/11/01/hawaii-surgeon-recognized-her-ability-put-patients-ease/

In first photo, from left: Dr. Naoto T. Ueno, Director, UH Cancer Center; Dr. Linda Wong; Dr. Jami Fukui; state Senator Sharon Moriwaki

12/20/2025

In this video, our University of Hawaii Cancer Center Director, Dr. Naoto T. Ueno, looks back at the accomplishments of the past year, and exciting plans for 2026. Season's greetings from the entire team at the UH Cancer Center! Link below. ⬇️

12/18/2025

📍Breaking news: The University of Hawaiʻi has secured two major grants from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, each exceeding $1 million, to support health-oriented initiatives. One grant will go to our University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center and the other to the John A. Burns School of Medicine. The UH Cancer Center award will fund essential start-up costs for the groundbreaking new Hoʻōla Early Phase Clinical Research Center, scheduled to open in March 2026. “This support from the Helmsley Trust will help us accelerate the launch of the Hoʻōla Early Phase Clinical Research Center — a critical step toward expanding access to novel cancer treatments for our communities,” said UH Cancer Center Director Naoto T. Ueno, who is a two-time cancer survivor himself. “This aligns with our mission to save lives in Hawaiʻi and in the Pacific, and strengthens our position as a local and national leader in cancer research.” Read more at link below. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

12/13/2025

Researchers from our University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center have found that when breast cancers stop responding to a first antibody-drug treatment, changing the type of drug attached to the antibody can bring the treatment effect back in laboratory and animal models. The findings were presented this week at the prestigious San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, and offer clinicians a practical way to choose the next antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) treatment after progression.

The UH Cancer Center's Dr. Jason Lee presented the team’s findings at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, considered the largest breast-cancer research meeting in the world. The symposium runs Dec. 9-12, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.

Learn more here: https://ow.ly/7ulq50XIK8C

12/12/2025

Mahalo to In Line Flooring for making a $10,000 donation to the UH Cancer Center!
The funds were raised through a social media campaign created by In Line Flooring to promote October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month and raise funds for the UH Cancer Center. For every like or share the campaign received, In Line Flooring pledged $10 to help the UH Cancer Center's research and education efforts. Special thanks to Taryn Miyamoto and Joana Story of In Line Flooring, and everyone who helped spread the word about Breast Cancer Awareness month and the UH Cancer Center!



Pictured, from left: Lauren Imai, Clinical Trials, UH Cancer Center; Corinne Ihara, Administrative Support Specialist, UH Foundation; Dr. Hideko Yamauchi, Director of Clinical Affairs, UH Cancer Center; Joana Story, Office Manager, In Line Flooring; Peter Hirano, Co-Founder, Susan C. Hirano Cancer CARE Community; Taryn Miyamoto, President, In Line Flooring; Dr. Erin Bantum, Full Member, Population Sciences in the Pacific; Tawney Sablan, Associate Director of Development, UH Foundation; Kathleen Griffin, Associate Director of Development, UH Foundation; Michelle Hashimoto, Event Coordinator, UH Cancer Center.

12/11/2025

A huge mahalo to Cooling Cancer President Drew Santos and the Santos family for donating $100,000 to the UH Cancer Center. The funds were raised via the Cooling Cancer Golf Tournament on Aug. 29 at Hoakalei Country Club. Longtime UH Cancer Center supporter Drew Santos and his annual event have now contributed a total $750,000 over the past 12 years to support vital research, education and outreach at the UH Cancer Center. Mahalo to everyone who participated!

View Hawaii News Now's coverage here: https://ow.ly/27E350XHelt

View KHON2's coverage here: https://ow.ly/sOqY50XHelu

12/06/2025

What’s your holiday wish?
We asked some of our UH Cancer Center leaders and ‘ohana to share their fondest holiday wishes.
Please share yours below too!

11/04/2025

Join us as we celebrate the Hawai‘i Skin Cancer Coalition’s 30th anniversary with a dynamic, free community event on Saturday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center in Kaka‘ako. Get a free cancer screening (reservation required; limited spots); hear about the latest skin-cancer research; learn the best strategies for skin-cancer prevention; and meet with survivors, medical professionals, students and community members. Come to help commemorate three decades of public education, outreach and support for skin-cancer awareness.

Preregistration is required at aarii@cc.hawaii.edu or (808) 564-3809; a reservation is required to receive a dermatologist appointment.

For more information, see the event page: https://go.hawaii.edu/m4e

10/29/2025

What is breast density? Can it affect your risk for breast cancer? Can it affect the accuracy of your mammograms? What does a new federal mandate require your mammogram report to tell you about your breast density?

Dr. John Shepherd, Chief Scientific Officer at the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center, answers FAQs and provides some next steps for patients with dense breast tissue.

(And mahalo and congratulations to Dr. Shepherd — portions of this interview were distributed nationally via the Associated Press, with the goal of raising awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.)

https://youtu.be/K2IUKiaY8AQ?si=NBRZ4WC5LSFlqOhc

What is breast density? Can it affect your risk for breast cancer? Can it affect the accuracy of your mammograms? What does a new federal mandate require you...

10/28/2025

Dr. Jami Fukui, a leader and researcher at our UH Cancer Center, was featured today on Hawaii News Now as one of five healthcare professionals named 2025 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes. Dr. Fukui was recognized for her compassionate, research-based work in caring for Lynn Enright, a cancer patient at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children. Check out HNN's story here: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/10/27/doctor-serves-guiding-light-cancer-patients-while-striving-find-cure/

Another UH Cancer Center faculty member, Dr. Linda Wong, also is a 2025 Hawaii Healthcare Hero and will be featured in a separate story on HNN later this week.