Trust awards $5 million grant to support new cancer center

HONOLULU, Hawaii - Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii has announced that The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust awarded a $5 million grant in support of the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Cancer Center, currently under construction at the Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center. The grant will provide significant funding for the planned infusion bays and patient care areas within a new, expanded hematology and medical oncology wing.

When complete, the 12,500-square-foot cancer center will be nearly triple the size of the existing space, featuring abundant natural light, views of the renovated healing courtyard garden, larger patient rooms and infusion bays, and seamless access to clinic, laboratory, and pharmacy services. The center is designed to serve Kaiser Permanente members across Hawaii, including those traveling from neighbor islands to receive specialized cancer care at Moanalua Medical Center. The Helmsley Charitable Trust grant will directly support the infusion bays and patient care areas at the heart of the new cancer center, spaces where patients undergoing complex cancer treatment will spend significant time with their care teams and loved ones.

"This grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust is a tremendous gift to the patients we serve," said Ed Chan, market president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals. "It will help us create infusion and care spaces where patients feel genuinely supported, not just treated. Our members deserve an environment where they and their families can focus on healing, and this investment makes that possible."

Approximately 1,400 Kaiser Permanente members in Hawaii are diagnosed with cancer each year. Compared to nonmembers, these members are 20% less likely to lose years of life due to cancer and have higher survival rates for major cancers than national averages reported by SEER, the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results national benchmark survival rates. The $5 million grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust will help Kaiser Permanente continue providing compassionate, high-quality cancer care, reflecting a shared commitment to ensuring every patient has access to care in a comfortable, healing environment.

"We are proud to support Kaiser Permanente Hawaii in creating a cancer care environment that reflects the full needs of patients and their families," said Walter Panzirer, a trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. "Access to high-quality cancer care close to home is critically important, allowing patients to remain near their support systems while undergoing treatment. Thoughtfully designed infusion and care spaces can make a meaningful difference in how patients experience that care, offering comfort, dignity, and connection."

Moanalua Medical Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and has been named one of America's Best Hospitals for cancer care by the Women's Choice Award for 8 consecutive years. U.S. News & World Report has rated Moanalua Medical Center High Performing in 6 key areas, including colon cancer surgery. Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii's outpatient oncology practices are also certified through the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI), 1 of only 2 practices in the state with this distinction.

Construction on the Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Cancer Center is ongoing, with an opening planned for late 2027.