The philanthropic landscape in Hawai‘i received a major boost as Governor Josh Green, M.D. welcomed a substantial $10M gift from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. According to a press release by the Office of the Governor, the funds are earmarked for the expansion of critical cancer care services at two Oʻahu hospitals: Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children, and The Queen’s Medical Center–West O‘ahu Cancer Center. "We are so grateful to the Helmsley Charitable Trust for its generous grants of $5 million to each of these hospitals, which is key to ensuring that our state’s residents have access to the highest quality cancer care," Governor Green stated.
Honoring the generosity of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, each hospital benefits from a $5 million grant. Kapiʻolani will channel their funds into building the Martha B. Smith Cancer & Infusion Center, ramping up their capacity for life-saving and specialized treatments particularly for women and children battling cancer. Over in West O‘ahu, the cash injection aids a 2,500-square-foot expansion for the Queen’s West cancer center. The update will feature three new infusion bays and six added exam rooms, allowing the hospital to take on 20 percent more patients, a testament to the vision of making critical health care accessible to residents.
The improvements at The Queen's Medical Center–West O‘ahu will encompass a phased reconfiguration, which aims to revamp infusion services and modernize the medical oncology clinic. It hopes to lessen patient wait times and facilitate increasing patient numbers. "This expansion of cancer services at our West O‘ahu hospital will allow us the ability to better serve residents living in those communities so they can receive care closer to home," Jason Chang, President and CEO of Queen’s Health Systems told the Office of the Governor.
On the other hand, the Martha B. Smith Cancer & Infusion Center at Kapiʻolani will expand to a sprawling 25,000 square feet, quintupling the current space. The center is set to double its number of infusion bays for women and pediatric patients, whilst also enlarging research facilities for trials and new therapies. Kapiʻolani stands uniquely as Hawai‘i’s sole dedicated site for bone marrow collection and transplants in children and as the exclusive women's cancer facility with a focus on breast and gynecologic oncology. "We are incredibly thankful for the Helmsley Charitable Trust’s gift to Kapiʻolani in helping to provide state-of-the-art cancer care for years to come," said Gidget Ruscetta, Kapiʻolani’s chief operating officer, in the statement obtained by the Office of the Governor.
These grants are part of a larger Helmsley initiative targeting the disparity in healthcare access between rural and urban Americans. The Trust’s Rural Healthcare program has committed $88 million towards cancer care since 2009, supporting telehealth, partnerships, and outreach clinics among other models, ensuring quality healthcare reaches all corners of America. Following up on a $10.6 million grant to Wilcox Medical Center on Kaua‘i in August 2024, Helmsley's involvement represents a continuous investment in Hawai‘i's health infrastructure. Materials from the grant announcement, including photos and a video from the event, are available through links provided by the Governor’s Office and the Helmsley Charitable Trust press portals.
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