HONOLULU, HAWAII, April 30, 2026 — Kuakini Health System has received a $10.2 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, a global philanthropy that aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives.
The investment will replace imaging equipment and expand access to advanced diagnostic services for patients across Oahu by funding the installation of a new MRI system and digital PET/CT scanner, strengthening Kuakini’s ability to detect, diagnose and treat cancer, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease, and other complex medical conditions.
“This investment comes at a time of rapid change across Hawaii’s healthcare landscape, as rising costs and structural pressures make it increasingly difficult for many independent physicians to maintain reliable access to hospital services, advanced technology and coordinated care infrastructure,” said Gregg Oishi, President and CEO of Kuakini Health System. “We’re grateful for the support of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. Partnerships like this will be key to preserving independent physicians’ clinical autonomy while providing them with access to the hospital infrastructure and technology needed to care for their patients.”
Access to advanced imaging has become a growing challenge across Hawaii as demand for diagnostic services rises, with patients often waiting several weeks or longer for specialized studies, thus delaying diagnosis and treatment decisions. By expanding imaging capacity and deploying next-generation MRI and PET/CT technology, Kuakini can shorten those wait times and help physicians identify disease earlier through faster access to the diagnostic information needed to guide effective patient care.
“Our hospitals should have access to the latest and greatest diagnostic equipment so patients can receive top-notch healthcare close to home,” said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “This grant will help cut wait times and allow physicians to more easily identify disease and choose a path toward healing.”
Installation of the new PET/CT system is expected in the summer of 2026, with the MRI installation planned in a later phase.
The imaging investment builds on a broader transformation underway at Kuakini to strengthen the hospital’s long-term stability and clinical capabilities. Over the past two years, the health system has undertaken a series of reforms to stabilize its finances, strengthen governance, and renew its clinical platform for the future. At the same time, the organization has been investing in campus upgrades and service expansion, including a partnership with the IMS Group to renovate and enhance Kuakini’s surgical facilities. Together, these efforts reflect a coordinated strategy to strengthen core clinical services, support independent physicians, and position Kuakini as a stable, community-centered healthcare institution for Hawaii in the decades ahead.
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About Kuakini Health System
Kuakini Health System (KHS) is a nonprofit healthcare organization serving the community through hospital care; primary and specialty medicine; biomedical research; and training and education programs. KHS is the parent company of four non-profit subsidiaries – Kuakini Medical Center (established in 1900); Kuakini Geriatric Care, Inc.; Kuakini Foundation; and Kuakini Support Services, Inc. Kuakini Medical Center is the only independently run hospital in Hawaii, supporting independent physicians and patient-focused care. More information is available at kuakini.org.
About The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has granted more than $4.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $850 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and two U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org.
