Naming dedication ceremony for the Dr . James T . Kakuda Cancer Center .
LEFT TO RIGHT : Ray Vara , Hawai ‘ i Pacific Health president and CEO ; Nathan Kohashi , Pali Momi Medical Center chaplain ; Dr . James Kakuda ‘ s daughter , Caitlyn Kakuda and wife , Dr . Michelle Miyashiro .
community and donors to Pali Momi Medical Center in 2015 : “ Good health is more than good health care . It is preserving wellness in good times , restoring strength in trying times , and providing comfort and hope in difficult times . Pali Momi and its physicians are devoted to this continuum of our patients ‘ lives . This commitment requires both dedication and financial support in equal measure .“
His endless enthusiasm extended to fundraising . He started by helping to triple the size of the Pali Momi Women ‘ s Center from 8,000 to 24,000 square feet . It was also Dr . Kakuda ‘ s vision to build the first and only comprehensive cancer
“ As I ‘ ve seen personally , patients with a new cancer diagnosis are often adrift and numb from shock . This center will be their lifeline . We can streamline cancer care and minimize the uncertainty and anxiety .“
The late Dr . James T . Kakuda in 2017 at the cancer center opening . center serving Central and West O ‘ ahu . He was involved in every step of its construction from the floor plan to groundbreaking . At its opening in 2017 , he described the Hawai ‘ i Pacific Health Cancer Center at Pali Momi Medical Center as a “ game changer .“ Today , it is the only cancer treatment program in West O ‘ ahu accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer .
Now in 2021 , the facility he first imagined bears his name . In March , HPH dedicated the newly named Dr . James T . Kakuda Cancer Center at Pali Momi Medical Center . At the intimate gathering , his wife , Hawai ‘ i Pacific Health Medical Group Oncologist Dr . Michelle Miyashiro , spoke on behalf of his family : “ Bestowing James ‘ name on the cancer center is a true honor ,“ she said . “ James was inspired , excited and motivated by all of you . This place reflects the friendships , commitment and dreams he
17