Press Room

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With the 2026 legislative session now underway in Hawai’i, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is leading efforts to work with lawmakers on several initiatives which include defending Medicaid and expanding access to screenings for colorectal cancer for the state’s most vu

With Friday marking the end of the legislative session in Hawai’i, cancer survivors, patients, and advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) commend the state legislature for  committing to health equity by passing a bill that enables researchers to study why cancer disproportionately impacts Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Asian Americans including Filipinos in Hawai’i. 

Volunteer advocates, including cancer survivors, patients,

Advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) are expressing their support to increase the cigarette tax by at least $1 per pack after recent legislative action taken by committees in the Hawaii House and Senate. Raising the tax on cigarettes would not only reduce tobacco use and save lives, but it would also boost revenue to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, which is vital for cancer research and access to life-saving treatments. 

HONOLULU – A new report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) released Thursday shows cancer diagnoses are now higher in women compared to men, revealing a shift in the burden of the disease. The report highlights and presents an opportunity for Hawaii State Lawmakers to work with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) to support cancer prevention, treatment, and access to care during the 2025 legislative session.  

The American Cancer Society (ACS) released an update this week on breast cancer occurrence and trends in the United States. While the new report finds mortality rates have dropped by 44% since 1989, not all women have benefited from this progress. The report highlighted a continued upward trend in breast cancer incidence with the steepest increase in women younger than 50 years and Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) women of all ages. The release coincides with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) campaign to connect patients with the right treatment at the right time through increasing access to biomarker testing in Hawaii. 

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) presented Waianae community member Mckayla McCullah with the Young Leader award this week in recognition of her passionate advocacy and commitment to furthering the fight against cancer.

This award is presented to a state volunteer who has demonstrated an exciting promise in their start with ACS CAN by taking advantage of new opportunities to advocate for cancer patients.

Advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) commend the Hawaii State Legislature for the passage of HCR 53 during the 2024 legislative session. The resolution moves Hawaii one step closer to advancing legislation to expand access to the testing needed to connect cancer patients and those battling other diseases to precision treatments through biomarker testing. 

 American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteers from across Hawaii met with their legislators at the Hawaii State Capitol Thursday to urge them to support HB1301. If enacted, the policy would enable funding for a multiethnic cohort study by the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in the Hawaii Pacific region.