University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center Director Naoto Ueno and his wife, Miwa Ueno, have announced an estate gift to the UH Foundation to establish the Michiko, Miwa, and Naoto Ueno Memorial Fund—an endowed fund that will provide long-term, unrestricted support for the UH Cancer Center’s most pressing needs.
The gift reflects a deeply personal commitment to the future of cancer care and research in Hawaiʻi, shaped by family, gratitude and a sense of responsibility to the community the Uenos now call home.
“This gift comes from gratitude and responsibility—a deep sense of kuleana, our shared obligation to give back to the community that has welcomed us so warmly,” said Ueno. “We are grateful for the care and hope we’ve experienced through the Cancer Center, and we feel a responsibility to help ensure future generations in Hawaiʻi and across the Pacific will have access to even stronger cancer care and research.”
…cancer care is never just about science or medicine: it’s about people, their stories and the legacy we leave behind.
—Naoto Ueno
The fund is named for Miwa’s mother, Michiko Ueno, whose success in international business helped make the gift possible; Miwa, whose values shape the couple’s vision; and Naoto, whose life’s work has been dedicated to advancing cancer research and care.
“The fund’s name carries deep meaning,” Naoto said. “Each name reminds us that cancer care is never just about science or medicine: it’s about people, their stories and the legacy we leave behind.”
As director, Naoto has led efforts to expand clinical trials, increase access for patients across the islands and strengthen the UH Cancer Center’s research excellence. The endowed fund will provide the flexibility to respond to emerging needs with timeliness and impact.
“Our hope is that this fund will empower the Cancer Center for years to come, supporting groundbreaking research, expanding clinical trials, and opening doors to education and outreach,” Ueno said. “We want this legacy to give the Center the courage to stay bold and innovative—unafraid to lead.”
A survivor of both myelodysplastic syndrome and sarcoma, Ueno said his most affirming moments come when research translates into real-world impact.
“I do not want anyone in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific to go through the same suffering I went through. And the only way to cure cancer is through research,” he said.
Read the full story on the UH Foundation website.
