A summit will bring together cancer stakeholders—including patients, caregivers, health care providers, advocacy organizations, researchers, policymakers, and health insurers—to unite around a shared commitment to prevent and treat colorectal cancer.
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health will host the Hawaiʻi Colorectal Cancer Summit 2026 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 24, at the ʻAlohilani Resort in Waikīkī. The event is free and will be hosted both in-person and virtually. The registration deadline is Thursday, July 23.
Colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, is the second leading cancer killer in Hawaiʻi. While it is one of the most common and preventable cancers, many people are diagnosed only after the disease has reached an advanced stage, often due to gaps in awareness, screening, and equitable access to care.
“By rallying around colorectal cancer, stakeholders can strengthen public awareness, increase screening rates, improve timely diagnosis, and address disparities that disproportionately affect underserved communities,” said Director of Health Dr. Kenneth Fink. “Collective action fosters collaboration, accelerates research, informs policy, and ensures that every person at risk or living with colon cancer has access to high-quality, patient-centered care.”
The goals of the Colorectal Cancer Summit 2026 are to:
- Understand the colorectal cancer landscape in Hawaiʻi and emerging national trends.
- Strengthen collaboration among public health, health care, and community partners to advance colorectal cancer prevention and control in Hawaiʻi.
- Build engagement with the Hawaiʻi Comprehensive Cancer Coalition’s Colorectal Cancer Task Force and ongoing statewide efforts.
To promote better access, Governor Josh Green recently signed House Bill 1969. This bill requires the Department of Human Services to assist eligible Hawaiʻi residents in accessing colorectal cancer screenings, even if they are uninsured, underinsured, or otherwise ineligible for Medicaid.
Registration for the Colorectal Cancer Summit 2026 can be done online. For more information and educational resources about colorectal cancer, visit GetScreenedHawaii.gov.
