Woven Support: Expanding Palliative Care Across Maui County
PCF and Hospice Maui teams posing in front of the J. Walter Cameron Center in Wailuku.
A quiet shift with powerful impact is taking place in Maui County. Thanks to a groundbreaking policy change and a deepening partnership between Pacific Cancer Foundation and Hospice Maui, more individuals and families facing serious illness will soon have access to the compassionate support they need.
In June 2024, Hawai‘i became the first state in the nation to receive federal approval for Medicaid to cover community-based palliative care as a preventive service. This change redefines what’s possible for patients navigating cancer and other serious illnesses—allowing them to receive supportive care earlier, without financial barriers.
At Pacific Cancer Foundation, we see the importance of this every day. Our navigators walk alongside families through the complexities of cancer care. We know the strength of comfort, clarity, and connection. Hospice Maui, a trusted leader in compassionate end-of-life and palliative care, shares that vision deeply.
Now, through intentional conversations and a growing partnership, our organizations are working hand in hand to ensure this benefit reaches the people of Maui, Lāna‘i, and Moloka‘i—strengthening the web of care that holds our community together.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with serious illnesses. It focuses on relieving symptoms, improving comfort, and supporting emotional, spiritual, and practical needs—not just for the patient, but for their loved ones too.
It is often misunderstood as "end-of-life" care, but it can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and alongside treatments intended to cure. Whether someone is managing cancer, heart or lung disease, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s, or another complex condition, palliative care can offer meaningful relief and guidance.
At its heart, palliative care helps people live as fully as possible, no matter where they are in their health journey.
A Groundbreaking Policy for Hawai‘i
When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Hawai‘i’s State Plan Amendment in June 2024, it marked a national first. The amendment, which defines palliative care as a preventive service under Medicaid, establishes a payment structure and reporting standards—making the benefit real and accessible.
Med-QUEST, Hawai‘i’s Medicaid program, now provides a path for earlier, community-based care that meets patients where they are. It allows families to receive support before a crisis, and it empowers providers to work collaboratively to enhance quality of life.
This kind of early intervention is especially vital for those navigating cancer diagnoses. The physical toll, the emotional weight, the logistical complexity—it can be overwhelming. Medicaid coverage for palliative care opens doors to relief, clarity, and resilience.
Deepening a Shared Commitment
In recent months, Pacific Cancer Foundation and Hospice Maui have been meeting at PCF’s Navigation Office inside the Pacific Cancer Institute, with one shared intention: to ensure this new benefit translates into real support for the families we serve.
Our teams are working closely to streamline referrals, share resources, and build coordinated pathways to care. PCF's navigators will now be able to refer eligible clients directly to Hospice Maui's community-based palliative care program, creating a bridge between diagnosis and comfort-focused support.
Through this partnership, we’re not only expanding services—we’re weaving a stronger net of care across Maui County.
Introducing Mālama Circle
One of the first fruits of this collaboration is Mālama Circle—a new monthly gathering designed to support caregivers and families. Hosted on the first Friday of each month, the circle offers a peaceful space for rest, connection, and shared understanding.
Rooted in the Hawaiian value of mālama, meaning "to care for," Mālama Circle provides self-care activities like massage and meditation, space for shared conversation, and access to information about PCF and Hospice Maui services, including palliative care.
The circle symbolizes community, healing, and compassionate accompaniment. It is open to anyone caring for a loved one facing serious illness.
A Vision for the Future
This is just the beginning. As Hawai‘i leads the nation in expanding Medicaid support for palliative care, and as PCF and Hospice Maui build bridges of collaboration, the future of serious illness care in Maui County looks brighter.
Our shared goal is simple, yet profound: to ensure that no one faces cancer or serious illness alone. With this new benefit, with strong partnerships, and with a commitment to compassion, we move closer to that vision every day.
To learn more about palliative care, the Mālama Circle, or how to get involved, visit www.pacificcancerfoundation.org or contact us at 808-242-7661. Together, we are weaving a future of support, dignity, and hope for all.