Financial Assistance for Cancer Patients

Mana’olana Pink Paddlers News Release 

New funding is available for Molokai patients fighting cancer. Na ‘Ale O Mana‘olana (Waves of Hope) is Mana’olana Pink Paddlers’ cancer financial assistance program to help Maui County residents actively dealing with cancer. 

“This assistance program began as a dream when we won $14,000 from 100 Women Who Care in 2019,” said President Mary Dungans. “Then in 2020 we received a $10,000 donation from U’ilani Fund when they dissolved their breast cancer support non-profit due to COVID.” 

Since then, Mana’olana has received generous grants from Atherton Family Foundation and the Laurence H. Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation to further fund their programs. 

“Thanks to all of this support, we are able to reach out to Molokai and Lanai cancer patients as well as Maui,” said Dungans.

The Waves Program funds alternative cancer treatments and complementary care, not often covered by health insurance, such as naturopathic medicine and herbal remedies, as well as massage and acupuncture to help patients feel better. The program also helps patients cover copays for doctor visits, treatments, tests, and expensive prescription drugs.

To qualify for funding, a cancer patient must need financial assistance, be a permanent Maui County resident, 18 years of age or older, and be diagnosed with cancer by a qualified medical doctor. Scholarship maximum is $500, and payments are made directly to health providers, not the patients.

Applications must be filled out online, and are reviewed by a committee of dedicated healthcare professionals. Although Mana’olana does not want anyone to be denied financial assistance, they have limits on the number of patients they can assist.

Mana’olana Pink Paddlers is a nonprofit organization based in Kihei, Maui, and is Hawaii’s only paddling club dedicated to helping cancer patients and survivors regain health after the grueling effects of cancer treatments. 

“Cancer affects everyone in our community,” said Dungans, “and Maui County families are often devastated by this disease.” 

For more information about Mana’olana and the Waves of Hope Program, go tovmauipinks.org under the Cancer Resources link.