Hawaiian health agency receives grant of $10,000

The Safeway Foundation has presented a $10,000 check to 'Imi Hale, the Native Hawaiian Cancer Network, to raise awareness of cancer in the Hawaiian community.

The check was presented Friday at the grand opening of the Safeway Kapahulu store.

'Imi Hale said in a news release it will use the money to develop and broadcast public service announcements to call attention to the impact on men when the disease strikes a female relative.

Breast cancer in native Hawaiian families was addressed recently in a half-hour documentary, "Breast Health, Shared Stories from Women in Our Hawaiian Community."

"Men have been the traditional breadwinners while the women hold the family together, yet when something serious happens to the woman, such as breast cancer, the foundation of the relationship is weakened," said Dr. Clayton Chong, chief of oncology at the Queen's Medical Center and the only native Hawaiian oncologist in the world.

He said he sees more men accompanying women and participating in health care decisions. "It's important for the entire ohana that we involve the men more."