Hawaiʻi & Southern California West
Register with NMDPOr text HOPE4DAVIDK
to 61474.
For Dave. For our community.
Join Team
Hope4DavidK
Dr. David Kato has spent his career caring for others on Maui. Now, as he faces acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we’re coming together in his honor—with the hope of seeing him return to the medicine he loves.
A cheek swab can put you on the path to helping someone who needs a blood stem cell transplant.
Choose your campaign region below.
Ages 18–35 · Health & residency eligibility checked by NMDP
Inspired by David. For any matching patient.
Joining the registry expands the options for people around the world; it does not mean you will match David.
Two regions. One shared purpose.
Choose your campaign region.
Use the region shown on your invitation or flyer. Both options lead to NMDP’s donor registry.
Southern California East
Register with NMDPOr text HOPE4DAVIDKSCE
to 61474.
Not sure which region? Ask the person who shared the campaign with you.
Already on the registry? Please don’t register again.
Interactive learning
Explore the science
Blood cancer. Treatment. Donor matching.
Open the educational labUpcoming drives
Dates and locations will appear here once confirmed. In the meantime, you can request a swab kit by mail.
A simple start. A real commitment.
Start with a swab.
Check & register
New members must be 18–35, meet health criteria, and live in the U.S., its territories, or freely associated states.
Check your eligibilitySwab & send it back
Request your free kit, swab your cheeks, and return it in the prepaid envelope. Returning the kit is essential.
Request your swab kitStay reachable
Keep your contact details current. If you may match a patient, NMDP contacts you for more testing and a health evaluation.
Understand the commitment
Already registered? Stay on your existing registry record and update your contact information—please don’t register twice.
Why Hawaiʻi matters
More of us.
More possibilities.
Matching centers on inherited HLA tissue markers, rather than blood type. People are more likely to match someone with similar ancestry, so Hawaiʻi’s many backgrounds belong in the donor registry.
Donated blood-forming stem cells can rebuild a patient’s blood and immune system. Growing the registry gives transplant teams more potential donors to consider.
Help the effort travel
One share. More possibilities.
Choose your region’s original NMDP flyers and QR sheet. Each set uses its own registration link and text code.
HOPE4DAVIDK
Hawaiʻi & Southern California West
Original NMDP graphics. Black & white PDFs are also available to save ink.
NMDP registration QR sheet
HOPE4DAVIDKSCE
Southern California East
Original NMDP graphics for this regional campaign.
Dave’s portrait flyer
You could be the match
Southern California East registration QR sheet
Official NMDP resources
Learn about joining and what happens afterward.
We Save Lives
NMDP’s introduction to blood stem cell donation.
After joining the registry
NMDP’s handout for new registry members.
Before you join
A few things to know.
Does a swab mean I’m donating today?
No. It identifies your tissue type. You may never be asked to donate. If you are a potential match, NMDP explains the next steps.
How are blood stem cells collected?
About 90% of donations use circulating blood after medication; about 10% collect marrow from the pelvic bone under anesthesia. The patient’s physician chooses the method. Both involve risks and recovery time.
What does donation cost?
NMDP covers donation-related medical and travel expenses and offers support for costs such as missed wages and childcare.
Am I signing up just for David?
No. Hope4DavidK honors David, but registry members can be asked to help any matching patient. Donation is voluntary; if your situation changes, let NMDP know promptly.
Can I help if I’m not eligible?
Yes. Share this page, print the NMDP flyer, or invite eligible friends and coworkers to learn about joining. Every person can help the effort reach someone new.
Here’s where we gather
One home for the effort.
Share your region’s flyers with your community. Upcoming drives will be added when dates and locations are confirmed. You can also request a kit from home.