The new cancer center near the University of Hawaii medical school is set to open soon.  But, a new Diabesity Center is something you may not heard of.

Diabesity is a word you might not be familiar with but expect to learn more about it.

UH administrators are floating a plan to create a new center around the growing health problem in an area under control of the Hawaii Community Development Authority.

The new structure is being proposed for a parking lot used by workers at the UH medical school.

UH is asking for $27 million in funding for design and feasibility studies to launch their latest endeavor.

The university does have a conditional lease for this lot.  It has until August of next year to come up with a formal proposal for the HCDA for a research center.

Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple briefed the UH regents on the tentative plans at a meeting this week.

And Apple has been talking about the proposal in town hall meetings with deans and directors.

The Faculty Senate has raised some concerns that the Life Science Departments who may be affected have not been involved in the talks.

The news of a Diabesity Center came as a surprise to a community watchdog planning group for Kakaako Makai.