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Kona Vet Center

We offer confidential help for Veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. Our services include counseling for needs such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST). We can also connect you with more support in VA and your community.

Locations and contact information

Main Location

Hale Ku'i Plaza, 73-4976 Kamanu Street
Suite 207
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Direct line

Hours

  • Mon. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Tue. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Wed. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Thu. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Sat. Closed
  • Sun. Closed
Located on the second floor and there's an elevator and stairs available on the right side of the building

Other locations

Vet Centers are community based to be more accessible in areas where you live.

View more Kona Vet Center locations

We also have non-traditional hours that change periodically given our community’s needs. Please call us to find out more.

Need help after hours?

Our call center is available 24/7. Call us anytime at 877-927-8387.

Prepare for your visit

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To make an appointment call the or walk into our office and one of our staff will help facilitate seeing a Counselor or the Veteran Outreach Specialist.

The Kona Vet Center is close to the Hele On Bus Route.  Visit Hele On Bus for more information on taking public transportation.  

You do not need to be registered for care at VA, rated for a service connected disability, or receiving any other form of VA benefits. On your first visit, we will look for one or more of the following:

  • Discharge documents (such as a DD214)
  • Receipt of certain awards
  • Deployment orders
  • Other documents that show qualifying military service

Request your military service records online.

If you don’t have these documents on-hand, come in and we can work with you to establish your eligibility and also answer any questions you might have.

The Kailua-Kona Vet Center is located at 73-4976 Kamanu St., Suite #207 at the Hale Kui Plaza in Kailua-Kona. 

The Vet Center is on the second floor and there is an elevator available.

Handicap accessible parking is available at designated spots at the plaza.

In the spotlight at Kona Vet Center

Counseling services

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We offer couples and family counseling to support you as you work toward meeting your goals.

The Vet Center offers couples and family services to those eligible, including dependents of currently deployed service members.

If someone close to you has died or you’re adjusting to a difficult life change, we’re here to support you.

The Kailua-Kona Vet Center can offer counseling and other support, such as:

  • Bereavement counseling for families who have lost a loved one while they were serving on active duty
  • Grief counseling

If you’re struggling with issues like PTSD, depression, grief, anger, or trauma, we offer counseling and other support. We’ll work with you to help you achieve your personal goals.

Kona Vet Center offers individual and group counseling:

  • Life Strengths Group
  • PTSD Support Group
  • Women Vets Support Group

If you experienced sexual assault or harassment during military service, we can help you get the counseling you need. Any Veteran or service member, including members of the National Guard and Reserve forces, who experienced military sexual trauma is eligible to receive counseling. This applies to people of all genders from any service era.

The Kailua-Kona Vet Center can provide military sexual trauma (MST) referral services.

If you have symptoms of PTSD after a traumatic event, we can help. We offer assessment and support through private counseling and group therapy. We can also refer you to VA or community counseling for treatment and therapy resources.

Care at the Kailua-Kona Vet Center includes:

  • Anger management
  • Stress management
  • Activity engagement

If you’re returning from military service, we’ll help you transition to civilian life. We can connect you with educational and career counseling, mental health services, and other programs and benefits that will support your transition.

Referral services

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We can help you overcome substance use problems, from unhealthy alcohol use to life-threatening addiction. We'll connect you to services for your specific needs.

Call our Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and press 1 to get support anytime day or night. This service is private, free, and available 24/7. Our Vet Center can also connect you with ongoing counseling and services.

We can help connect you to VA and community resources that will support you in achieving your goals.

Kailua-Kona Vet Center supports local Veterans through partnerships with government and community agencies, including:

  • Law enforcement and other first responders
  • Kona Palamanui Community College
  • University of Hawaii
  • Hawaii Office of Veterans Services
  • Hawaii Army National Guard, US Army Reserves, US Airforce Reserves, and Hawaii Air Guard units
  • Various Veteran service organizations such as VFW, American Legion, BIRMA, DAV, and many more.

Other services

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We provide private organizations and community agencies education on our Veteran community and military culture. Together, we build referral networks to expand support for Veterans, service members, and their families.

The Kailua-Kona Vet Center works with the local community college, state VA office, local Veteran service organizations, and military units.

 

 

We offer workshops and classes if you want to connect with other Veterans but don't want a group counseling setting.

Veteran Outreach Specialist conducts an in person benefits brief on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month. Call the Hilo Vet Center to see the upcoming schedule at 969-3833. The brief will include Veterans and Dependents Federal Benefits, Vet Center Activities, and community resources.

How we’re different than a clinic

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Vet Centers are small, non-medical, counseling centers conveniently located in your community. They’re staffed by highly trained counselors and team members dedicated to seeing you through the challenges that come with managing life during and after the military.

Whether you come in for one-on-one counseling or to participate in a group session, at Vet Centers you can form social connections, try new things, and build a support system with people who understand you and want to help you succeed.

You may be eligible for Vet Center services no matter your discharge status or eligibility for VA health care. And we encourage you to contact us, even if you’re not sure if you’re eligible. If we can’t help you, we’ll find someone who can. 

If you’re a Veteran or service member (including National Guard and Reserves), you’re eligible if you meet any of these service requirements: 

  • You served on active duty in any combat theater or area of hostility, or 
  • You provided mortuary services or direct emergency medical care to treat the casualties of war while on active duty, or 
  • You were a member of an unmanned aerial vehicle crew that provided direct support to operations in a combat theater or area of hostility, or 
  • You served on active duty in response to a national emergency or major disaster declared by the president, or under orders of the governor or chief executive of a state in response to a disaster or civil disorder, or  
  • You’re a current or former member of the Coast Guard who participated in a drug interdiction operation, or 
  • You’re a current member of the Reserve Component assigned to a military command in a drill status, including active Reserves, and you need to address a behavioral health condition or psychological trauma that is related to your military service

If you’re a Veteran or service member (including National Guard and Reserves), you’re also eligible for Vet Center services if any of these descriptions is true for you: 

  • You’re a Vietnam Era Veteran who used Vet Center services before January 2, 2013, or 
  • You experienced military sexual trauma (no matter your gender or service era), or 
  • You currently use any covered VA educational assistance benefits

What are the covered educational assistance benefits?

They're benefits from any of these programs

Remember: You don’t need to be enrolled in VA health care to be eligible for Vet Center services. You don’t need to have a service-connected disability. And you can have any character of discharge.

You can use our counseling and other support services when your participation would support the growth and goals of the Veteran or service member in your family. If the Veteran or service member considers you family, so do we.  

You can also use our bereavement services if any of these descriptions is true for your family: 

  • The Veteran or service member died while serving on active duty, or

  • The Veteran was using Vet Center services at the time of their death, or

  • The Veteran or service member died by suicide 

No. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA health care or have a service-connected disability.

Safe and confidential. Our records can’t be accessed by other VA offices, the DoD, military units, or other community networks and providers without your permission or unless required to avert a life-threatening situation. Here, you can be as open as you want—there’s absolutely no judgment.