Director's Message August 9, 2024

 Despite the overwhelming challenges brought about by the disaster, the clinic has remained steadfast in its commitment to serving our Veterans with excellence and compassion. The Maui CBOC has been a beacon of hope for the local community, providing essential health care services and support during a time of great need. Their unwavering efforts have ensured that Veterans continue to receive the safe, compassionate, and quality care they deserve, even in the face of adversity.

As we reflect on the past year, we are reminded of the strength and resilience of our community. The efforts of the Maui CBOC exemplify the very best of what it means to serve, and we are proud to stand alongside them as we continue to rebuild and move forward together. VAPIHCS extends its deepest gratitude to the staff of the Maui CBOC for their tireless work and dedication. Their perseverance in the aftermath of the fires stands as a testament to their commitment to our Veterans and the community.

On the anniversary of the Maui wildfires, we take a moment to remember those precious lives that were lost and thank everyone for their contribution to supporting and rebuilding the community.

Summer Vet Fest

On August 10, 2024, VAPIHCS will hold a Summer Vet Fest from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Daniel K. Akaka VA Clinic at 91-1051 Franklin D. Roosevelt Avenue Kapolei, HI 96707-9670. This event is just one of many across the nation this summer to welcome Veterans to our clinics, and to inform and educate them about our services and programs. It is a casual and informative way to connect with others, and for Veterans’ and their families to learn about the PACT Act, health care enrollment, and VA benefits. Come and enjoy food, music, and games. Veterans are welcome and encouraged to come with their family, caregivers, and friends.

Our Summer Vet Fest will also include an Ohana Open Market which will be open between 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the same day at the Daniel K. Akaka VA Clinic for active-duty service members and Veterans who would like to pick up some cost-free groceries. We look forward to seeing you there.

Thoughts from Chaplain Jewel Davis

Natural Strength: Pretend for a minute, that we’re walking outdoors when unexpectedly a thin, barely visible string attaches to our faces! Our first reaction might be “Ew! Yuck!” Or perhaps we may respond with an apologetic, “awe” as we wipe our faces trying to detach from them what is commonly known as a spider web, or spider silk. Spider silk, one of the strongest natural materials known for its amazing strength and flexibility, consists of thousands of ultra-thin nano strand proteins, or nanofibrils, that are less than a millionth of an inch in diameter and run parallel to each other. Spider silk’s properties are extraordinary combinations of strength, elasticity, self-insulation, and energy absorption. Despite its thinness, spider silk is incredibly strong. It is stronger than steel. It can withstand up to 10,000 times its own weight and stretch far beyond its tensile strength before breaking. It also does not dissolve in water. Now, if one spider silk has this much strength, imagine if it was doubled, tripled, quadrupled, coalesced 10, 100, a thousand times and more. Its strength could very likely be unmatched by any other material in nature.

Likewise, along with the many Veterans and their families who have defended and protected our nation, each of us is endowed with natural strength. We have resilience, flexibility, and the ability to withstand strains that oftentimes feel unbearably heavy. Throughout our lives, we consistently reveal our strength to push through barriers. We demonstrate our resilience to bounce back after setbacks. We showcase our flexibility to bend and be stretched beyond our perceived limits, and we hold up under unrelenting pressure. Furthermore, like spider silk’s near invisibility, our sticky kindness appears without warning. It has been said that “the greatest strength of [humanity] rests in [its] steadfast unity.”  

So, may we celebrate our natural qualities, our collective strength, and our kindness that clings. And continue our unbeatable work with this quote in mind: “When spiders unite, they can tie up a lion.” (Unknown). 

Blessings and mahalo.

One Team, One Ohana!
Adam M. Robinson, Jr., MD, MBA, CPE 
Director, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
VADM, MC, USN, (RET)
36th Surgeon General, USN

Stay Informed

Website: https://www.va.gov/pacific-islands-health-care/ submit your email to get our updates
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VAPacificIslands/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/va_pacific_islands/
Podcast: https://vapihcspao.podbean.com/