Director's Message September 13, 2024

As the Director of the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS), I know that VA’s commitment to serve Veterans is sacred. We must care for all those who have worn the cloth of our nation. That is a promise made, and it is a promise that must always be kept. 

This week, we marked the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It is a solemn occasion, and a time to pause and think about the trauma our nation suffered and the way we came together in that crisis. At our core, we are a nation of people who are bound by the values we share and the land that we love. Freedom and democracy are not merely words we utter - they are ways of life. They are ideas that this country was founded upon - which are enshrined in our Constitution - and they cannot be destroyed by cowardly acts of terrorism or by any attempt to destabilize us. 

Thank you for your service. May God bless you and keep you safe as we remember our resilience in the face of adversity, and our commitment to each other and our great nation. 

Suicide Prevention Month

September is Suicide Prevention month, and like every month, it’s a time to remember that suicide prevention begins with each of us taking time to maintain connections to our fellow Veterans. If you know someone who isn’t enrolled with us, have them call 1-800-214-1306. Veterans who are connected to VA are less likely to die by suicide. Enrolling with VAPIHCS opens a door to all the services and programs that we offer. 

VAPIHCS invites you to the Daniel K. Akaka VA Clinic in Kapolei on Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. HST, September 20, 2024. We will have guest speakers from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. sharing important information and resources on mental health support. We will also be providing flu vaccines to keep Veterans and our community safe and healthy. Remember, if you have received your flu vaccine in the community, call our hotline at 808-433-4979 to update your VA medical records. 

You are not alone. If you are experiencing a crisis, call the Veterans Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988, then press 1 for support 24/7. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to call.

Congratulations to Our Medalists 

VAPIHCS sent 24 athletes to the National Veterans Golden Age Games (NVGAG) this year in Salt Lake City. They returned with 41 gold medals, 21 silver medals, and 17 bronze medals, for a total of 79 medals! Thank you to our recreation therapy staff who helped prepare the Veterans to compete, and those who supported Veterans at the events. Congratulations to all medalists for their hard work, dedication, and commitment.

Thoughts from Chaplain Jewel Davis – “Doesn’t Take Much” 

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” so says a proverb. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” says another.  And “One light bulb can banish darkness of an entire room.” These pithy statements illustrate general observations that what may easily be perceived as small and insignificant, may have outstanding, far-reaching, and long-term implications. An apple, for example, is a fist-sized, nutrient-dense fruit full of Vitamin C that helps boost the immune systems and promote good health. And regular, proactive steps to maintain a healthy lifestyle have the potential to prevent health problems from developing and requiring more time and resources to treat. Of note, seemingly little things do matter.

Grab your favorite morning beverage; a glass of water, or a cup of tea, or coffee, milk, or a cup of juice, or smoothie, soda or whatever preferred beverage is in our possession. Now take a sip (and for those who do not have a cup of anything, well we’ll just use our imagination). After taking that sip, whether consciously or subconsciously, we may have quicky realized that it did not take much of whatever is contained in our cups to have an immediate effect on us. We may have felt a sudden boost or jolt of energy or had a taste of instant gratification that could linger throughout the rest of today. And to know that energy or gratification came from a cup; something comparatively small and with limited capacity yet filled with something wonderfully powerful.

In the grand scheme of things, we may feel limited in our capacity to have influence. But like that delicate sip, we are more potent and capable than we probably realize. We impact lives and bring healing to people in various ways. We not only have the potential to promote change, like a ripple effect, we’re able to transform the world around us.

Let’s continue to nurture ourselves, care for the vulnerable, help prevent suicide, pursue healing in our lands, and seek peace in the world. And please remember, it doesn’t take much.