Director's Message September 8, 2023

The fires may be contained, but the road to recovery and rebuilding continues, and we’re here to support. VA is still accepting donations for Maui Veterans, and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is there for our employees who need it. We are committed to supporting our staff and our Veterans as they rebuild their lives. 

I am proud of all of you who put our Veterans and our Maui community in front of your own. It is the Aloha spirit I’m seeing in action – everyone pulling together to provide, safe, compassionate, and quality care to our Veterans and those on Maui, which truly embodies our One Team, One Ohana ethos.

Apply for Combat Status

There is a PACT Act related deadline coming up that all National Guard and Reserves Veterans need to be aware of to apply for combat status under the PACT Act. If you are a National Guard or Reserves Veteran who was called to active-duty status in Iraq or Afghanistan - or in support of the missions in Iraq or Afghanistan - you need to apply for combat status before September 30, 2023. This is not only Veterans who physically went to Iraq or Afghanistan; it’s Veterans who supported those missions from supply to logistics. If you’re not sure if you are eligible, please call us at 1-800-214-1306 and speak with someone in our enrollment department.

VA encourages all eligible Hawaii Veterans to visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411 to learn more and sign up for VA health care. Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than non-enrolled Veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in overall quality ratings and patient satisfaction ratings. Additionally, VA health care is often more affordable than non-VA health care for Veterans. 

Since the PACT Act was signed into law, VA has delivered more than $1.85 billion in PACT Act benefits to Veterans and their survivors. VA encourages Veterans and their survivors to apply for these benefits now at VA.gov/PACT. 

Find more information on the one-stop-shop PACT Act website. This is the largest outreach campaign in VA history, which has one goal in mind: ensure that all Veterans – and their survivors – get the health care and benefits they deserve under the PACT Act.

Toxic Exposure Legislation Outreach Events

On August 31, 2023, and September 1, 2023, there was an outreach event at the Oahu Vet Center in Honolulu where hundreds of Veterans came to discuss benefits questions and get access to services. On September 7 and 8, 2023, we had an event at the Arc of Hilo on the Big Island with PACT Act enrollment and health services. We will continue to make outreach events a priority because we want to ensure that all Veterans can access VA services and learn about VA services.

Our next community event will be our booth at the Young at Heart Expo from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 22 and 23, 2023. The Expo will be located at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall at 777 Ward Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96813. You can come see us to learn more about eligibility and PACT Act enrollment, as well as our health care options, job openings, and more. Although the Young at Heart event targets senior citizens, all Veterans on Oahu are welcome to come see us.

Flu Season

Flu Season is here, and you can protect yourself and your family by getting a flu vaccine. Flu vaccines are available now at our main location at the Spark Matsunaga Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) and at our Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) locations. The flu vaccine is safe and effective. For those who are older or who have compromised immune systems, the flu can cause serious illness, and even death. Being vaccinated protects you and others who live in your home, so call us to schedule an appointment for the flu vaccine as soon as possible.

Patriot Day

September 11, 2023, we will observe Patriot Day. Our clinics will be open, but we will mark the day all the same because of what it represents. It’s hard to believe that there are adults serving in the military today that weren’t born yet in 2001 when the 9/11 terrorist attacks shocked our nation. For those of us that were alive then, it is a day that still stands out in our minds because of the visceral sense of horror that we felt watching those events play out live on TV. The attacks on Sept 11, 2001, directly caused the deaths of 2,996 people, and led to conflicts in the Middle East that claimed more than 4,400 soldiers in Iraq and more than 2,400 in Afghanistan. Patriot Day is a day to reflect, and to be grateful that we still stand strong; a proud country with brave people serving in our Armed Forces and protecting us from those who would wish to do us harm. Thank you to those serving now and thank you to all Veterans who have worn the cloth of our nation.

Thoughts from Chaplain Richie Charles

It’s not uncommon to find ourselves wondering if the grass is greener on the other side. We've all been there - contemplating different paths, imagining alternative lives, and pondering the allure of the unknown. Sometimes, the perception that the grass is greener elsewhere can be so compelling that it can be a strong factor in sparking irreversible life changes and decisions. But at times these decisions are met with disappointment, because what appeared to be better pastures from a distance only turned out to be a different combination of pros and cons up close.

Now this doesn’t mean that change is never called for. However, I have found that the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side; it’s greener where you choose to water it.

Every domain in our lives is enhanced or diminished by our investment into it. Dwelling on the idea of greener fields elsewhere can take one’s eyes off the opportunities that are already present within one’s reach. No matter where you are in your journey, be it in your career, relationships, or personal pursuits, there's immense value in cultivating the mindset that deeper fulfillment can be found in investing in what’s before you. Notice that a perceptive gardener typically does not expect a plot of land to yield a stunning array of flowers spontaneously or by chance. To bring out the best of the land’s potential, the gardener carefully cultivates the ground to form a well-ordered garden. One ancient wise saying says, “whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” Whatever worthy pursuit one is already engaged in, make the most of it, seizing the opportunities that are already within your reach. So, let's embrace the beauty and potential of the here and now, and watch your grass get greener and greener.

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

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