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Director's Veteran Message July 11, 2025

Veterans Message

Whole Health and Mindfulness At VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS), Whole Health is more than a philosophy—it’s a way of life that puts you in control of your health and well-being. This week, we highlight the power of mindfulness and the mind-body connection.

Research shows that even a few minutes of daily mindfulness can reduce stress, improve sleep, and support recovery from illness. Whether through meditation, deep breathing, or quiet reflection, we encourage you to explore these practices. Discuss options to incorporate Whole Health principles into your everyday routine with your health care team.

National Veterans Creative Arts Festival

VA medical facilities across the nation use creative arts to help Veterans reach their rehabilitation goals. The annual National Veterans Creative Arts Festival is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the tremendous progress and recovery made through these therapies and to showcase the incredible creative talents of our Veterans.

Here at VAPIHCS, we are proud to offer our local Veterans the chance to participate in this inspiring event. Each year, Veterans enrolled at VA health care facilities across the country compete in a local creative arts competition. Categories include visual arts such as oil painting, leatherwork, and paint-by-number kits, as well as creative writing and performing arts like dance, drama, and music. Winners from our local competition have the chance to advance to a national level, where first, second, and third-place winners will be chosen. First place winners will be invited to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, hosted by a different VA facility each year.

Join us for our Local Creative Arts Festival, which will be held in the main lobby of the Akaka VA Clinic located at 91-1051 Franklin D. Roosevelt Ave, Kapolei, HI 96707. The event will take place on Thursday, August 28th, from 12 PM to 4 PM. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the artistic talents within our community. I encourage all Veterans to participate and showcase their talents. Please note that the deadline for submissions is August 14th. 

For more information, please contact Melissa Crawford, VAPIHCS Recreation & Creative Arts Therapy Department Supervisor at Melissa.Crawford5@va.gov,.

Women’s Health at VA

Women Veterans are the fastest-growing population in the VA, and we are proud to continue expanding services tailored specifically for them. From primary care to mental health to maternity and reproductive services, our dedicated Women’s Health Program ensures that every woman Veteran receives comprehensive and respectful care. Our providers are trained in gender-specific care and are committed to listening and responding to your needs. If you haven’t yet connected with a Women’s Health Primary Care Provider, we encourage you to reach out—we’re here for you. Call us to schedule an appointment at 1-.

Mobile Apps to Expand Your Care

Health care doesn’t end when you leave the clinic, and thanks to VA’s mobile apps, it doesn’t have to. The VA offers a range of free apps to help Veterans manage medications, check appointments, communicate with care teams, and even practice mindfulness and self-care. These tools are designed to extend the reach of your care team and put more control in your hands—wherever you are. Visit https://mobile.va.gov to find the app that best supports your health journey.

Mahalo for being part of our VAPIHCS community and for trusting us with your care. Together, we’re building a stronger, healthier future.

Traffic Control and Conductor Raising on Krukowski Road 7/18/25

This is to inform all that HECO/DPW will be conducting work to raise low hanging conductors along Krukowski Road. We want to assure you that no power outages are anticipated during this operation, but there will be traffic control measures in place. Please take note of the details below:

Job Details:

  • Date: 18 July 2025
  • Time: 1000-1300 (Work will be completed within 1 hour)
  • Job Scope: Raise low hanging conductors
  • Outage: None
  • Location: Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) fronting Building 110

Traffic Impacts:

  • A portion of the road will be closed.
  • Traffic control will be implemented with designated flagmen to manage contraflow traffic.
  • Please see the aerial view below for details on the traffic impacts.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation. 

Thoughts From Chaplain Richie

Have you ever wanted to try something new, only to end up second-guessing yourself? Perhaps it was a bright idea that sparked within you, something you thought might be helpful, but you hesitated and kept silent? If so, I think you’d agree that this inner critic might just be the voice of self-doubt.  

Self-doubt, to a degree, can be healthy and wise; it can keep us from crossing that fine line between self-confidence and presumption.  Self-doubt ensures that we double-check, cross our "t’s" and dot our "i’s". However, too much self-doubt can also become a significant inhibitor, transforming us into our own greatest obstacle. It can lead us to overthink decisions, to the point of never making a decision at all.  

Self-doubt can keep us in a cycle of indecision, leaving us feeling stuck and drifting in one stage of our growth with little to no progress. Rather than empowering us to move forward, it can cause us to self-sabotage our goals. 

Sir Edmund Hillary once said, “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves”. 

Making decisions, on the other hand, helps us to reclaim our voice and sense of agency. Making decisions, choosing a course of action, helps chart our paths and craft our destinies. Yet, the sheer fact that decisions have such power can sometimes prevent us from ever fully exercising this ability. Fear of regret, making the wrong choice, losing control by venturing into the unknown, or even uncertainty about what we truly want can all contribute to this state of decision paralysis. 

But making decisions empowers us to face the unknown courageously, accepting what is and is not within our control. It propels us to take on new challenges and responsibilities, which in turn fosters new growth. Making decisions aid in self-discovery, as the process of trying new things clarifies our true likes and dislikes. 

So, let’s steer clear of prolonged indecision. Instead, let’s embrace and cultivate our power to make sound decisions in a timely manner, allowing us to move forward and grow. 

One Team, One Ohana!

Thandiwe Nelson-Brooks, MPH, FACHE 

Interim Medical Center Director

VA Pacific Islands Health Care System

Stay Informed

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