Director's Veterans Message December 26, 2025
This time of year offers a moment to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most—our health, our loved ones, and the values that unite us.
Aloha Veterans,
This time of year offers a moment to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most—our health, our loved ones, and the values that unite us. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue serving you and your families, and we thank you for choosing the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) as your provider of choice.
As the Interim Medical Executive Director, I am honored to serve our Veteran community and look forward to strengthening access to high-quality, timely, and compassionate care across our islands. My focus is on improving access to the medical services you are entitled to and the care that you have earned through your years of service and sacrifice in defense of our nation.
We remain committed to listening, improving, and advancing the care we provide so that every Veteran feels respected, supported, and confident in their VA health care experience. Your service matters, your health matters, and we are proud to stand with you in
Legal and Financial Planning Services for Caregivers
Caring for a Veteran can come with complex legal and financial planning questions.
The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) now includes legal and financial planning services to support the unique needs of injured Veterans and their Primary Family Caregivers.
Services available include:
• One on one support from a certified concierge
• Personalized legal and financial planning guidance
• Referrals to trusted attorneys
• Educational tools tailored to you
• 24/7 website and phone support
You may benefit if you:
• Aren’t sure where to start with legal or financial planning concerns
• Want help managing your finances
• Need guidance finding the right legal resources
How It Works:
1. Connect with a concierge
2. Receive personal support and answers
3. Utilize resources as needed
4. Covered services at no cost to you. The complete list here: Covered Legal and Financial Planning Services
5. You can also find more information here: Legal and Financial Planning Page
Ready to take the next step?
Contact the VAPIHCS Caregiver Support Team at
Thoughts from Chaplain Richie Charles
As the year draws to a close, memories have a way of quietly resurfacing. Certain moments return without effort—a laugh you didn’t expect, a conversation that stayed with you, a small victory that once felt ordinary but now feels meaningful. Time has a way of revealing which moments were truly shaping us.
Some memories warm the heart. They remind us that joy showed up in the middle of busy days, that goodness was present even when we weren’t looking for it. Gratitude grows when we allow ourselves to linger there—to acknowledge the people, opportunities, and simple blessings that carried us through.
Other memories are heavier. They recall disappointment, uncertainty, loss, or seasons when things didn’t turn out as hoped. Yet even these moments tell a powerful story. They remind us that we endured what once felt unbearable. That we adapted, learned, and kept moving forward—even when we didn’t feel strong at the time.
As we step into a new year, may we carry both kinds of memories with wisdom—holding the good ones with gratitude, and honoring the difficult ones as evidence of strength. The past year didn’t just pass; it shaped us. And that story is still being written. With gratitude for where we’ve been and confidence in what we’ve survived, we step into the new year not empty-handed, but strengthened, wiser, and better prepared for what comes next.
One Team, One Ohana!
Thomas A. Steinbrunner, FACHE
Interim Executive Director
VA Pacific Islands Health Care System