Director's Veterans' Message July 5, 2024

Please join us in saluting our Korean War heroes who have served our great nation. We gather this month to honor the courage and sacrifices of those who served in the Korean War 71 years ago; the armistice brought an end to hostilities, but it did not erase the memories of the battles fought, the comrades lost, and the families torn apart. We remember the frozen trenches, the scorched earth, and the unimaginable hardships they endured. We remember the sacrifices they made, the risks they took, and the triumphs they achieved. Their service was not in vain. Their bravery and selflessness defended freedom, democracy, and the rights we hold dear today. They are the true heroes of our nation's history. Over 36,000 Americans made the ultimate sacrifice, and many more were wounded, injured, or suffered from PTSD. They helped preserve South Korea's independence and freedom, protecting its people from communist oppression, and represented the nations' collective effort to maintain peace and security, setting a precedent for future international collaborations.

Despite being often called the "Forgotten War," they persevered, and their contributions deserve recognition and remembrance. Their legacy paved the way for future generations of service members, inspiring patriotism, duty, and selflessness. We honor them as a gesture of gratitude for their unselfish service, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.

Hawaiian Electric’s Public Safety Power Shutoff Program (PSPS) Launches July 1st 

Starting July 1, 2024, Hawaiian Electric is prepared to preemptively shut off power in areas that appear at high risk of wildfire as part of their Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program. Customers are urged to prepare for emergencies and the possibility of extended power outages during periods of high winds and dry conditions. “This is our last line of defense to keep communities safe from the threat of wildfires. We understand shutting off the power can create hardships, so this is not something we take lightly. We urge customers to prepare for a PSPS the same way they would prepare for a hurricane or other hazard that can result in extended power outages,” said Jim Alberts, our senior vice president and chief operations officer.

You can confirm if you live in a PSPS area by reviewing this interactive map online: PSPS Affected Area Maps | Hawaiian Electric. If you do live in a PSPS Zone and are medically dependent on power, HECO is asking that all customers update their contact information through the Online Customer Service Center. Customers using electric-powered medical equipment or who refrigerate medication are urged to prepare for the possibility of extended power outages. Those customers should provide their contact information to Hawaiian Electric to receive notifications in advance of a PSPS by submitting an online Medical Needs Communications Form. Learn more at Hawaiian Electric starts Public Safety Power Shutoff program on July 1 | Hawaiian Electric.

Thoughts From Chaplain Jewel

That Moment When…

From an aspiration to capture and preserve visual memories that are time stamped and contain their own stories, in the early 19th century a remarkable device known as a camera was invented. With the click of its button, and the blink of its shutter, this elaborately designed device redirects light that bounces off an object and creates an image of that object’s appearance. During the camera’s first 100 years, the images it produced were imprinted on media such as paper or film. Today’s modern images are digital compositions of tiny picture elements known as pixels. Cameras have grown in such wide use and popularity that they are practically everywhere, and it seem like everyone, from toddlers to adults, has at least one. Cameras are in outer space; they’re in the sky, on buildings and ceilings, and along walls. They’re on vehicle dashboards, home doors, laptops, tablets, in toys and home décor, and if we have cellphones, they’re right in the palms of our hands. Some cameras are so technologically advanced that they capture precise images of objects in rapid motion and even those that are thousands of miles away.

Much like how cameras capture in-the-moment images of objects in their view, so too do the minds and hearts of the many people with whom we interact. Their experiences are the shutter and our actions the button that click into memory images that can have lasting impressions. Captured in that moment is when a simple hello acknowledges a person’s presence, or when a kind gesture validates a person’s worthiness. It is that moment when a conversation conveys interest and inclusion, and when attentive listening amplifies the speaker’s voice. It is that moment when being fully present is a journey of companioning, and when a smile is as warming as the rays of the sun. Whether it is through the lens of a camera, or through the eyes of persons’ hearts and minds, images, and impressions of us are constantly being captured.  So why not go ahead and “Smile, you’re on camera 😊.” It has been said that “Memories are the pictures we take with our minds, and they’re the stories our hearts tell us.” (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