Veteran Transportation Options
At the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS), our coverage area is much different than other VA locations.
Veterans cannot simply drive from American Samoa to get to an appointment on Oahu, so our Beneficiary Travel department works hard to help Veterans with the logistics involved in traveling to Oahu for appointments. Once Veterans arrive, they can use our VAPIHCS Courtesy Shuttle to the airport hotel, and then to their appointments at the Spark Matsunaga Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) or their appointments at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC).
“The Courtesy Shuttle is free,” said Veteran Transportation Supervisor Hector Maxwell. “Regular shuttles come every 30 minutes, and we also have a red line that is wheelchair accessible and comes several times each day."
On February 1, 2024, the VA Courtesy Shuttle began stopping at Ke’ehi Lagoon as well. This is to allow Oahu Veterans the opportunity to park at Ke’ehi Lagoon, and then ride into the Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC). Veterans who would like to take the shuttle are encouraged to call with any questions at: (808) 433-7982 anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“Any Veteran can use the shuttle,” Maxwell said. “They just need to have their Veteran Health Identification Car to show the driver. Most of our vehicles that are not wheelchair accessible have only one or two steps, so they are easy to get into and comfortable to ride in.”
The VA Courtesy Shuttle is different from the Veteran Transportation Services (VTS) where a Veteran will call to schedule a pick-up from their home. That is a separate service, which is currently available for Veterans as far out as Mililani going North, Kapolei going west, and into Waikiki, though not past Hawaii Kai. VTS is still available for eligible Veterans, and pickups can be scheduled by calling (808) 433-7982
Both VTS and the VA Courtesy Shuttle are separate from the Handi-Van. The Handi-Van is a public transportation service for persons with disabilities who are unable to ride The Bus. It is fee-based service, unlike VTS and the Courtesy Shuttle which are both free. To learn more about the Handi-Van, Veterans can call: (808) 456-5555.
“In the future, we will have two vehicles and two drivers at the new Daniel K. Akaka VA Clinic,” Maxwell said. “This will help us get the Veterans on the west side of Oahu to their appointments when our new clinic opens this spring.”
Veterans are encouraged to arrive at shuttle stops early, since shuttles may be up to ten minutes late during times of heavy traffic. These options are provided for Veterans to ensure their access to health care even if they no longer drive, or do not own a vehicle. For general questions related to VAPIHCS services, please call us at: 1-800-214-1306.
VAPIHCS also has an Uber Health Program, which is for eligible Veterans to use when they need help getting to VA authorized medical appointments. Like all VA services, Veterans must be determined eligible. Once they are, they will have a “common carrier consult” entered for Uber Health by their Primary Care Provider (PCP). If Veterans have a PC in the community, the VAPIHCS Care in the Community (CITC) department can help them. For wheelchair-bound Veterans, there are other options that a provider can explain, such as transportation through a third-party contract VAPIHCS has with Navarre corporation. Veterans may have more transportation options available to them than they realize, so any Veteran who is struggling to make it to appointments should call and find out how VAPIHCS can help.