09/26/2025
VAPIHCS Veterans,
Patient Centered Care
At the VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System, you are at the center of everything we do. Our mission is to deliver care that honors your service and respects your unique journey. That’s why we embrace the Whole Health approach, a model of care that looks beyond illnesses and focuses on what matters most to you. Whether it’s medical treatment, mental health services, or lifestyle support, we want your healthcare experience to be personal, holistic, and empowering.
Support for Caregivers
Many of you have caregiver family members, friends, or community members—who dedicate themselves to supporting you every day. Our Caregiver Support Program exists to ensure that those who care for you also receive the resources and guidance they need.
From training and counseling to peer support groups, we are here to strengthen and support caregivers as they play their vital role in your health and well-being. Check out our online workshop with 6 weekly self-paced lessons, facilitator guidance, group support and access to an alumni community for program graduates. Building Better Caregivers.
Staying Connected
I want to highlight the importance of staying connected with your VA benefits and services. New programs and expanded resources are continually becoming available to Veterans and their families. We are committed to walking alongside you, keeping you informed, and ensuring that your VA remains a trusted partner in your health and your future.
On October 22nd, we will be at the Arc of Hilo, 1099 Waianuenue Ave, Hilo, HI 96720-2019 for our next PACT Act Community Call Outreach Event. Join us at 10 AM for health care enrollments, new VA ID cards, and walk-in flu vaccines. At 5 PM, we will host a Veterans Town Hall. This is a valuable opportunity to connect directly with representatives from both the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), learn about your benefits, and explore the services available through the VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System. Most importantly, it’s a time to share your voice and experiences with me and our Executive Leadership Team. Your feedback helps shape how we serve you, and I hope the Veterans in Hilo can join us for this important event.
Thoughts from Chaplain Richie Charles
A father once told his son a riddle: “there were five frogs sitting on a log, but four of them decided to leap off the log, how many frogs were left?”. The little boy answered, “one frog was left, dad”. The father replied, “good try my son, but actually five frogs were left sitting on that log”. At this point, his son was puzzled. The father then reminded his son “I asked how many frogs decided to leap off the log”, not “how many frogs actually did”.
The little boy learned a valuable lesson: it’s one thing to desire to do something, but it’s another to actually do it.
Many of us have dreams and ideas of how we can take our service to new levels. But as noble as these ideas might be, we may find a gap between our plans, and what do about them. But often, a great way to bridge that gap is to “just do it”.
But when it comes to actually executing on our goals, there’s one factor that might seek to stop us in our tracks: waiting for more motivation. Yet waiting for the energizing feeling of motivation to come before leaping forward may prove elusive. Dr. Jerome Bruner of Harvard University once made a good observation: “You’re more likely to act yourself into feeling than feel yourself into action.” He observed that motivation grew because he started, not always before he started. Simply moving forward was key.
Moving forward can create its own form of momentum. As we see the fruit of our daily progress, we’ll be more motivated to keep moving in the right direction. We may not arrive at our destination in one day, but as John Maxwell once said, we can change our direction, today.
One Team, One Ohana!
Thandiwe Nelson-Brooks, MPH, FACHE
Interim Medical Center Director
VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
