08/30/2025
VAPIHCS Veterans,
Fall Prevention
One of the most important things you can do for your health is to protect yourself from falls. Falls are a leading cause of injury among Veterans, but many can be prevented with simple changes in your daily routine. Staying steady on your feet helps you stay independent, mobile, and safe. Here are a few quick tips you can start using today
• Keep walkways in your home clear of clutter and cords.
• Use night lights or keep hallways well lit.
• Wear sturdy shoes with good traction instead of slippers or socks.
• Take your time when standing up, especially if you feel dizzy.
These small steps can go a long way in protecting your health and preventing avoidable injury.
Standing Strong with our Veterans
September is Su***de Prevention Month, and I want to remind you that you are never alone. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Whether it’s talking to a fellow Veteran, connecting with a provider, or calling the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, then press 1, support is always available. Every life does matter, and your story is important to us.
In recognition of Su***de Prevention Month, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System will be hosting a special event on Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Daniel K. Akaka VA Clinic, 91-1051 Franklin D. Roosevelt Avenue, Kapolei, HI 96707. This gathering will feature a special guest speaker and provide an opportunity for Veterans to learn more about the resources, programs, and services available to support overall well-being and quality of life.
We encourage all Veterans to join us for this important event. Su***de prevention is about more than crisis interventions, it’s about connection, support, and building a strong community.
Healthy Surroundings
Here in the Pacific Islands, we are blessed with ocean views, mountain trails, and communities rich in culture and tradition. Taking time to connect with these surroundings, whether through a walk, time with family, or moments of quiet reflection—can bring balance and healing. Whole Health is about more than medical care; it’s about finding strength in all aspects of your life. Talk to your provider to learn more about our Whole Health program.
Clinics Closed
As a reminder, all VA Pacific Islands Health Care System clinics will be closed on Saturday, August 30, 2025, and Monday, September 1, 2025, in observance of the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Thoughts from Chaplain Richie Charles
Although thankfully in the Pacific Islands we don’t tend to experience the drastic climate shifts of other parts of the world, I’ve learned that seasonal changes carry profound lessons—if we are willing to listen to their hidden wisdom. Just like nature, our lives move to a rhythm of seasons. Today, I want to share three lessons that the seasons can teach us:
Seasons remind us of the power of timing
There is time for everything. What would be wise in one season may not be in the next. Wisdom is not merely about knowing what to do, but also when to do it. The season makes all the difference. Planting during harvest time wouldn’t be the most sensible idea; likewise, holding on when it’s time to let go could be more costly in the end. Recently, my car of 10 years began to fail. The mechanic listed the various repairs it needed, and I had to face the truth: pouring more money into it may not be worth the investment. As great as it was, it had served its purpose and now may be the time to let it go. There’s a time to fix and a time to release. Wisdom understands timing.
Seasons teach us the wisdom of limits
Wisdom accepts what cannot be changed and changes what it can. There are many things we can do, but wisdom discerns what we cannot. No one can rush winter into spring or hold back the rain from falling. Instead of resisting the seasons, wisdom invites us to cooperate with them—as unpleasant as it might be. Winter may feel barren, but it restores the soil and prepares it for spring’s harvest. Snow has been found to contain nutrients, serving as fertilizer for the soil. Every season, even the cold ones, has a hidden gift. What might feel like a cold season might be preparing you to bloom in the next.
Seasons show us the value of embracing change
No season lasts forever. This is both a comfort and a challenge. In hard times, it reminds us that today’s difficulties are often temporary, winter always gives way to spring, and night always breaks into morning. In good times, however, seasons warn us not to cling too tightly. No matter how sweet the moment is, life keeps moving forward. To cling too tightly to today is to miss the beauty of what can come next.
So, as we navigate the rhythms of our lives, let's embrace the lessons of each season, finding wisdom, strength, and meaning in every moment.
One Team, One Ohana!
Thandiwe Nelson-Brooks, MPH, FACHE
Interim Medical Center Director
VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
