Retiree News

As we head into summer, I’m thinking about safety. With children out of school and hurricane season upon us, there is the potential for danger on many fronts. Please review all safety information that we put out, and be mindful of weather reports, surf reports, and other information that can help you stay safe.

Ensuring a safe environment for Veterans, their families, and our dedicated staff is not just a regulatory requirement – it’s a reflection of our deep respect and gratitude. From infection prevention to medication management, fall prevention to emergency preparedness, safety is woven into the fabric of our care delivery at the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS).

Because those who defended our safety deserve nothing less than the safest care in return. Mahalo for choosing VAPIHCS and entrusting us with your healthcare.

Volunteer with the CDCE

VAPIHCS’ Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) helps connect volunteers to support our Veteran community. Volunteering with VAPIHCS is a great way to connect with Veterans, make friends, and serve your community. Common volunteer positions include:
• Clerical help
• Red Vest Ambassadors
• Compassionate Contact Corps
• Special Events Assistance

We welcome volunteers with any special skills, from teaching ukelele lessons to web design. If you have a talent or are a specialist, we will see how we can use it to help Veterans. If you would like to volunteer, please contact CDCE Chief Schoen Safotu at: Schoen.Safotu@va.gov or call 808-433-4772.

June Whole Health Topic: Sleep

Sleep, rest, and relaxation can give our bodies the energy we need to live well and to enjoy life. Just as our electronics would not continue to function if we did not recharge them, our bodies would not either. Rest and relaxation can lower stress and give you peace. Sleep gives your body time to fix itself and heal, allows your brain to grow and learn, and affects hormone levels needed by your body and mind.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours a night for adults aged 18-64 and 7-8 hours a night for adults aged 65 and over. The amount of sleep needed varies from person to person. Not only does sleep assist our bodies in healing and our brains in learning and growing, but it also impacts our performance. People who do not get enough sleep have a hard time doing well at school, work, and sports. People who are sleep deprived have difficulty remembering things and have more trouble focusing. They are more likely to feel irritable and grumpy and have less emotional balance. 

Good Sleep Hygiene

• Get up and go to sleep at the same time every day. This helps build a routine.
• Move your body often. Regular exercise helps people to feel more rested after sleep.
• Eat fresh foods. Your brain needs nutrients so that it can make the chemicals and hormones that help you sleep well.
• Keep the temperature in your bedroom comfortable. Many people sleep better if the bedroom is on the cool side.
• Use your bed only for sleep. Do not work or do other stressful activities in your bed or bedroom.
• Keep electrical devices away from your head when you sleep. The bright light from a phone or tablet can lower sleep hormones. Having these devices near you, can make you more stressed, which also makes it harder to sleep.

Rest and relaxation are things you do while you are awake to help refresh yourself. There are many ways to rest and relax. Choose things that fit your interests and lifestyles. Some ways to rest and relax include:

• Meditate, pray, or make a habit of having a quiet moment.
• Allow yourself time for leisure, creativity, and hobbies or other interests outside of work.
• Practice progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. 

Make time for sleep and you’ll have happier days and better overall wellness.

Juneteenth

VAPIHCS clinics will be closed on June 19, 2025, in observance of Juneteenth. If you need assistance, please call the Clinical Contact Center at 833-983-0487. In the event of an emergency, call 911.

Thoughts from Chaplain Richie Charles

William Arthur Ward once said, “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”

One of the hardest things in life is coming to terms with the reality that some things may never turn out exactly the way we expected. We can’t control every storm or shifting circumstance, nor can we direct the course of the wind. But that doesn’t leave us powerless. The realist reminds us that while we cannot contain the wind’s powerful gusts, we can adjust our responses to them. Realists neither overly focus on the negative nor unrealistically hope that challenges will resolve on their own. They acknowledge what is happening and navigate through the winds of adversity with wisdom and adaptability; they learn to adjust their sails.

There’s a story of a person who once went to a mentor, overwhelmed by the pressures of life. The mentor silently placed a potato in one pot of boiling water, an egg in another, and coffee beans in a third. After a while, he took them out and asked, “What do you see?”

The potato, which went into the boiling water once sturdy, hard, and unrelenting, was now softened and weakened, losing its sense of firmness. The egg, once fragile, had allowed the boiling water to make it hardened on the inside. But the coffee, on the other hand, ended up transforming the boiling water itself —into something rich, fragrant, and new.

Each faced the same adversity—the boiling water—but the coffee beans “adjusted the sails”, transforming what it could not control into something better. In our life experiences, the question is not, “Will we face challenges?”, but rather, “What will those challenges make of us?” In our challenges, how can we, like the realist, balance accepting the reality of our circumstances with striving to improve upon them?

If we can adjust our sails, the very winds that blew against us can end up propelling us further along in our paths.

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