Retiree News

Closing Out Summer and Setting Goals

As summer winds down across the Pacific Islands, we are reminded of how unique this season is in our region. For many of us, the end of summer means family gatherings, community events, and time spent outdoors enjoying the beauty of our islands. It is also a time to pause, reflect, and prepare for the months ahead.

For our Veterans, this is a good moment to check in on your own health and wellness. Just like we prepare our homes and families for seasonal changes, taking small steps – whether it’s scheduling a check-up, reconnecting with friends, or setting new goals, can help set the tone for the rest of the year. VAPIHCS staff are committed to being here to support you with the care and resources you need, so that you and your loved ones continue to thrive.

Resumption of PTSD Residential Recovery Program

I am delighted to announce that as of August 18, 2025, the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) resumed its in-person Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Residential Recovery Program, known as “PRRP,” at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), located on the 5th floor, C1 wing. The PRRP provides residential treatment to both Veterans and Active-Duty service members experiencing symptoms of PTSD, such as nightmares, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, or avoidance. With the program’s reopening, we are excited to introduce two key enhancements.

First, the PRRP now offers a rolling admissions model, allowing applications to be reviewed as they are received and candidates to be admitted on an ongoing basis. This model enables Veterans and service members to begin their rehabilitation and recovery journey sooner. Additionally, the PRRP is now inclusive of all genders, expanding its accessibility beyond the previous limitation to men only. Participants will live onsite for the program’s duration, which is approximately six weeks. This program is a significant step forward in providing comprehensive care and support for those facing PTSD. To learn more about this program call us at 1-800-214-1306.

New Maui VA CBOC Land Lease Agreement

I’m glad to share with you all that the University of Hawaii Board of Regents and the VAPIHCS signed a land lease agreement for the future construction of a new Maui VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). This milestone represents the beginning of expanding access to high-quality, state-of-the-art care for Veterans on Maui for generations to come. The partnership between VA and the University of Hawai‘i not only facilitates the development of this new facility but also strengthens our shared mission to build and train a dedicated medical workforce.

Thank you for your continued support and trust in the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System. We are here to serve you and enhance your well-being.

Thoughts from Chaplain Richie Charles

In one of Aesop’s timeless fables, a dog received a bone from a butcher. The dog hurried home as fast as he could to enjoy his new treat. But on his way home, as the dog crossed a narrow footbridge, he happened to look down on the quiet water below and noticed another dog who had a bone bigger than his own.

In anger, he opened his mouth, dropped his bone in the water, and sprang at the dog in the river, only to find himself swimming for dear life to reach the shore. As he managed to scramble out the water, back on to land, he realized that the dog with the bigger bone was actually just a reflection of himself. In opening his mouth to reach and grab “another” dog’s bone, he lost the bone that he already had.

Have you ever fallen into the same trap? It’s often tempting to look over our shoulders, comparing ourselves to others. But such comparisons are not wise. We seldom know another person’s full story. We may long for their triumphs, but seldom do we want to experience their defeats. We may desire their destination, but many would not envy the road they travelled to get there. Everyone has their own peculiar set of challenges and trials, and I suspect, had we known their full story, we’d embrace our own lot with a renewed sense of appreciation.

Envy is like a bottomless pit of never being truly satisfied. Like the dog with his bone, it magnifies what others have, and underestimates what’s already within one’s hands. The dog became indignant that the other dog had a bigger bone than his, only to realize that what he saw was just an illusion. The bone always looks bigger when the bone belongs to someone else.

Gratitude, however, shifts our focus. It invites us to take a thoughtful inventory of what’s already ours in an attitude of appreciation.

Gratitude, by its very nature, is a beautiful paradox. It’s free, and costs us nothing, yet it immeasurably enriches our lives. Gratitude may not add or give us more, but it can transform what we already have into simply being enough.

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