Kaua‘i Veterans Council’s 2009 fundraiser a success In their Dec. 16 meeting at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center, a general expression of gratitude was made to those donors who made outright donations towards the prizes for the KVC fundraiser drawing on
Kaua‘i Veterans Council’s 2009 fundraiser a success
In their Dec. 16 meeting at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center, a general expression of gratitude was made to those donors who made outright donations towards the prizes for the KVC fundraiser drawing on Nov. 7. Significant donors were: ‘Ohana Motors, Kuhio Motors, Richard “Soupbone” Kashiwabara, Ken Ishii, Dan Cordes, and various veterans organizations, other inter-island Hawai‘i residents, visitors from Canada and the Mainland.
The Grand Prize winner was Rhonda Lizama, Kapa‘a. Other winners were:
N. Hashisaka (‘Ele‘ele); I. Cabral (Hanapepe); D. Lemke, W. Nishi, and R. Nishida (Kapa‘a); J. Balderson, H. Ishida, and G. Nitta (Kalaheo/Lawa‘i); N. Lopez, D. Mayer, and K. Masumura (Koloa); J. Allen, A. Garcia, G. Grim, P. Hurley, A. Jimenez, J. Koerte, M. Morishige, Olivas, J. Ruff, P. Yukimura, (Lihu‘e); C. Ragocos, C. Trzakowski (Kekaha/Waimea); and A. Hirt (Chula Vista, CA).
The proceeds from KVC fundraisers are geared towards supporting programs for the benefit of Kaua‘i veterans. A major project among these programs is to provide “soft” funding in the construction of a Consolidated Base Outpatient Clinic, adjacent to the existing Kaua‘i Veterans Center building in Lihu‘e. Questions or request for more information on KVC’s fundraisers should be directed to William T. Honjiyo, president/commander, Kaua‘i Veterans Council, 3215 Kapule Hwy, Ste 1, Lihu‘e, HI 96766. Telephone: 808-246-1135. Fax: 246-6262.
Kaua‘i Veterans Council 2009 Veterans Day Parade
Under the direction of KVC Parade Chairman Robin Sanchez, Post Commander, Post 54, American Legion, Kapa‘a, the parade on Nov. 7, in Kapa‘a, went very well as expected. The success is attributed to Kaua‘i Mayor Carvalho, County Council Chair Kaipo Asing, various public service departments in county government, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the Office of Economic Development, COK, Captain Aaron L. Cudnohufsky, Commanding Officer of Pacific Missile Range Facility, Hawai‘i Air and Army National Guard units, including the 111th Army Band (National Guard) from Oahu. There were so many other supporting event sponsors and corporate and in-kind supporters, and the list goes on and on.
General Irwin K. Cockett Jr., U.S. Army (Retired) was the grand marshall, with Royce Ebesu of Kapa‘a as the honorary grand marshall, at the parade, which recognized Korean War veterans in the “Forgotten War.”
The Kaua‘i Veterans Council wishes to express their heartfelt mahalo to all those who participated in the parade as marching/riding units from small business entities, high schools, other special interest groups, and to those who provided logistical support in this event. Special “thank you” goes to Ron Wiley and Joe Munechika, both served as narrators/announcers along the parade route.
Entertainment after the parade was performed by Ilima Rivera and her group, with Larry Rivera (a veteran himself) providing his vocal talents. A special treat from Larry was a song that he wrote and composed himself about “America.”
Leave of absence
Primarily based on information from his health report card from his physician at KVMH, as supplemented by another report from a specialist from Wilcox Hospital, Tony Hubahib will have to change his lifestyle in the coming months. He will be on a leave-of-absence status within the next six to seven months.
Tony Elliott, incoming writer for TGI’s Veterans Corner
Tony Elliott, who has served as the state Office of Veterans’ Services veteran advocate and benefits counselor for Kaua‘i since 2004, will render the monthly Kaua‘i veteran affairs update in the “Veterans Corner” from January on. He is not new in journalistic articulation to The Garden Island. As an outreach counselor for Kaua‘i veterans, many of his past special articles and initiatives were published in The Garden Island newspaper.
Tony Elliott is a retired US Marine Command Sergeant Major. Prior to his arrival on Kaua‘i in 2004, he served as the DOD Military Transition and Employment Manager, and Deputy Director for the United Service Organization in Japan where he taught veterans and their families how to plan a successful return to civilian life and a new career following military service. Additionally, Tony has served in many leadership positions within numerous veterans’ organizations. He and his family are residing in Lihu‘e.
Tony Elliott can be contacted through the Kaua‘i Office of Veteran Services, 3215 Kapule Hwy, Ste 2, Lihu‘e, HI 96766, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, at 241-3346.
VA to survey veteran households
In a VA news release Dec. 3, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a national survey of veterans, active duty service members, activated National Guard and reserve members, and family members and survivors to learn if they are aware of VA services. “By hearing directly from veterans and their family members, we gain valuable information to help us serve them better. We hope those who received the survey will respond to it,” Shinseki said.
In addition to assessing awareness levels, the National Survey of Veterans will collect important health care, benefits, employment, and demographic information that VA will use to inform policy decisions and improve benefits. Recognizing a broader client base that just Veterans, this is the first time VA has included others, such as veteran family members, in its survey population.
VA is mailing out survey “screeners” to more than 130,000 households to identify potential survey participants. The screener asks if anyone is the household is a member of one of the identified survey groups Veterans, family members and survivors, active duty, Guard or Reserve members. Eligible survey participants then may be requested to participate in a full-length survey.
This is the sixth VA National Survey of Veterans since 1978. The information collected will help VA in its efforts to design and conduct outreach to veterans. In addition, it will provide a clearer picture of the veteran population’s characteristics to help evaluate existing programs and policies and measure their impact.
The data collection is expected to be finished by the end of February and the final report released by December 2010.
Countdown on WWI Filipino veterans compensation deadline
With less than 90 days remaining for WWII Filipino Veterans to apply for their claims for a one-time veteran’s compensation benefit of $15,000, it is emphasized once again that these particular claims must be received by the VA’s Manila Regional Office no later than Feb. 16. Forms and completion assistance are provided (free of charge) by the Kaua‘i Office of Veterans Services, across Kapule Highway from the Lihu‘e Airport. Call the Kaua‘i Office of Veterans Services at: 241-3348 for more information.
