LIHU‘E — The federal Department of Veterans Affairs medical clinic, which has been in a small Kuhio Highway location near Fish Express for 20 years, is poised to make a move into larger, temporary quarters, until a new building behind
LIHU‘E — The federal Department of Veterans Affairs medical clinic, which has been in a small Kuhio Highway location near Fish Express for 20 years, is poised to make a move into larger, temporary quarters, until a new building behind the Kaua‘i Veterans’ Center on Kapule Highway is finished.
The anticipated move comes just in time, as the lease on the Kuhio Highway property is about to expire, said Sharon Espina, VA clinical manager.
A pre-construction blessing at the new, temporary facility, in the old Solipsys building in Kukui Grove Village West near Kukui Grove Center, was held Tuesday.
The move will result in twice the space for clinical treatment of veterans.
One day after honoring those who went before us, we have a new facility to serve those who paid the big price for freedom, said Dr. William Dubbs, acting director and chief of staff for the federal Department of Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System, Tuesday afternoon.
Local and state dignitaries were joined by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawai‘i, who said things have changed since he lost his right arm on a World War II battlefield in Italy and many of his fellow wounded comrades didn’t survive.
“When I was injured in Italy, it took nine hours to be evacuated from the battlefield to the hospital,” he said.
“When I got there, there were many injured lined up waiting to be treated. Teams of doctors went up one row and down another, stopping to analyze. There were those who could be treated, others that could wait, and the good-bye group. Some had to be sacrificed.”
Inouye said the next thing he knew, a chaplain was kneeling next to him saying, “God loves you.”
He replied, “I love God, too, but I’m not ready to go.”
“Double amputees did not survive,” Inouye said. “Those with brain injuries also did not survive.”
All of that changed over the years.
“Today, the survival rate of amputees and brain injuries is almost 90 percent,” said Inouye.
“Someone needs to care for them. This is a challenge to all of you,” he said.
“The VA, when I was injured, had an easy job because the seriously-injured never survived. Today, they survive and someone needs to care for them,” said Inouye.
“I thank you as an American, and I thank you from those who serve us. I will be back when you open the doors.”
Shioi Construction will remodel the former Solipsys building to accommodate the Kaua‘i VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic.
“This is déja vu,” said William Honjiyo, president of the Kaua‘i Veterans Council. “At one time I worked for Grove Farm as the Kukui Grove manager. With the cooperation between the Grove Farm Company, Shioi Construction and the VA, this is going to be an outstanding clinic.”
Kaua‘i’s veteran population is estimated at 6,236 veterans, states a VA release.
Of these veterans, 1,899 are enrolled and registered and the VA clinic treats about 1,100 veterans annually. These veterans make over 4,900 clinic visits a year, and the Kuhio Highway location is plain too small.
The new facility located in the old Solipsys building will expand the VA clinic to 5,250 square feet as compared to its current 2,480 square feet, an increase of 112 percent.
Inouye said the new facility will allow for additional staff (currently at 12) and offer much more parking than the Kuhio Highway current location.
Espina said the new facility, which has an anticipated completion of October, is badly needed because the VA clinic has been in its original location for more than 20 years.
“This is a move in the right direction,” said Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. “It’s little steps toward the big picture.”
Carvalho said he had an emotional weekend, visiting families at the Hanapepe Kaua‘i Veterans’ Cemetery during the Memorial Day service before flying to O‘ahu for the floating lantern ceremony.
“The county is committed to do what it can to support veterans and their families,” Carvalho said.
“We are currently looking at upgrading the Hanapepe Veterans’ Cemetery by looking at the existing road, headstones and the flag pole. We are also looking at expanding the facility, but everything takes teamwork and we take things one step at a time, making sure the County Council knows what we’re doing.”
