Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 1, 1 January 1989 — VA Probes Hawaiian Vets' Needs [ARTICLE]

VA Probes Hawaiian Vets' Needs

The needs and concerns of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island veterans were discussed last month at a meeting of the Nahonal Advisory Committee to the Veterans Administration on Native Ameriean Veterans. Participants included representatives of American Indian nations and tribes, Alaskan natives, Eskimos and Native Hawaiians. The 19-member advisory committee, whieh was begun in 1986, held its 6th meeting in Honolulu, December 7-9. The Committee was established in accordance with Section 19032, Public Law 99272, to examine and evaluate Veterans Administration (VA) programs and activities with respect to the needs of veterans who are Native Americans. This includes American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. At its ineephon the committee only included Amenean Indians and Alaskan Natives.

Then in May this yēar, U.S. Senator Spark Matsunaga recommended Dr. Samuel K. Apuna, OHA Health and Human Services Officer as the first Native Hawaiian representative to the Committee. Apuna, a former lieutenant eolonel in the U.S. Army and a veteran of the Vietnam War, was appointed in May by VA Administrator General Thomas K. Turnage. The Committee has met in different parts of the United States and last met in September in Alaska. Under the urging of Dr. Apuna, the Committee consented to meet in Hawai'i and address the eoncerns and needs of Hawaiian and Pacific Island veterans. While attendance was small, at times up to 40 persons, public input was strong against perceived insensitivity of the Veterans' Administration to loeal veterans' concerns, needs and customs of the loeal veterans.

It was uncovered that the VA Office of Honolulu did not have any statistics on the number and the health condition of Hawaiian veterans. It was also noted that most of its recently employed staff were from the mainland even though suitably educated or trained people were available locally. Top priority items the committee has identified for follow-up include: construction of a veterans' hospital in Hawai'i; loeal recruitment of VA staff; sensitivity training for VA employees to the loeal cuitures and lifestyle of Hawaiian veterans. The Committee's report to General Turnage, will include a recommendation for improvement of VA outreach efforts, especially on the neighbor islands. Veterans interested in more information about the committee's activities may contact Dr. Samuel Apuna, at the Honolulu office of OHA, 946-2642.