Printer Friendly
A
A
A
Maui News: Proposed vet complex gains traction
Issues involving ownership of land pose an obstacle
Fri, January 8, 2010
By CLAUDINE SAN NICOLAS, Maui News Staff Writer
KAHULUI - The idea of a multiservice complex for Maui veterans gained interest at a hearing convened Thursday by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, but problems with land ownership could block it from moving forward.
The proposal surfaced during a hearing led by Akaka, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, in a meeting room at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. The event drew about 150 people, who took up every seat and stood where space was available.
Veterans and supporters representing various groups, such as Vietnam veterans and those living in East Maui, advocated for a variety of needs. These include the employment of a full-time veterans benefits counselor for Maui; veteran burial facilities in Lahaina; an increase in mental health care providers on Maui; and Veterans Affairs staff to serve veterans living between Kanaio and Keanae.
Retired Col. Lloyd K. Sodetani, Maui representative for the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services, reiterated a request made last year at another field hearing led by Akaka. Sodetani had called for federal support of a full-service veterans facility that he and colleagues had proposed and for which they had had preliminary plans drafted.
The complex would be on the southwest corner of 4.3 acres of the Maui High School campus in Kahului. It would house a consolidation of three facilities that currently provide a range of health and benefit services for veterans.
"It is the contention of the veteran advocates that continuing to provide services in the current manner would not be in the best interest of veterans, particularly since dissatisfaction continues to grow," Sodetani said in written testimony.
Under questioning by Akaka, Sodetani said the current facilities in Wailuku and Kahului have inadequate parking and are difficult to access, particularly for disabled veterans who need more disabled access and parking.
Maj. General Robert Lee, the adjutant general for the Department of Defense in Hawaii, submitted testimony supporting Sodetani's proposed veterans complex.
The Maui VA clinic in Kahului is classified as substandard and needs to be relocated, he said. The lack of parking at facilities on Maui causes much frustration and discouragement for veterans, Lee said.
"Wouldn't it be wonderful to service our veterans at one location on Maui?" Lee asked.
Maui High School Principal Randy Yamanuha submitted testimony welcoming the project on his campus.
"We envision a great partnership and benefits for veterans and students of Maui High," Yamanuha said, adding that students in his school's Health Services Academy could experience "service learning" through internships or community service projects in the complex's health clinics.
An initial $250,000 is needed for the design process, according to Sodetani, who already has obtained commitments from experts to provide a topographic survey and conceptual design without charge. A memorandum of agreement is being worked on with the state Department of Education, and construction cost estimates are being sought, he said. Federal funding also would be needed in various stages of the project.
Asked about the multiservice complex idea, Dr. James Hastings, director of the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, said the "fundamental problem" with the proposed facility is that the VA does not have authority to build on land it does not own.
"Thank you for the technicality," Akaka responded, adding that he believed the issue should be studied more with the goal of finding a solution to serve veterans more efficiently on Maui.
Commenting on the lack of VA staffing in East Maui, Hastings said his office has tried to serve veterans in places such as Hana, but there have been problems with the equipment needed for telemedicine and communication. Hastings said the issue would be explored further.
Claudine San Nicolas can be reached at claudine@mauinews.com.
ORIGINAL STORY: http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/527458.html
KAHULUI - The idea of a multiservice complex for Maui veterans gained interest at a hearing convened Thursday by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, but problems with land ownership could block it from moving forward.
The proposal surfaced during a hearing led by Akaka, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, in a meeting room at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. The event drew about 150 people, who took up every seat and stood where space was available.
Veterans and supporters representing various groups, such as Vietnam veterans and those living in East Maui, advocated for a variety of needs. These include the employment of a full-time veterans benefits counselor for Maui; veteran burial facilities in Lahaina; an increase in mental health care providers on Maui; and Veterans Affairs staff to serve veterans living between Kanaio and Keanae.
Retired Col. Lloyd K. Sodetani, Maui representative for the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services, reiterated a request made last year at another field hearing led by Akaka. Sodetani had called for federal support of a full-service veterans facility that he and colleagues had proposed and for which they had had preliminary plans drafted.
The complex would be on the southwest corner of 4.3 acres of the Maui High School campus in Kahului. It would house a consolidation of three facilities that currently provide a range of health and benefit services for veterans.
"It is the contention of the veteran advocates that continuing to provide services in the current manner would not be in the best interest of veterans, particularly since dissatisfaction continues to grow," Sodetani said in written testimony.
Under questioning by Akaka, Sodetani said the current facilities in Wailuku and Kahului have inadequate parking and are difficult to access, particularly for disabled veterans who need more disabled access and parking.Maj. General Robert Lee, the adjutant general for the Department of Defense in Hawaii, submitted testimony supporting Sodetani's proposed veterans complex.
The Maui VA clinic in Kahului is classified as substandard and needs to be relocated, he said. The lack of parking at facilities on Maui causes much frustration and discouragement for veterans, Lee said.
"Wouldn't it be wonderful to service our veterans at one location on Maui?" Lee asked.
Maui High School Principal Randy Yamanuha submitted testimony welcoming the project on his campus.
"We envision a great partnership and benefits for veterans and students of Maui High," Yamanuha said, adding that students in his school's Health Services Academy could experience "service learning" through internships or community service projects in the complex's health clinics.
An initial $250,000 is needed for the design process, according to Sodetani, who already has obtained commitments from experts to provide a topographic survey and conceptual design without charge. A memorandum of agreement is being worked on with the state Department of Education, and construction cost estimates are being sought, he said. Federal funding also would be needed in various stages of the project.
Asked about the multiservice complex idea, Dr. James Hastings, director of the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, said the "fundamental problem" with the proposed facility is that the VA does not have authority to build on land it does not own.
"Thank you for the technicality," Akaka responded, adding that he believed the issue should be studied more with the goal of finding a solution to serve veterans more efficiently on Maui.
Commenting on the lack of VA staffing in East Maui, Hastings said his office has tried to serve veterans in places such as Hana, but there have been problems with the equipment needed for telemedicine and communication. Hastings said the issue would be explored further.
Claudine San Nicolas can be reached at claudine@mauinews.com.
ORIGINAL STORY: http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/527458.html
-END-
