Akaka VA Clinic Exceeds All Expectations as It Celebrates First Anniversary in April

As the Daniel K. Akaka Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinic approaches its first anniversary this April, the numbers tell a compelling story of success. The clinic has tripled the number of veterans it serves, growing from 500 in its initial weeks to an impressive 1,500 each day. The secret behind this achievement? The clinic’s easily accessible location, paired with a comprehensive range of vital services, meets the diverse needs of Hawai‘i’s veteran community.

Situated in Kalaeloa Town, the clinic benefits from a strategically convenient location, serving the largest concentration of veterans within its service area. West O‘ahu is home to nearly 17,000 of the more than 55,000 veterans enrolled across the Pacific islands. According to VA statistics, a significant number of these veterans had not previously utilized the VA healthcare system. Now, 1,000 additional veterans have begun accessing critical VA services, underscoring the clinic’s positive impact on improving healthcare access for the veteran community.

Along with primary care, the facility provides mental health care, dental services, radiology, a laboratory and pharmacy. Specialty care includes podiatry, orthopedics, pulmonology, acupuncture, chiropractic care, cardiology, respiratory therapy, optometry, audiology, dental care, physical therapy and a rapid-access clinic. Two of those specialties – optometry and audiology – are the most in-demand for veterans. Since they were introduced in October, the Akaka Clinic has seen approximately 900 veterans for eyeglasses and eye exams, and more than 1,000 for audiology.

The $130 million facility opened on April 8, 2024. Hunt Companies Hawai‘i serves as the project developer and owner, while the facility is leased by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Its opening has alleviated demand on the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center, located near Tripler Army Medical Center, and has also reduced commute time for many veterans. Over 1,000 veterans have already transitioned their care to the Akaka VA Clinic, and that number is expected to grow as additional services, including MRI and urgent care, become available this spring. Notably, this marks the first time these crucial services will be offered locally in Hawai‘i as part of the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System. Further distinguishing itself, the clinic is home to the system’s only pulmonary function testing booth, enhancing its capability to deliver specialized care.

The Akaka VA Clinic has also developed into a hub of other activity. A signature initiative is the ‘Ohana Open Market, which is its most popular non-healthcare service for veterans and active duty service members. Held every second Friday of the month, the ‘Ohana Open Market provides no-cost food, as well as resources and information to nearly 500 veterans, current service members and their families. A partnership between the Armed Services YMCA Hawai‘i and the VA’s Center for Development and Civic Engagement along with the assistance
of the VA Public Affairs Office, the program has proven to be a great way to further serve both veterans and active-duty service members, involve nonprofit partners and provide outreach to potential future VA patients.

“We knew that thousands of veterans were in West O‘ahu, but we never dreamed that we would have such demand in less than a year,” says April Seghorn, the clinic’s acting deputy medical center director. “It’s been an overwhelming success all around.”