West O‘ahu Veterans Center

by Sean Tommy ScottThe Vet Center Program was established in 1979, when congress recognized that Vietnam era vets were still experiencing readjustment problems. Currently, there are over 300 Vet Centers across the United States and in the Territories of the United States. On Oahu, the Vet Centers are located at Kapiolani and Kapolei. Let us introduce you to the West Oahu Vet Center (WOVC). It was opened up in 2012 and is located in Kapolei, HI.The WOVC is a place where veterans, active duty service members, and family members of those who have served in a war zone, can come for readjustment counseling for a wide range of services. They have individual and group counseling, family counseling, bereavement counseling for family members of service members that die while on active duty, military sexual trauma counseling, substance abuse referrals, employment assistance, VA benefits explanation and referral, and screening and referrals for medical and mental health issues. The WOVC also has a Mobile Vet Center that provides community outreach throughout the Island of Oahu, conducting VA presentations, readjustment counseling, and to service and assist vets and active duty service members. The WOVC outreach team had connected with Kalaeloa Heritage Park(KHP) while conducting their outreach early in 2015.The partnership established between the KHP and the WOVC started when two Veterans from the WOVC, who were already volunteers at the park, invited a group of Vets from the WOVC to the KHP for a site tour. When this connection was made, the vets were drawn to the park because of the military history woven into its ancient landscapes around the Kuaalakai trail. Shortly after the word got around the WOVC about KHP, more volunteers took interest. Currently, there are approximately seven veterans who have become volunteers at the KHP.These volunteers have teamed up with other park staff and together have provided much needed volunteer work throughout the park. Some of the tasks they preform are assisting with the watering of native Hawaiian plants, weed whacking, clearing of the Keawe trees, assisting in hauling water and filling up the water tanks around the park, conducting security checks, and severing to give private and small tours. If that is not enough, some of these veterans also provide the park with other resources. Such as networking with other community organizations to spread the word about KHP. The word has gotten around to Hawaii's National Guard, Active Duty forces, and Veteran Service Organizations like Team Rubicon, Wounded Warrior Project, Mission Continues, and Team Red White and Blue, and we are not even done yet.The West Oahu Vet Center is honored to be a partner with the Kalaeloa Heritage Park. WOVC looks forward to continue to contribute as a part of the Kapolei community in restoring this historic gem and to spread the word of the history enriched with culture that can only be experienced by walking being at the park.