VA Approves Lease Agreement for New Maui Outpatient Clinic

The US Department of Veterans Affairs has approved new lease agreements to build community-based outpatient clinics on Maui and Kauaʻi.

Department of Veterans Affairs, County Based Outpatient Clinic, on Hoʻohana Street in Kahului, Maui. Photo by Wendy Osher.

The announcement was made by US Senator Mazie K. Hirono, who serves as a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, after she met with the new Director of the VA’s Pacific Islands Health Care System Director Jennifer Gutowski.

The current veteran clinic facility on Hoʻohana Street will move to the new site, to be located adjacent to Maui High School.  Sen. Hirono said this has been the preferred location for Maui veterans and is a partnership between the VA and the Hawaiʻi Department of Education.

After a lease agreement was awarded last week, the Kauaʻi facility will be built adjacent to the Kauaʻi Veterans Center.

“Today’s announcement is long overdue for our veterans on Maui and Kauaʻi,” said Senator Hirono. “In February I heard directly from Maui veterans who expressed their deep, continuing frustration that this important project had remain stalled for years. With this approval, we can move forward on design and construction of the facility that these veterans deserve.”

Senator Hirono meets with Jennifer Gutowski. Hirono announced the lease agreement after meeting with new VA Pacific Islands Health Care System Director.

Senator Hirono and Ms. Gutowski also discussed working together to strengthen the VA’s commitment to improving communication and services for veterans in Hawaiʻi.

In February, Senator Hirono held a Veterans Roundtable at the Kaoru Moto Army Reserve Center on Maui. During that meeting, the Senator promised Maui veterans to press the VA to provide monthly updates on the status of the land acquisition, design, and construction of the CBOC.