VA Approves Lease Agreements to Build Maui, Kauai Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

Hirono Announces Lease Agreement After Meeting with New VA Pacific Islands Health Care System Director 

Hirono Had Advocated for Quick Approval of Lease Agreement After Meeting with Maui Veterans in February

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs approved new lease agreements to build Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) on Maui and Kauai after a meeting with the new Director of the VA’s Pacific Islands Health Care System Director Jennifer Gutowski.

The Maui facility will be located adjacent to Maui High School. This has been the preferred location for Maui veterans and is a partnership between the VA and the Hawaii Department of Education. After a lease agreement was awarded last week, the Kauai facility will be built adjacent to the Kauai Veterans Center.

“Today’s announcement is long overdue for our veterans on Maui and Kauai,” 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

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

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.

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