LIHUE — Kauai Veterans Council Commander Mary Kay Hertog said when the office of Veterans Benefits Administration sends the benefit counselors once a month, the response is always very good, which is a good thing.
But what about the time between the monthly in-person visits?
The Kauai Office of Veterans Services (KOVS), located on the left side of the Kauai Veterans Center on Veterans Memorial Highway, has been assisting Kauai veterans with all VA Benefits following Hurricane Iniki.
Located behind secured doors for safety, KOVS is manned by Kelly Braun and Kelle Raitz, and is available to help veterans and their families from Monday through Friday for scheduled appointments.
Between Braun and Raitz, there is a combined experience of 23 years of working with veterans.
“Veterans report that phone appointments are much more convenient, especially for those living on the North Shore or west side, and our senior population,” Raitz said. “An in-person appointment may be requested, or an appointment to drop off documents.”
Most in-person appointments involve burial services that Braun handles. The counseling involves a briefing of the Kauai Veterans Cemetery, and its rules governing floral and other offerings.
“We’re the only branch in Hawaii that offer a thorough burial services briefing that was developed by former veterans service officer Tony Elliott,” Braun said. “We’re just continuing the legacy of what Elliott and Manny Corregedore started.”
The KVOS is a state agency, not a federal agency. The only VA on Kauai is the community-based Outpatient Clinic, located near the Gather Federal Credit Union on Pahee Street. The federal government and state of Hawaii have a memo of understanding that allows Kauai to provide VBA benefits, and both Braun and Raitz are accredited by the Veterans Administration.
“There is no waiting,” Raitz said. “We have the latest in electronic technology, and spent many hours scanning the bank of documents from registered veterans on Kauai,” Raitz said. “The bank of files of original documents are still in the office as backup.”
Hertog encourages veterans and their families to take advantage of the KVOS, while waiting on the next visit of the VA benefits counselor.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
