Big Island Now poll results: Veterans face myriad of issues living on Hawai‘i Island

Hawai‘i Island veterans were celebrated over the past week as part of Veterans Day.

As we celebrated these men and women who protect our freedoms, we wanted to know what you thought was the biggest challenge Big Island veterans faced. Sixty percent of the voters felt they faced all the issues: health care on the island, housing, mental health services, substance abuse, access to financial assistance and assistance in setting benefits with Veterans Affairs.

Of those challenges listed, 17% voted the biggest issue was health care on the island. Mana_wahine1 commented on social media process is hard for veterans to get benefits. “Many are homeless cause they gave up trying.”

Other comments included trauma and forced vaccinations.

However, commenter Don Baker said accessing VA benefits is easier today than when he first returned from active duty 50 years ago.

Here are the full poll results:

• All of the above: 229 (60%)
• Health care on island: 65 (17%)
• Housing: 26 (6%)
• Mental health services: 20 (5%)
• Substance abuse: 14 (3%)
• Other: 9 (2%)
• Access to financial assistance: 8 (2%)
• Assistance in setting up services with Veterans Affairs: 8 (2%)

Total votes: 379