It has been less than a year since I started using this facility and after five visits the service I received has always been exceptional. As with any organization treating the staff professionally and asking the right questions goes a long way towards receiving the excellent care. One aspect of using this center is if you are a veteran with a qualifying level of disability you may be eligible to file a travel claim for qualifying visits - something to look into. It is very important to understand the travel eligibility and what visits are covered. The standard government rate isn’t high but still 10 minutes of paper work and a stamp gets me 3/4 of a tank of gas. My experience with the travel claims department has been fantastic.

I have been using the VA system since 2010 and have never had such a lack of service than I have at this VA. I scheduled my annual appointment for in person so I could get physically evaluated by a doctor. Last year (2021) my appoint HAD TO be by phone due to COVID per their guidelines. So when I made my appointment for this year I opted for in person. Nothing is more frustrating than scheduling an IN PERSON appointment only to get through morning traffic, park, arrive early, wait 45 min past my appointment time just to be brought back to the office to have the doctor CALL THE OFFICE YOU'RE SITTING IN to conduct half of the visit by phone, then come in for 10 minutes. If I wanted a virtual visit I would have scheduled it that way. Another ridiculous thing was I dropped paperwork off to be filled out only to be told 1. To give the doctor 2 weeks to fill out and 2. Doctor refused to sign it even when it specifically states to be signed by doctor with privileges to work for the VA. Literally a waste of my day off and added more stress to my day than I care for.

These people are not your friends. Looking back I realize now their whole goal was to get my disability and benefits lowered. Be careful what you tell them. Don't go to any appointments. I went a full year without going to my appointments and nothing happened. Then I started going to appointments and they tried to push more drugs on me. After I refused (for a full year) then I got a QTC appointment to reassess my disability. You've been warned! DON'T GO!

I always have a problem getting anything done at this VA medical center. I’ve been a patient at 3 different VA care systems and this one is by far the worst. Women’s Health being the worst department to receive care, followed by optometry. Even the processes following community care are disgusting. The mental health providers who are rotating residents and have been a joy to work with have all equally expressed their disdain for the care system at Spark Matsunaga. Not being able to receive the care you deserve as a veteran is abhorrent. I am now getting telehealth by a mainland VA and I suggest others seek the same sort of resolve.

The last time I went was over 20 years ago. The doctor didn't listen to what I told him regarding allergies and proceeded to prescribe to medications that would've have killed me had I taken them. When a doctor doesn't listen to the patient regarding their allergies, it tends to make the patient not trust the establishment or the organization. What compounds the problem is that I was a medic in the military so I know what they are supposed to do and they're not doing it. When your alleged primary care provider basically tries to kill you with drugs you clearly stated you were severely allergic to it's time to NEVER return to that facility. I guess I should have known better since Tripler has the nickname 'Crippler' and it's literally right next door.

Anyone who might say the VA system works at all must have won a lottery ticket to get any service or help from the VA Health Care System. The VA system is defunct. We need a new VA Care system and this current one needs to be sued for lack of medical services and/or wrong medical services.

Let me start by saying I’ve begged to use outside civilian services and been told I couldn’t numerous times by my PCP. Not busy at all, had a 1:30 appointment, but apparently they can’t prepare or plan for scheduled appointments. No surprise because my last visit when I was suppose to get all this done, Dr Kim (with her amazing professionalism) didn’t put in the request for the vaccines but bet your life she put in the requests to have my blood drawn. This after she told me that they were suppose to allow 30 days for the appointment, but she knows better and will only allow 2 weeks for you to comply with her demands or she’ll cancel it. I show up to my appointment and am taken back quickly. Cut to 17 minutes after my scheduled appointment still no vaccines ready. Was told the varicella needed to come from the pharmacy and was going to take awhile. I told them to cancel it as I no longer needed it, and then was told 5 minutes later that they were waiting for the MMR to be released from pharmacy. What is going on here? Who is managing and overseeing the operations of MOD 4? Let me be the first to say they are failing quite horribly. You would think it would take more time walking in to get a TB test, sign up for MVP (Million Veteran Program) and have 6 vials of blood drawn then it would to get a single vaccination with an appointment. Apparently not here in MOD 4. 2:15 I’m finally out after being told the manager of the wing isn’t available for another 20 minutes. Already been waiting 15 to talk to her… so frustrating.

Matsunga needs to have some kind of oversight and none seems to exist. Some of the doctors are conscientious but others act like they are suffering serious burn out. They need to clean house and bring it up to that standards of private practice. It would have been out of business a long time ago if it actually had to stand up against outside healthcare.

Decent hospital, though some of the facilities are antiquated (parking lot elevator especially), but that’s to be expected from a government facility. All the staff seem nice and all but with my past VA experiences, I just cannot trust the VA system as a whole. I’ll go back once a year for my annual exam but I really think that’ll be all I use this VA for. Care outside the VA is just better quality, and civilian docs don’t use your improvements as a means to reduce your benefits.

NOTICE FOR THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE!!!!! If I could give no stars I would. I recently moved here in Dec 2020, and I called to get established care here in Honolulu in early January. I spoke to a friendly voice that said my account had been transferred over to the this region and that I should be getting a call from the admission office in the next few days to schedule my initial appointment. Fast forward to the month of Feb, I decided I needed to schedule an appointment because I was going to run out of meds and I knew I needed to be seen so I could set up community care. I went online to set up an appointment only to learn that I wasn't transferred to this region and that I was still in the North/South Carolina system. Afterwards, I called and got in touch with someone that said I was transferred to the Honolulu systems and they were transferring me to the admissions office so that I could set up my appointments. The admissions office didn't pick up their phone, so they took my phone number and said they would call me back. Now it is 1 March and I have called twice today and I am getting the same response. The ADMISSIONS OFFICE isn't picking up their phone and that is hindering me from getting any care here. I am low on my meds (I would be out if I wasn't sparing them for when I absolutely needed them) and I need to see many different specialty care for health issues, but because one phone cannot be answered in the VA center; my health and day to day life is suffering. I have tried to go about getting this done the right way, online and by phone but it seems as through this ADMISSIONS OFFICE doesn't come work. Offering to take my phone number and leaving the admissions office a note to call me, shouldn't be the only answer I'm getting from the VA representatives. The system shouldn't be this broken and that honestly I expect better.

I am so so so happy that I am a veteran who has the benefits to visit this awesome facility. Every single person who works there has been outstanding to me, especially the staff in Dr. Shigaki’s office. Could not be more thankful for the care I receive there.

The family 🌲 to our team reviews will always bring you back to our company main phone number. +1.(347) ZAR-LINO. Call or text me for a free person to person interview using hangouts or duo. I was stationed while serving our country here for three years. Any VAMC in the entire network is only as good as the employees. This one is top notch and deserves a 5.0 BZ. 🇺🇸 Local City Expert #USNavy

They will NEVER call you back. Don’t believe them.

Today my wife went in to file a claim regarding her benefits. She’s a combat Veteran, did one tour to Iraq. Well she was there, she walked into an empty waiting area. The receptionist who was rude, then asks my wife what is she here for. My wife explains and then the receptionist goes on to say it’s going to be a 3 hour wait. My wife decides to wait. BEHOLD A 20 minute wait. As my wife is waiting she see the receptionist and the Men who work there all FLIRTING. The receptionist had this nice big ring on her finger which she’s married. My wife then gets called back and the person SUPPOSEDLY IS THERE TO HELP, asks why she is there and my wife said “can I file my claim” the man responds with “I don’t know can you” ,which yes there aren’t there to help WHICH WE ARE TOLD WHEN GETTING OUT THAY THEY ARENT THERE TO HELP. SO WHATS THE POINT IF THEYRE ONLY THERE TO COLLECT A PAYCHECK THATS WRONG. My wife then tells him in a rude voice “giving him the same energy.” He then changed up his attitude but then wanted to be a jerk he asked her if she wanted to know how long it will take for her claim. My wife said yes I’d like to know and he said it’s uncertain. After a while then he started to fill out some form on the system which he then showed my wife if everything was correct. No he didn’t INPUT THAT SHE WAS DEPLOYED OR ANYTHING MY WIFE HAD TO personally will out the forms. HE WAS THE TALL HISPANIC.

My husband has been attending appointments there in many departments and staff has always been very polite and helpful.

Be ready for: - to schedule appointment through phone 25-45 minutes waiting time - putting on hold with transfer calls 2-4 times - if you left your phone number make sure someone will call you back. They will not call you all the time. And if they will call back from number 888* this call will be 1 second. Be ready to answer in this second or they will hang up on you. - appointment waiting time 3 weeks + BUT!!!! Very important. If finally you will get chance to speck with the doctor… you will get perfect treatment. Stay safe! Stay strong!!!

One of the best VA hospitals I've ever been to. The staff creates an amazing atmosphere and makes you feel valued as a patient. The wait times aren't as long as some others. The most difficult part is the walk from the parking lot to the front door. Very nice and welcoming atmosphere and awesome staff.

As a new retiree, I'm impressed with the level of care I've received so far. Everyone I've encountered has been extremely professional and dedicated. Keep up the great work!

Dr. Ricardo-Dukelow is great 👍 I'm lucky to have her as my primary in Module 4. Doc Noguchi in Podiatry is also great

Had an appointment that was cancelled because the provider called out sick. Called twice for a total of 2 hours to reschedule (disconnected the first call and was told the system is not working on the second). Rescheduled for 4 months later and directed to community to be seen. Spoke with them and have to wait until the referral clears and told to call the triage hotline. Couldn’t do much except get me a same day virtual appointment because I didn’t qualify to go to an urgent care. I see why people speak terribly about VA healthcare.

Fantastic care. Great VA with a good community care program where you need service not available at the hospital itself.

They cancel appointments without telling you. The call centers are centralized out of California so your messages will never get to the staff. Another waste of taxpayer dollars. Shut down the VA and let vets use real hospitals without going through the government bureaucracy.

It's impossible to get an appointment. Called 3x and waited for over 20 mins each call. The phone just hangs up on you. Doctors are good but to see them is impossible.

All appointment calls now go to the mainland and I was supposed to know this how?? Waited on hold for nearly half an hour to have the after hours receptionist hang up on me after informing me that she was in California and it was my problem I was two hours behind. That means we can only make appointments between 5am-2pm?? Nowhere on the website or on the phone info does it indicate this—the time difference. This kind of thing matters people. I lost a lunch break today on hold and I still have no appointments.

I have had nothing but excellent care in the 10 years I have used the VA facility in Honolulu. They are on time and do their best to schedule according to your needs. I feel for the medical staff--I see veterans waiting that look like homeless and, yes some really smell bad. Many have lost the military respect they had in the service. I would suggest, for more efficiency, that the facilities at Tripler be more combined with the VA---pharmacy, lab work, X-rays as examples.

I had my optometry appointment at 0840 on 31 Aug 2022. In the past, I had to take paperwork from my optometry appointment to a company in Halawa to order my glasses then return to Halawa several weeks later to pick up my glasses. Now, I walk into an office in the lobby of the optometry clinic, try on and select my frames, the office already has my electronic prescription, and they mail my new glasses directly to my home. This is a HUGE improvement especially for veterans who have challenges with transportation.

Main complaint is it always takes forever to get anything done. Appointments, referrals even a ID card takes forever. The main benefit is the doctors there seem to be pretty good.