Maui Rep. Wildberger Joins in Call for Cruise Ship Moratorium

PC: background image by Wendy Osher. Photo of Rep. Wildberger courtesy.

Maui Representative Tina Wildberger and fellow Rep. Amy Perruso joined in calling for a cruise ship moratorium.  The two join Lieutenant Governor Josh Green and Minority Leader Gene Ward in their urgent calls for an immediate 60-day moratorium on cruise ships docking in Hawaiʻi’s harbors.  

Rep. Wildberger said that “For once, Hawaiʻi’s remote geographic location can be a lifesaving benefit rather than a disadvantage-but only if we take bold, immediate actions to protect our people- now.”

She said lives could be saved if cruise ship passengers are not allowed to disembark and airlines and buses are required to sanitize between each trip.

Both Representatives Perruso and Wildberger emphasized the need to take proactive measures and dramatically increase COVID-19 testing–before a major local outbreak occurs–in order to dramatically reduce impacts on health systems and subsequent loss of life.

“We must act quickly to contain the spread of COVID-19, so that our healthcare system can effectively respond to residents who require medical care,” said Representative Perruso. “While closing schools and postponing meetings may be inconvenient, it is a small sacrifice to make to protect the public health of Hawaiʻi’s people.”

Representative Wildberger laments, “The entire state is bracing for the eventuality of a lockdown, which is the only way to effectively reduce the rate of community transmission… It is up to our leaders whether they want to make the difficult decision to do that now with minimal loss of life, or later when our kupuna are dying. It doesn’t make any sense to wait.”