Gov. Ige Takes Moment to Observe National Guard Salute to Hawai‘i’s Healthcare Heroes

PC: Hawai’i COVID-19 Joint Information Center

Governor David Ige took a moment today away from meetings, conference calls, and administrative work associated with the state’s management of the COVID-19 crisis, to join others around the state in recognizing the sacrifices of the healthcare community.

From a State Capitol 5th floor vantage point, the governor watched as aircraft from the Hawai‘i National Guard and the 15th Wing Active Duty airmen from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam flew three separate flyovers over 17 different hospitals and medical centers around the state.

It was an occasion to recognize not only military members, many of whom are supporting Hawai‘i’s coronavirus emergency response, but to pay tribute to the thousands of healthcare workers around the islands who are on the frontlines, battling this disease.

“We see across the country, the ravage COVID-19 has inflicted on community after community. We know that Hawai‘i has fared much, much better than any other state in the country, and it really is due to the healthcare providers here. I’m proud of all their efforts,” said Gov. Ige.

As the governor watched the trio of flyovers he reflected, “It’s such a fantastic tribute from people in uniform who risk their lives every single day to the healthcare workers who truly have become heroes in our community because of this pandemic.”

In Maui County, the flyover of a KC-135 was scheduled to take place at Molokaʻi General Hospital at 11:53 a.m. and the statewide effort concluded with a pass over the Maui Memorial Medical Center at 1:24 p.m.

The National Guard says these aircraft were already scheduled for training flights, so the flyover comes at no additional cost to the taxpayer.