Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga was released this week from Straub hospital in Honolulu, and he will stay on there for follow up medical appointments, as well as meetings through next week.

Lolo was first admitted Feb. 21 at George Washington University Hospital in Washington D.C. where he had traveled to attend several meetings. He was released a week later but stayed for further medical appointments.

Lolo arrived in Honolulu last week and went for a doctor’s appointment at Straub, where he was admitted for observation based on a recommendation from his physician. Lolo is traveling with First Lady Cynthia Moliga, the governor’s executive assistant Iulogologo Joseph Pereira and his security officer.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga said the governor stayed at Straub for five days and was released Wednesday this week, adding that Lolo is now staying at a Honolulu hotel awaiting medical appointments, as well as attending meetings that were originally scheduled for this leg of the trip back home, which had to be rescheduled.

Asked if he is able to provide any information as to why the governor was admitted to the D.C hospital in the first place, Lemanu recalled that —as he had stated before— this is "not my area of expertise and I would like not to say anything about the illness because I’m not really sure. I kind of have an idea of what happened....but I would like to also protect his privacy.”

In due time, when he returns home and hold a news conference, the “governor can be asked this question and he can decide on whether or not to answer it,” said Lemanu, who is also the acting governor.

Lemanu did say that the governor “ is doing very well. He sends his love and he sends his greetings to all the people of American Samoa, the leaders and the government of American Samoa.”

“And we sincerely thank you for all the prayers and love,” he said adding that the governor also extends his sincere appreciation to those who sent gifts and those who went to visit the hospital.

 Lolo apologized to those who came to visit the hospital but were unable to see the governor “due to restrictions from the hospital."

" But in due time, he will be well and about. And in turn, return a word of thank you” to the public thru the news media, Lemanu said.

He said there is no firm date yet on when Lolo will return to the territory, but the governor has medical appointments up to next week. He says the governor’s date to return home is dependent on his medical appointments.

Lemanu also said that he has spoken via telephone with the governor while he was in D.C. and in Honolulu. He reported that “the governor’s voice is very strong” and “knowing the governor, no matter how he feels, he still thinks he is 18-years old”. That comment resulted in giggles from reporters as well as the governor’s senior staff, who sat in during the news conference.

Lemanu said he spoke with Lolo by phone Wednesday night and the governor even said, “not to bother him, he was eating his dinner.” Lemanu also shared that the governor is walking around, and “in fact visiting” the ASG office in Honolulu, as well as medical appointments yesterday.

The acting governor noted that among the meetings for the governor in Honolulu is  a "continuation” of discussions about setting up the U.S. National Guard unit in American Samoa, which is being coordinated with the Hawai’i National Guard.