Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The “Tagata Tu Fa’atasi Alliance” group has launched an online petition calling on Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga and territorial government leaders for a repatriation flight to bring back home American Samoa residents stranded in the US since flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago were suspended in late March.

The governor has publicly stated he remains very concerned over the resumption of Hawaiian Airlines flights due to the continued increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Hawaii and other US states. Hawaiian Air flights are currently suspended through the month of September.

A representative of the Alliance group sent out mass-emails on Wednesday asking people to sign the petition titled: "Governor of American Samoa: REPATRIATE American Samoa residents Stranded across America".

“Our goal is to reach 100 signatures and we need more support,” according to the email message, which was received by many local residents, along with the link to the online petition [http://chng.it/BsR4fwGfs8 ]

The online petition states that the group’s goal is to get 500 signatures, and as of 9a.m. yesterday, local time, 269 had signed the petition, and many of those who signed the petition provided comments.

“I need to take my homesick 85-year old father home & get back to my husband & younger kids whom we’ve been apart from one another for eight months due to closure of borders,” wrote on commenter on the petition page.

Another commenter said, “I’m signing the petition because my husband and daughter are stuck in American Samoa. I [miss] them both...”

Reactions received by Samoa News up to yesterday are mixed both those supportive and opposed to allowing a repatriation flight. Those opposing, side with the governor’s concern with the spike in US cases especially in Hawaii — where as of 12 noon on Wednesday, Hawaii Health officials recorded 7,260 cases and deaths increased to 51.

The petition states in part that it’s now approaching six months since the government ordered the border closed. “A few of us are in stable living situations, but the majority are not as fortunate,” it says.

“We continue to live in limbo with our families and friends in the U.S. They have shown nothing but patience and love for stranded folks,” it says. “But we are all only humans and now we are beginning to experience signs of real mental anguish, never mind the financial stress. We don’t have access to free health care.”

The petition claims that 300-plus people of American Samoa, which include elderly and young children, are left to fend for themselves in the U.S.

“Our honorable leaders, please reconsider your plans and open at least 3-4 flights with limited seating, require negative COVID testing for check in, 14 day quarantine upon arrival, and other preventive measures the health department deems necessary for all incoming persons,” it says.

The Alliance group noted that a comprehensive plan as a guideline was outlined in both their 1st and 2nd letters that were posted on Samoa News.

The group told Samoa News that the petition continues to be circulated for more signatures, while copies of signatures already obtained were presented to the Faipule yesterday morning (Thursday, Aug. 27).

Samoa News has copies of the documentation presented to the Faipule with names of the people wanting to come home as well as those who want to return to their homes in the U.S.A.  To download the documents click on attachments.