Thursday, October 24, 2013 9:31 pm
American Samoa delegate gets medevac to Oahu
By FILI SAGAPOLUTELEAssociated Press
Officials at LBJ Medical Center in Pago Pago declined to say why 70-year-old Eni Faleomavaega was hospitalized early Tuesday.
An aircraft left Honolulu on Thursday morning to pick him up in Pago Pago, said Lt. Col. Chuck Anthony, a spokesman for the Hawaii National Guard, which was conducting the medevac mission.
Faleomavaega's office said he is under observation at the territory's only hospital.
A statement from his office said he's stable for travel. His office said doctors agree that he should be medically evacuated to Tripler for further evaluation because of a lack of specialized capabilities in American Samoa.
"We thank everyone involved who has tirelessly worked through the night to secure an air crew and a military plane," the statement said. "Once more, we thank you for your prayers and reiterate that Faleomavaega is not in a life-threatening situation."
A flight between Honolulu and Pago Pago normally takes about six hours.
American Samoa is a U.S. territory about 2,300 miles south of Hawaii. Its House delegate can vote in committee but not on the House floor.
Faleomavaega, a Democrat, is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Natural Resources.
--
Associated Press writer Jennifer Sinco Kelleher contributed to this report from Honolulu.